Don’t wait until your own life turns into a stranger; someone who doesn’t resemble you; some one you don’t know but still is the “someone” that everyone knows as ‘you’. Always remember that memories live as long as the people bearing them are alive.
It pains me when I see talent wasted, when I see individuals not living up to their full potential.
Is it pure laziness? Or does it have to do with the welfare culture we live in- where everything is laid out for us: our careers and even our marriages?
A human vanity thrives with possessions, so it could be that we only think of today because we own it? Or again can it be simply lack of ambition!
Life is a one-time chance to build your own legacy!! People live longer than their biological lives by keeping their names alive in books, for example, and thus in the minds of people.
People live in their children, even after they are gone, when raised up well to become extensions of them.
Memories survive when our names are attached to concrete achievement.
How do you want to be remembered?
Saad
قد مات اقوام وعاش ذكرهم وعاش اقوام وهم بين الناس اموات Interesting reflection Dr. Amal, I will be back with more thoughts about this issue. سيذكرني قومي اذا جد جدهم وفي الليلة الظلماء يفتقد البدرOctober 3rd, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
Hind Al Khulaifi
I want to be remembered as a believer of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. I want to be remembered as the caring daughter and loving sister. I want to be remembered as the compassionate wife. I want to remembered when people see my children. When people think of me, I want a smile to be drawn on their face. I want to evoke positive memories in the minds of whoever recalls Hind. I want to be remembered for living my life not only for myself but for those I love as well. I am indifferent about being printed on paper. Being printed into someone’s mind and spirit is more lasting, for the Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, “They will enter the Garden of Bliss who have a true, pure, and merciful heart.” I want to be remembered for my true, pure and merciful heart, for Inshallal only then will I rest in peace, knowing I have secured a positive post in both worlds.October 12th, 2009 @ 11:55 pm
Mohammed Alhamadi
I want to be remembered as an artist among the masters of art. Not, only that, but I also want to be remembered as a finder of more talents that would become leading artists in their societies, communities, and their time. We have all the resources that would help us reach such a goal. All we need is the well to work toward that goal, and push the people to believe in themselves . I want myself, and all the other people that share my passion and believe in the talent god gave us to be part of the history. To be know as achievers who created changes, and left their work to speak for them in the future. I want to be remembered as someone who took part in a greater plan that took us from the point we are in now to the higher points which the the greater people of history have reached.October 15th, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
Nada Al-Mahmeed
I never really thought of how I want to be remembered until I read the post. I thought about it for days and I came to the following: I don't want to be remembered as a legend, a hero or an entrepreneur. I don't want to be remembered as that that had brilliant achievements, I'd rather be remembered as that that helped and cared about those who were around her. I want to be remembered by those I affect positively. That does not mean that I am not living up my full potential; I do have talents and I keep developing them. I do care about my studies and I do enjoy it (well, most of it... perhaps some of it!). I do have ambitions and I do want to have a successful life. But would I be disappointed if I never found fame or became a legend in books? Not really. After all, who are you most likely to remember and appreciate? some random famous legend like Gandhi or that close family member, friend, teacher or professor? ...To me, it would definitely be the latter. I want to be remembered as the one who helped, cared about, and positively affected those around me.October 16th, 2009 @ 5:11 pm
Abdulla Ali Al-Kuwari
When Dr. Amal told us about this post weeks ago, I kept reading it again and again, and every time I wanted to post my response to it, I just closed the window. I thought of this question many times in my mind and why couldn't answer it. Was it because I don't have a goal in life? Or was it because I was didn't want to share it? I didn't know what to say. Today morning, I was talking with my friends about one of our best friends who died last Ramadan in a car accident. My friend said: "Allah Yrhimah, he feared God and never wanted any of his friends to be hurt from him. He always made his parents happy". It just struck me. My friend was right. None of us even a slept the night with some hater in his heat for him. I now know what I want people to remember me with. I want people to remember me with three things at least. At first, I want them to know that I fear God and I make my first priority in every aspect of life. Even though I might make sins from time to time, I will return to God and ask for his forgiveness. God is my life and Islam is my religion and nothing is going to make me change my religion or not to ask God for forgiveness. I will always try to do my best to please my God and be a nice Muslim. Secondly, I want people to remember me as a good son, who is always there for his parents. I know I am not known for that, but I promise my self that I will try my best to please my parents. I know that my parents know I am a good son although I argue with them a lot. I don't need to prove that to people, but I will because I need them to think of me the same way my parents do. Finally, I want to be remembered for being there for people all the times. Whenever, wherever, and how ever they needed me, I will be there for them. I was always there for my family and my friends when any of them had issues they need help with even though it would get me in trouble. But, I will do what ever it takes to help them. I do not want anything in return for my favors, I just want them to know I will never say "no" to them. I say it again: I will always be there for them. Thank you doctors for making me think about this question and I hope you answer it too.October 25th, 2009 @ 2:41 am
Naif Al-kaabi
