The first time I watched the movie 300 I was in awe of the might and glory of each of the warriors. I found it incredible that I was watching the telling of a true story that occurred nearly 2500 years ago. It was the first time in my life that I realized human beings innate desire to be remembered. As a warrior in ancient Greece, your entire life was spent committing acts in hopes that one day after you were gone there would be songs sung and stories told about you. Even now, humans are still driven by this desire to remembered. Since the days of gaining honor and glory through swordsmanship and battles are behind us (or at least are something most of us want to avoid), I began asking myself, "What can I do to be remembered?"
At first it sounds like a self-centered question. And at first I took a self-centered approach. In trying to carve out my own space in the history books, I sought out opportunities to be the center of attention. I honed my craft as the entertainer of any room I was in, often at the expense of other people. It was a slippery slope and it didn't take long for me to realize how forgettable these behaviors were.
I began evaluating memorable people in this world and it didn't take me long to understand where I'd gone astray in my effort to be remembered.
People that are remembered for good things in this world are not remembered for what they did, they are remembered for what they did for others.
If you want to carve out your own space in the history books, then look around and see how you can help others. People don't remember those that help themselves, but they never forget being helped.
Action
Do something for someone this week that they will remember for a long time.
Question
If you were to die tomorrow, how long would you be remembered?
Quote
"I heard you die twice / once when they bury you in the grave /
And the second time is the last time that somebody mentions your name."
- Macklemore; "Glorious"