Live to the Max

We are all collectors.

We spend our lives gathering piles of whatever it is we treasure…and then we die.

That’s pretty much it isn’t it?

There is something inside of us that perpetually calls out for more.

Keep collecting, always collecting.

Enough is never enough.

For some it’s hoarding away money and treasures.

For others, it is constantly hunting down likes and comments.

What an incredible waste of a lifetime.

What a shame it would be to hustle each day for a collection such as this.

It’s like the man who spends his life digging for what is later revealed to be fools gold.

To most it appears to have value, but the trained eye can spot the counterfeit with ease.

Life is short. That is true. Painfully true sometimes.

But despite its duration, life doesn’t have to be empty.

Those who choose to store up meaningless collections may find their life to be “full” and yet, devastatingly empty.

When your life is surveyed at its conclusion, what will remain?

You see, whatever you collected in your lifetime, will inevitably pass on to the collectors left behind.

What from your collection will be paraded in front of those grieving your absence?

If your collection consist of things, your funeral will likely not feature scrapbooks of your possessions for attendees to admire. Instead, your many trinkets and valuables will be snatched up by friends and family. While the rest of your earthly collection will likely be sifted through by strangers at a Goodwill somewhere.

If your collection is mostly monetary, it is unlikely that they will put your bank statements on display to commemorate your accomplishments. They will not read your investment earnings as your eulogy. The pile of money you have collected will just be moved into the hands of the next person in line.

If your collection has been focused on the approval of strangers, your obituary will likely not have screenshots of your most viral posts. People will not remember the highly edited version of your online persona. Instead, they will remember the version of you that wears no filters to cover their flaws. The person who walked beside them in real life, the you that lives without a delete button for the unflattering moments. That’s who you leave them with.

Instead, may we become collectors of the most valuable things on earth. Things that make life full.

Meaningful conversations, inside jokes, irreplaceable memories, and moments of generosity.

Most importantly, may we collect the love and affection of the beautiful souls that refer to us as “theirs.”

These are the type of collections worth writing eulogies about.

These are the type of collections that hold value during our end of life assessment.

These collections will be sorted through with joyful tears from those who loved us the most.

They will find the most prominent display case to showcase our collection forever, compelled to share its beauty with the world.

We are all collectors.

We spend our lives gathering piles of whatever it is we treasure…and then we die.

Collect what matters.