You Only Live Forever.

In my debut book, “You’re Already Dead,” I take the experience and lessons from my dad’s life, and passing, and delve into some of the themes that come to define our lives. Or I should say, how we live, all intertwined with the transient nature of life. Based on his beliefs, I could have titled the book: “You Only Live Forever.”

In the chapter on education, I wrote: “Birth, death, and rebirth are facts of existence. This pattern is evident in the cosmos and around us. Your life and existence are no different and are part of this same pattern. If we are not physically or spiritually reborn, a part of who and what we are will be. Let that part be something that makes the place you inhabited, and the space inside people that you inhabit after you’re gone, better than before you ever arrived.”

Our lives are fleeting when measured against the backdrop of the universe’s vast expanse and age. Yet, within this brief moment of existence, we have the power to create something, anything, or even nothing. Our actions, our love, our creations—these can resonate beyond the tick of the clock, reaching through generations and impacting others, or the world, in ways we may never fully comprehend.

Think about all the people who have touched you in some way, left a mark of love, wisdom, or guidance. They may not be part of your life anymore, or might not even be on Earth anymore for that matter, yet they live on, immortalized through their impact and influence.

This is the essence of “You Only Live Forever.” It’s the idea that while our bodies, our lives, our very moment here, are temporary, our legacy, that is, the way we lived, can traverse the eternal expanse of time as we will live on in others.

Lately, my freshly minted 4-year-old has been intrigued by a YouTube video, one in which the camera zooms out from the iris of a young woman to the furthest reaches of the universe. “Wow Uppa, that’s so many Suns!” Eternal Sun’s indeed, sweetheart…

So, while “You’re Already Dead” serves as a reminder of life’s fragility and its sacredness, “You Only Live Forever” is its counterpoint, urging us to live in a way that honours existence. It’s a call to live consciously, purposefully, and with love, crafting a legacy that endures beyond the confines of our physical existence.

In this light, we see that eternal life is not about the continuation of our physical being but about the lasting impact of our existence. It’s about living in such a way that even when we’re gone, we remain a living force in the hearts and minds of those who follow.

“…Birth, death, and rebirth are facts of existence…”

Have a blessed Easter.

Thank you for reading.