I shouldn’t still be up. I have to be awake again in a couple of hours. But I’m watching “The Secret Life of Bob Monkhouse” on BBC Four. A great comic who I’ve always admired, he entertained a nation for literally decades. His mark on the world is there for everyone to see. He died at the end of 2003.
And he has of course left a legacy, a mountain of show business material, a life’s work. Like many many others, he will be Giggled and Wookied for decades and centuries and folk will learn of him from what he has left.
But then i look at my own life. What will i leave? What legacy? What lasting impression? Well the answer is of course, nothing. A year or so after I’m dead, my dormant blogs will probably be deleted. Nothing I’ve ever done will leave any mark on the world at all. It’ll be as if i wasn’t here. And surely if that’s the case, then maybe i shouldn’t be here. After all what’s the point of being here if we can’t leave something of ourselves after we’re gone?
I’ve had no children, so there’s no genes, no bloodline to continue. I’ve changed nothing in the world of any significance and certainly nothing that I’ll be remembered for. I’ve created nothing. No great work of art or music or literature. No buildings have i built, no high office have i held. No ocean have i sailed or mountain climbed. Once I’m gone, I’ll almost immediately be forgotten.
Which begs the question, why not just slip away, right now, tonight, before daybreak? It’s so very very tempting.
Addendum added on Thursday 10th March at 13:00
I suppose the other option is to get on and do something that’s worth leaving. Now there’s a thought. Suggestion welcome, but no postcards, use the comment form below.
The Prattlings of a Pervert 
Because you would be missed. Sorely. And because there’s still time for this:
“The Collected Blogs of Severin”
Goodly Press, London
Hardback, Morocco Leather, Gilt Embossed, Gilt-Edged Pages.
280pp
ISBN 978 1 ***** *** 3
And much more…
xJ
Oh i’m liking the Morocco Leather edition.
And thank you.
sev
You leave what every human being leaves behind. Each life you have ever touched, each memory you have given, each smile you have caused.
If only one person’s life is better for having had you in it then you have done something worthwhile; and I know there is more than just one.
Thank you sweetie. Sometimes it’s hard to work out whether i’ve had a positive or a negative overall effect on someone’s life. I’m not sure i’m in credit on that score.
I guess the guy at the big gates will put me in my place on that one.
You don’t know if you left what you do to the loved ones you leave behind. I have had several people commit suicide in my life time. It’s not a good thing. People do care. Great reading by the way. Those thoughts don’t occur to me. I am still trying to figure out what I am suppose to be doing with my life and I have a degree and don’t use it. Not that I can’t but because Corporate America chooses to be the way they are not thinking outside the box as I do. Fuck them all I say.
Hey. Thanks for taking the time to comment, i really appreciate it. I hope that when you figure out what you’re going to do, you have a great success. You certainly have the right attitude.
sev xx
I agree with the above. It’s the life you touch around you that is the most important legacy to leave behind. Who cares about fame and fortune! (Ok, if I am honest I do a bit and will be sorely disappointed if I don’t leave a world famous novel or book of poetry behind me when I leave this Earth).
I suppose the other thing is that yeah, you may never leave anything behind, your life may have been pointless…BUT…was it really pointless if you enjoyed it? Sometimes I think you have to be a little selfish and just enjoy the short time you have regardless of whether you leave anything behind…it’s that love and fun that I believe we take with us whatever happens next (not leave it behind)!
Like the quote on my blog says (courtesy of Dr Who) “Everything we do in life is insignificant, but it’s important that we do it”…I couldn’t agree more!
x
Hey anyone who quotes The Doctor has to be worth listening to. And thank you sweetie.
And keep us posted on the novel or poetry!
sev xx
Hee hee! I will do, mates rates n all that! ; )