Write your own Obituary
This year Nomor decided to commemorate his birthday a bit differently than normal. He had just reached a quarter of a century and was somewhat enthralled at this new phase in his life. After first stretching and then checking the many posts on his social media page he slipped downstairs, as to not wake his parents, and opened the front door to grab the paper that was on the front steps. Before stepping inside he hurriedly loosed the rubber-band and thumbed through the pages arriving at his favorite section... [The Obituaries] . You may find it odd, but ever since he was a kid this was the section of the paper that he most enjoyed reading. He even kept a scrapbook of his favorite posts.
Today was different, today he decided that after being on earth for this many years he was going to write his own Obit. As morbid as that sounds it was an action that "changed his Life"... or perhaps you could even say "changed his death" forever.
Armed with a pad and paper he began to write and started out as most Obits do.
"Nomore Regrets age 26, died at home in Hollis, NY, on Sunday, January 4th, 2016. The cause was unknown.
Born January 4th, 1990, in Farfield CT, where he lived for 16 years, before settling in Queens. He ..... ............. He..... ....He ......<ummmmm>
Suddenly, Nomore found himself stuck, at times not knowing what he could write at other times writing something and then quickly erasing as he thought to himself; Hmmm, I don't want to be remembered for that. He toiled all day, trying to find something worthwhile, something honorable, something admirable that he could write but just found recounted moments of failure, moments of little substance. His day ended with him feeling burdened and quite depressed, and after he finally got to sleep he had a dream that changed everything.
The following day he got up early. He first stretched then quickly kneeled at his bedside and prayed earnestly more than he has ever done before. He got that same pad that caused him so much angst the day before and before you know it, he had a sparkling obituary that could be compared even to the likes of Mother Teresa & Gandhi.
For the next 364 days he lived life with a spring in his step, with a twinkle in his eye. He launched a community center in the matter of weeks. He shoveled his entire block during the winter. He volunteered at a soup kitchen. He told the corniest jokes yet at the most necessary times resulting in a melody of laughter.
Then on Jan 4th, 2016, now at the age of 26, Nomor passed in his sleep while on his favorite chair, clutching that notebook, now filled with the chronicles of his last year. As the paramedics removed the notebook from his hand they noticed that his right thumb was bookmarked on a page with a bunch of checkmarks. At closer glance this page was actually the obituary he wrote a year before filled with sentences that started with the prefix "He was.... " then followed by phrases such as "...generous to his family", "...known for praying for those who hated him", "....a man of his word", "..known to create laughter"....
and on and on and on.
Next to every single one of these sentences was a [Checkmark] and the closing statement was as such
"He will certainly be missed, however even in death his legacy will still live, so live life with...... No-Mor Regrets"
Now I don't know where you are on this journey called life. Perhaps you too have wondered what would your obituary say.
I do want you to Know this!!!
You may not be able to write your life's [start] and [end] times .... but you can certainly write and live your own obituary.
I pray that you too have a dream and a vision not just for your life but also for your legacy and that when your number is called and we open up your pad that it will be filled with check-marks too.