I wrote this a while ago, figured it is relevant to what we do. Sorry if it's been said before. Then again, somethings need to be reinforced. I edited a few things to make it apply a little more.
_____________________________________
"What are you doing with your life... and why should I care?"
I was walking through the halls of an unidentifiable building. People running every which way. I reach the double doors near the front of the building. I see two young men walking through up the stairs with fire arms. My heart races and places itself in my throat. I run the other way. The building is surrounded. everywhere I imagine a shooter to be, they are. everything I fear to happen, takes place. I become their target. The dream fades to black.
I wake up.
The difference between my dream and those others', is that when their dream fades to black, some of them don't wake up, and are left with their life on a pedestal and must answer for what they have done. And most of the time, their life is not "complete". I am extremely lucky to not have had to go through a tragedy such as this. But there's no telling when your life could be put to a halt. Yes, this all may sound corny, but it's a good question to ask yourself. What are you doing with your life, and why should we care? We all have hobbies, passions, goals and dreams, but what do they do for others? Are you seeking self success? You may do magic, write, draw, paint, act, play music, dance, sing, do stuff with computers or cars even, the list goes on; but what does this do in the long run? I make the mistake myself of turning what I do, my dreams and goals, into a journey of self. I have trouble stepping back and thinking about what it does for others. Instead, as many do, I imagine the red carpet or the name in lights. The standing ovation or the shiny gold trophy. But most of the time, I forget to imagine what does what I do, do for others? How do I make them them feel? Because when I die, and as tragedies in the past have shown (9/11, Columbine, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma City, etc...) Our life doesn't have a countdown timer. we could get into the car today and then be hit and die 5 minutes later, maybe less. Then what? What does it matter that we can flourish, perform invisible sleights, can sing like an angel, can fix a computer after it's died? You are not remembered for that. No one cares. Unless you do something with it.
The magician David Blaine, wrote in his manifesto:
In order to live a fulfilled life, one must resist temptations surrounding them:
• Never overindulge.
• Have few extravagances.
• Resist addiction.
• Respect all life.
• Remember that a mistake is only a mistake when you fail to learn from it.
• Accumulate knowledge. Listen. Read. Observe.
• Visit the ocean.
• Try to interact with all different types of people from all walks of life.
• Wonder and be amazed.
• Love and respect those close to you.
• Learn to love yourself.
• Pursue your dreams and goals with passion. Our potential to create is limitless.
• Don't create a robot that's superior to human beings or it will wipe out the human race.
Not much is guaranteed in life.
One thing is.
We're all going to die.
_____________________________________
"What are you doing with your life... and why should I care?"
I was walking through the halls of an unidentifiable building. People running every which way. I reach the double doors near the front of the building. I see two young men walking through up the stairs with fire arms. My heart races and places itself in my throat. I run the other way. The building is surrounded. everywhere I imagine a shooter to be, they are. everything I fear to happen, takes place. I become their target. The dream fades to black.
I wake up.
The difference between my dream and those others', is that when their dream fades to black, some of them don't wake up, and are left with their life on a pedestal and must answer for what they have done. And most of the time, their life is not "complete". I am extremely lucky to not have had to go through a tragedy such as this. But there's no telling when your life could be put to a halt. Yes, this all may sound corny, but it's a good question to ask yourself. What are you doing with your life, and why should we care? We all have hobbies, passions, goals and dreams, but what do they do for others? Are you seeking self success? You may do magic, write, draw, paint, act, play music, dance, sing, do stuff with computers or cars even, the list goes on; but what does this do in the long run? I make the mistake myself of turning what I do, my dreams and goals, into a journey of self. I have trouble stepping back and thinking about what it does for others. Instead, as many do, I imagine the red carpet or the name in lights. The standing ovation or the shiny gold trophy. But most of the time, I forget to imagine what does what I do, do for others? How do I make them them feel? Because when I die, and as tragedies in the past have shown (9/11, Columbine, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma City, etc...) Our life doesn't have a countdown timer. we could get into the car today and then be hit and die 5 minutes later, maybe less. Then what? What does it matter that we can flourish, perform invisible sleights, can sing like an angel, can fix a computer after it's died? You are not remembered for that. No one cares. Unless you do something with it.
The magician David Blaine, wrote in his manifesto:
In order to live a fulfilled life, one must resist temptations surrounding them:
• Never overindulge.
• Have few extravagances.
• Resist addiction.
• Respect all life.
• Remember that a mistake is only a mistake when you fail to learn from it.
• Accumulate knowledge. Listen. Read. Observe.
• Visit the ocean.
• Try to interact with all different types of people from all walks of life.
• Wonder and be amazed.
• Love and respect those close to you.
• Learn to love yourself.
• Pursue your dreams and goals with passion. Our potential to create is limitless.
• Don't create a robot that's superior to human beings or it will wipe out the human race.
Not much is guaranteed in life.
One thing is.
We're all going to die.
