Forever

So, this kind of recently just came to me. I haven't really thought it all the way through, but I think the more I write it the more it will manifest. It's going to be a bit bumpy in terms of what I'm talking about so just a warning, may get a bit emotional. It also may get lengthy, or not at all ha. Nonetheless, FOREVER, lets talk.For·ev·er - for all future time; for always. Synonyms: continually, continuously, constantly, perpetually, incessantly, endlessly, persistently, repeatedly, regularly.I often like to start an article by looking at what the by the book definition is of the topic I'm writing about. It not only gets me in the mindset, but can often reveal more about what I would like to write. Its funny because todays title is not indicative of what I actually want to write about. It's actually the opposite.We always talk about forever...we joke about "finding our forever", or find some similar cheesy quote written in fancy script that we can splatter on a piece of glass, frame, and hang in our living room. When in reality nothing is forever, it all comes to an end. More specifically our lives, our relationships, our goals, our everything... ends. You see we have these quotes of "be my forever" or "forever not being long enough" and I think in reality it's not the forever that we want. It isn't the forever that we long for. It's the now, its the actual living part of life.  It's about  becoming our best selves and being true to what we want, what matters to us, and who we care about.I think in death we are exposed to this. Death is the sharp realization of forever not being true. Most often we see death and find sorrow. We take time to grieve and take time to remember, but death also brings us a few other things. It's often in death we reflect, we find prioritization, we find courage. In reflection we see the greatness of a life that has been lived, a life that prospered and brought meaning and joy to the world. In prioritization we see our realization of what is important to us, what we should spend more time on, and who we should spend more time with. In courage we find the strength to verbalize our thoughts, to say the things we haven't, and to do the things we never thought possible or even the things we said we'd never do. It motivates us to live the life we have, because it sheds a light on the ultimate conclusion that we often hide in the back of our minds, that we all have a limited time to live.So, what is it we long for? If it's not forever, then what is it? To me my life is a constant strive for living. It isn't about being here forever, but it is about knowing that you have gone after what makes you happy and lived intentionally. I've said this before, but I think we find meaning in relationships and responsibility. This is why I think having a fulfilling career, raising a family, getting "married", maintaining healthy relationships, etc..is so crucial. In all this we find our meaning, we find our fulfillment. I think what we seek  is just that. To be able to know that in our last moments, whether it's at 22 or 97 to look back and know that we did the things that we cared about, with the people we love. We woke up each day and lived in those amazing moments, we lived purposefully, we lived intentionally.Sometimes it's a break through at work, finding that answer with the team you've been working with for months. Sometimes it's a calm moment at a campsite in the early morning, learning how to throw a lure for the first time. Sometimes its a phone call to talk about your last game and how it went. And sometimes its three lawn chairs in a driveway laughing the night away while drinking a Budweiser. Its in these moments that we define ourselves. It's in how we carry the load for others, it's in the relationships that we show our love and our feelings. You see its not about the forever, it's actually about quite the opposite. Its about knowing that we lived our lives as if they were on purpose. Its about remembering the amazing times we had, it's about sharing moments. Because we never know when our time will come, but we do know that we can give our everything to each day we have and THAT is what matters. That is what we will be remembered by, and that is what we should live for. Its not about living forever, its about living.On purpose,Matt"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why they call is the present." - Master Oogway