Bittersweet Life

12/03/24

I often find myself contemplating the future greats. The ones no one now on earth will get to know. Those who will know our names, yet we’ll never return the favour.

The great and classic novels of the future, that will change and inspire the world in ways unprecedented, we’ll never get to read.

The art that will hang in the Louvre alongside the Mona Lisa, we’ll never get to see.

The music that will change the course of history, we’ll never get to hear.

The great films that will touch the hearts of many, we’ll never get to watch.

The leaders who will inspire change and progress, we’ll never get to experience.

The discoveries that will advance human consciousness, we’ll never get to find.

The magic of scientific discovery, we’ll never get to take for granted.

How much history will come long after we’re all gone, when people will know our names, our work, our discoveries, yet theirs we’ll know not?

In this contemplation my mind lands on the many greats of the past, whom we know, but never knew us. Those who had the misfortune of coming before us, and thus, never seeing all we’ve been blessed to realise since their departure.

It makes me appreciate all the future history we will get to see, before our time on earth comes to pass. All we’ll have the pleasure to discover brand new. All that those before don’t get to.

It’s the sweet blessing of life, all the history we get to see, the history we get to be; and yet the bitter tragedy of death, all the future we’ll never reach. It’s all part of this bittersweet life, why can’t it come without the promise of death?