Ok I do not think anybody will read this now, I can write what I want. When I started thinking about this question I said to my self “i do not want to be remembered, I am ok with it.” I sat in silence for a second then realized that on the contrary I do want to be remembered. I want to be remembered as the good friend that would do anything he can to help. I want to be remembered as the stranger that once helped. I want to be remembered as a good brother, son, husband. I want to be remembered as the person that could be friends with anybody. While I do want to be remembered as many things I know that most of these I will not achieve. I wont be that good friend that would do anything because I passed many chances for helping friends or stopping harm from reaching them. I know I wont be remembered as that person that could be friends with anybody because there are a lot of people I do not want to be friends with. I wont be remembered as the good son brother as I know that I do not give my family nearly enough of my time. Good husband that remains to be seen. All this but I still want to be remembered. Again I know I wont be remembered as all these things I mentioned but as long as I am remembered in a positive way that will be good enough.December 3rd, 2009 @ 3:11 am
O. Al-Jaber
Now that's a pretty interesting question. In fact, I thought about this once. I remember I had to land to a tiny little airport called "Motu Mute" south east of the French Polynesia in the bora bora island due to some abnormal vibrations to one of the jet's wings. I had to stay over for the night to get the technical issue fixed. I still remember this as if it happened yesterday. I was heading out to the beach wearing my famous Mickey Mouse flip flab with a smile on my face in "a search for a treasure" kinda of mission… I was carrying a small book with me for Okakura… the book of tea.. I remember. Actually, it has been a long day and I was so tired and wanted to sleep that night but I couldn’t the problem was with the bed, very hard and the pillows were not helping either. I have to admit I have ever fallen in love with a place anywhere in the world like this one. I remember the weather was unbelievably nice that lonely night and the sea breeze was blowing gently in every direction. The stars were even more amazing. They were so luminous that I didn’t use my flashlight for reading. The midnight is different there you should try it for yourself one day. Anyways, I got tired from walking and decided to take a small break so I stretched out and lie down on the warm sand and start reading. I read few pages when your question came to mind. How would I want to be remembered? I came up with more than one answer for this one. One is to be remembered as "someone who did the best he could with the talents he has to serve his country well". Another one was to be remembered as someone who cared.. Someone who cured cancer, who made positive impact on everyone with whom I came in contact with, and the list goes on… and on… but then I thought hold your horses for a sec "O"… how about just not to be remembered at all! How is that? I thought. That was it. Think about it! Okarkura wrote the book, but Allah wrote life. I was trying to use logic to reason with myself here: why Okarkura wrote this book? To be famous? To be remembered? To be rich? I don’t know. Now, do I really care to know? No. Then why on earth made me buy his green book. I just bought it because I heard it was a good book. Can I ask Okarakura today to write me another one? No. why? The guy is dead. So after finishing his book, he will be of no value to me really. I might take a couple of good lessons from it to apply it in my life but that’s about it. If he was a life I would thank him of course… that’s the least I can do. More than that? Maybe invite him over to have a dinner or something to show my appreciation. More? I don’t think so. What I am trying to say here is that he served the purpose of his existence as a writer that's all. I fly jets and therefore I am serving my purpose in life too. What do I want to get out of this risky work of mine? Would people care? Maybe just like they would care for Okarakura or maybe not at all! My conclusion, both of us have purpose to fulfill in life whether to serve humanity/nation/or whatever. Everyone got something to offer. And it is a moral obligation that we do what's in our talent and ability to improve our lives and the lives of the people we live with. But if that was associated with a reward to be remembered… then I don't need it. Now, Do I want to be remembered? If there is anything I want more now is for Allah to have mercy on me. I came out from my mom's womb a stranger and that exactly how I want to exit it. My answer to this question is simple: thank you but I have to pass.October 8th, 2011 @ 3:12 am
Amal Almalki
Everything and everyone serves a purpose, and maybe we’ll be remembered by that purpose. I understand where you’re coming from, but don’t you fear that you will leave this earth without impacting anyone. We do impact events/circumstances by our mere existence. But when our intention is to make a change, no matter how small it is, to leave a mark, no matter how simple it is, then our purpose in life will be complete. I had Mohammed- a student of mine- interrupt me in the office while having my late lunch and catching up on email. This is becoming a pattern; he waits until I’m super-busy then comes in to ask me as he puts it “one simple question,” which is in fact similar to a research question, upon which you can write pages. His question this time was “Why did you dedicate your book to your daughter, who wasn’t born yet?” The question took me by surprise, still I knew deep inside the answer. I finally found my purpose, in which all other purposes will pour. I feel completed and I feel that all meanings and equations of life are crystal clear to me now. P.S. I so want to visit, how do I get to the island?October 8th, 2011 @ 1:10 pm
O. Al-Jaber
Dear- To answer your question, no, I am not afraid at all. I'm actually already constructively impacting lives around me every single day. It may not make sense or add genuine value to the rest of the world but the way I see it, I am making differences in the lives of the people I know and come in contact with and that gives me that sense of personal satisfaction and fulfillment that is more than enough. Again, this is a fundamental question which may or may not have a definite answer. You could always add that gentle dose of philosophy into in and turn it into a research question. With regard to Bora Bora, I believe there are no direct flights from Doha to the Island. Your best bet is to take a flight to a European centre like Paris or London, then pick up another flight to the Island. P.S. while I was reading that night, I wrote my name and draw a big "O" on the sand in an attempt to perpetuate my name through history, that I might never be forgotten. Do me a small favor and check if it still there? I have a hunch in my heart that the tides couldn’t wash it away. I wish you a happy trip in advance =)October 9th, 2011 @ 11:45 am