Contentment is the only real wealth.
—Alfred Nobel
For a bit of inspiration today, let's look at a story of a mistaken obituary and the question this situation calls to mind: What would you like in your obituary? Or in other words, how would you like to be remembered?
A Morning Surprise
Newspapers and other publications usually keep obituaries on file for famous people so that they are prepared to print them at a moment's notice.
This is a fact that Alfred Nobel discovered one morning when he was reading his morning newspaper and discovered, to his surprised, that his name was in the obituary column.
Alfred Nobel: The Dynamite King
Today we all know Alfred Nobel in connection to the great Nobel Prize, but that wasn't what he was known for most of his life. In 1867 he had invented dynamite and this discovered made him a very rich man.
Back to the obituary. After getting over the shock of reading that he was dead, he became curious and read on to see what the paper wrote about him. Surely it would mention his contribution to humanity.
The Merchant of Death
He was right, it did; but, not in the way he was expecting. It read:
"The merchant of death is dead."
It continued, "Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday."
I don't know about you, but reading those words would feel like someone kicked me right in the gut.
Shocked and disappointed that this is how he was thought of, he decided then and there that he wanted to be remembered as aiding peace, not profiting from death.
Making a New Legacy
Nobel donated nearly all his considerable fortune—about $472 million when adjusted for inflation—to the establishment of the Nobel Prizes.
It was a good choice. Today few remember him as the inventor of dynamite and instead his name is synonymous with and instantly conjures up images of the Nobel Prices, specifically the Nobel Peace Prize.
How Would You Like To Be Remembered
We don't have to wait for our own obituary to be mistakingly printed to make a decision like that. After finishing this article, pause for a few moments and ask yourself how you want people to remember you after you are dead. Will you be missed? Will you be spoken well of? What will your legacy be? Be honest with yourself. If you don't like the answers, maybe you should consider Alfred Nobel's example.
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David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. |
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