“Tell me what your greatest desire is. What is it that you want with your life? What is it that you want to be known for? When your body is laid in a casket, what do you want the mourners to remember you for?”
“Your questions are a bit macabre, aren’t they? I don’t really want to think of my death, nor my funeral.”
“Why not? It is at this time when people will look back on your life and comment on what you did with your time on earth. Do you want to be known as someone who always stood by the sidelines watching pain and suffering? Do you want to be known as the observer, the follower, the one who was passive? If you do not want to be known for these things, you need to take the time now, while you are young, to change your approach to life and living. ”
The room is silent for a while.
“No response? If you want to be known for helping others and for committing yourself to the well-being of those less fortunate, you will need to begin now.”
“What is it that I need to do? I have no way of knowing – there is no-one here who can guide me.”
“Follow me and I will show you. It will mean, though, giving up your comfortable home and coming with me to help the poorest of the poor.”
“I am ready.”
What is it you want with your life?Â
© Colline Kook-Chun, 2014
(This post was inspired by the Five Minute Friday prompt: tell)
Colline's Blog 
Way to provoke deep thoughts about purpose and meaning in life. Love this. Happy FMF!
LikeLike
Thank you so much 🙂
LikeLike
I will leave the comfort of my home to do what Jane Goodall did. Live with wild animals, observe and photograph them. I would love to do that. 😀
Great and thought provoking post Colline. 😀 ♥ Hugs ♥
LikeLike
I think you are doing a little of that Sonel with the creatures that live near you. I enjoy looking at your photographs of all that you see.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Colline and if I had you living next door it would be so much more fun, as I would ask you to write what I can’t describe in words. You have such an amazing way with your words. 😀
LikeLike
Thank you Sonel 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a great challenge! As my younger daughter prepares to leave home I sense that new challenges are on my own horizon. Need to keep my eyes and ears open and my heart ready to receive whatever is offered to me.
LikeLike
As your heart and mind are open, something new is certain to enter your life 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we’re not all cut out to be like Mother Teresa, but if we live our lives in a state of gratitude and don’t close our eyes and ears to the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves, we can all make the world a better place.
LikeLike
The best we can do, I think, is to help those that we come into contact with. There is always someone who needs our help be it financially, emotionally or spiritually.
LikeLike
Not to make anybody unhappy.. the world is full of sorrow – we are here to make each other feel better. Happy Friday, Colline!
LikeLike
I agree. There seem to be enough people on this earth willing to make others unhappy. I also try my best to help those I come into contact with.
LikeLike
Nicely done, Colline. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Ribin 🙂
LikeLike
@”What is it you want with your life?…” – it’s a vast and delicate topic(question)… 🙂 I’d like and I do wish to be useful, but… 1st of all, need to be healthy and in good shape as long as possible, ’cause health is our most precious treasure… if we aren’t healthy, we can’t do much!
LikeLike
I agree with you there. And the health needs to be both physical and mental.
LikeLike
Yes,’Thought provoking’. I was looking for the link to follow on to the place you were taking us! Well written.
I know you are a teacher, Colline, so forgive me, but I read this on Facebook and wondered if you may like to read it; you may even follow this blog! A link – http://pursuitofajoyfullife.com/2014/01/26/what-students-remember-most-about-teachers/
LikeLike
I had already read this article Liz – thanks for sharing it with us. We all remember our teachers – whether they have had a positive or negative effect on us.
LikeLike
Today I started to edit the blogs I follow because there are too many and only so much attention. The blog before yours I told the story of a near suicide plan to walk in front of a train which was “foiled” by a stranger who came over to talk to me. Tell….Now I am so grateful for my life. As a nurse and as a person I know I have helped others. I endeavour each day to see the divine in everyone and to listen to them where they are without judgement. Sometimes obviously this is much easier than others. When I come to the end of my life I want to be a peace with myself.
LikeLike
And part of that, I think, is being there to listen to people. So often that is all a person needs – for their words to be heard and acknowledged.
LikeLike
I think the best legacy to leave this world with,
is the respect of those you left behind, and who crossed your path in your earthly sojourn.
Regards
Emu aka Ian
LikeLike
True. If you show respect to those you meet, they will surely show you respect in return.
LikeLike