If you had the choice, would you live a long happy life and die an "average joe" so to speak, or would you live a short life of extreme ups and downs, but die a legend?
I was thinking about that recently, especially after I watched "Lady Sings The Blues"; a movie about the life of Billie Holiday and starring Diana Ross. Billie was a legend in her own right. What a voice...but what a life. She went through so much crap and intentionally put herself through so much more crap with cocaine. Yet, she will forever be remembered. Immortalised. Legendary. Like James Dean. He died so young, but would he have been the legend he is now had he grown old, lost his hair and gained 100lbs? No he wouldn't. I have a poster of James Dean, looking into the camera, God he was sexy. The cigarettes, the cool rugged handsomness. No wonder so many men smoke. They want to be James Dean, and let's face it, on some men its just so god damn sexy. Luke Perry has that James Dean kind of thing going on too. But he will never be the legend that James is. Is it because he's still around? Still growing old? Marilyn Monroe was amazing, but would she be the giant figure she is now had she not died in such tragic circumstances? Probably not. Sure she would always have been Marilyn Monroe, but with the withering away of her looks and sex appeal would come the trembling of her legendary status. Mystery is what keeps things interesting. That's why 40's and 50's stars are remembered by us much more than the stars of today will be remembered by our children. There's no mystery when you know every private detail of someone's life.
If I could choose, I think I would rather die young but die a legend. To live a life of passion, to live a life doing something you love, to be ALIVE. Life is nothing without passion; whether its passion about your work, passion about someone, passion for a cause. That's the way I want to live, and that's what I would choose.
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7 comments:
i disagree entirely,become a legend
and die of old age,tragedy sells allright but not for those who die
I'd rather laugh with the sinners,
than die with the saints.
...only the good die young
-- Billy Joel --
a very interesting line and a very interest thought you have. A question that even to this day i can't answer because there's a lot to it. I mean it sucks that you die, we glorify those people who tragically died at a young age so suddenly because we get to do the glorifying. i mean we don't have the bitter end of the stick where we are actually dead.
But to choose: i'd have to say die young with a bang. I don't know what it is but the fascination with "ephemerality", things that are short lived. The word itself is gorgeous ! To die young is to be stripped of your full potential, but to compensate, we make that short lived time something incredible that is worth a short life three fold.
You know in Japan, the famous Cherry Blossom trees, the pinkish "Sakura" is what they call them; they have an interesting philosophy that isn't very known to the public.
It isn't just the delicious sensation to the eye that most Japanese and people around the world appreciate them. I can't remember the name of the philosophy, but what makes these Sakura so beautiful is the exact moment they get seperated from their branch or stem by a gust of wind and then its true form is there. The exact moment it begins to fall... it lives. It goes on to fulfill its truest form and beauty as it is decending down from its mother tree and its last breath is taken away. ..............AMASINGGGGGG !! no wonder the japanese are genious, i mean to think that the most beautiful aspect of a flower/tree is when it dies, or on its way to death, or just seperated from life. I think that's how i think, or at least feel about this topic.
sank you very much... hehe
what a beautiful way to put it. the cherry blossom is my favourite tree, that's so true..in its beauty there is the knowledge that death will soon come to it. and in its short life the sakura gives enough beauty to haunt us until the next coming of spring.
Thats all very true but for the cherry blossom they will come to life again the following Spring but unfortunately humans do not!!
To Elizabeth...
...true, unless your Buddhist, beleive in the cycle of death and rebirth and the inescapable circle of samsara !
I love blogs, you can reply to anyone. Good talking to you Elizabeth.. hehe
Yeh, I know, its great. I'm thinking of starting my own 'Blog' but I could never be as great as Zena. The though of 'what to write about'frightens me.
thank you that's really sweet, but if you want to start a blog just go for it. i don't think im that great, it's subjective. some people will like your stuff, others won't, but if it's something that you want to do then i say go for it!
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