Still trying to accept the fact that my uncle has just passed away last Saturday, I've decided to choose the song 'Live Like We're Dying'. It was originally sung by The Script (whom I've no idea of) but I heard it first by Kris Allen (the guy who beat Adam Lambert in so many ways at so many levels). I don't think my uncle had ever heard of this song but I'm pretty sure he would be one person who would be a great believer in the messages written in the lyrics.
Sometimes we fall down, can't get back up
We're hiding behind skin that's too tough
How come we don't say I love you enough?
'Til it's to late, it's not too late
Our hearts are hungry for a food that won't come
And we could make a feast from these crumbs
And we're all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you, what would you wish you would've done?
Yeah, we gotta start lookin' at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got, then we gotta start thinkin'
If every second counts on a clock that's tickin'
Gotta live like we're dying
We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em while we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying
And if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbye?
Should be so careful who we left out of our lives
And when we long for absolution, there will be no one on the line
Yeah, we gotta start lookin' at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got, then we gotta start thinkin'
If every second counts on a clock that's tickin'
Gotta live like we're dying
We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em while we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying
Oh, like we're dying, oh, like we're dying
Like we're dying, oh, like we're dying
We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em while we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying
You never know a good thing 'til it's gone
You never see a crash 'til it's head on
Why do we think we're right when we're dead wrong?
You never know a good thing 'til it's gone
Yeah, gotta start lookin' at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got, then we gotta start thinkin'
If every second counts on a clock that's tickin'
Gotta live like we're dying
We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em while we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying
Oh, like we're dying, oh, like we're dying
Like we're dying, oh, like we're dying
We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em while we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying
People tend to think that 'Death' is the very antithesis to 'Life'. Those people are wrong. Just like how 'Hatred' is not the direct opposite of 'Love' (I think 'Indifference' is because to hate someone means to accord that person a degree of emotion that still comes from your heart rather than just a pure disregard), 'Life' and 'Death' go hands in hands because, most of the time, we'll see the value of life only when death approaches. Only with the idea of dying do we start to appreciate the lease of time we're being given as the contract will eventually come to an end.
The lyrics are about taking chances and and all the opportunities given to us. Yes, dreaming was, and still is, the beginning of every great inventions and innovations we see around us today but those dreamers woke up from their dreams to materialise the ideas they were dreaming about. Most of the time, we would be so caught up in our dreams we fail to realise that we've missed out on chances and opportunities to turn those dreams into realities. We also tend to fail to see that rather than waiting for chances and opportunities to come knocking, we could (or maybe should) be making our own chances and opportunities. I'm guilty of this crime of mere existence against the exploration of life,
Another message in the lyrics is about living a life full of love as we explore and venture into various ideas and imaginations. As a flawed person, I could personally identify with the lyrics of the song about longing for grandeur and greatness that would so often cause me to forget those around me in my attempt to impress strangers and people I barely know. While there's nothing wrong to pursue dreams and ambitions, it's a pure mistake to take for granted those who stand by us because it's a greater shame to be at the top, having achieved all our dreams, without sharing the success with those who should matter to us. It's understandable that in our rush to be great and make our marks in the world, we would forget our family and close friends. I'd admit I'm also guilty of this crime now and again but as the lyrics remind me, 'We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em while we got the chance to say' before they disappear in front of our very eyes.
Long story short, the reason I'm finding it hard to accept my uncle's death is due to the sudden nature of it. He only started showing his symptoms barely two or three months ago and I had thought I would still have time to meet him. His untimely demise makes me realise how fleeting life is and that sometimes, I won't get the chance to say things I want to say and do things I want to do.
One of the advice my uncle once gave me was that I should enjoy and explore life. He said that as important an education was, my life shouldn't be restricted to mere academia because experiencing life, in itself, was an education.
To end this, I'll live you guys with a stanza of quote by Jack London, an American novelist:
I would rather be ashes than dust,
a spark burnt in a brilliant blaze, than be stifled in dry rot...
For man's chief purpose is to live, not to exist;
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them;
I shall use my time.
So yeah, live your life. Take chances. Dream big. Spread your wings. But never forget to love those around you. And always come back home to your family.
God bless you, Pak Lang. Rest in peace.
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