Most of the people I genuinely want to emulate have died long ago. Why?
The dead can’t do new, inspiring things, but if they’ve already left behind plenty, that’s not a problem. On the other hand, they can also no longer make mistakes. There’s no more room for them to squander their legacy or fall out of my good graces. They’re dependable in a way the living aren’t.
When a person’s story is complete, it’s easier to focus on one specific aspect of their life and take that as an ideal to aspire to. The people you know evolve every day, but what if they move on from a trait you hoped to cultivate? You don’t say, “I’d love to be like Mary was seven years ago.” You could. But it feels a little strange if you still grab coffee with a very different Mary once a quarter.
Bruce Lee’s mix of humility and confidence. Avicii’s relentless pursuit of original perfection. Seneca’s thoughtfulness. The dead no longer change—and that’s both the saddest and best part about them.
Yes, stay present. Always look around. Give credit and draw courage from the people you meet every day. Just don’t forget the honorable dead—after all, that’s how we gift them immortality.
