In 100 years … all new people

I’ve thought about this idea a lot. In about 100 years (maybe now it’s 125 or 150 as technology goes), the planet will essentially be completely rid of everyone that’s alive today and crawling with a completely new set of people.

The whole myriad of people who play the characters in all the stories of your life, appearing throughout all the dramas and heartbreaks and in every wild love story or sweet friendship, absolutely none of them will still be alive 100-ish years from now.

There’s something about being aware of that reality that completely shifts my perception of everybody around me and every so-called problem I might be facing. With this awareness in mind, somehow otherwise bothersome things just lose their angry charge and the love I already have for my community swells up richer and even more full than it was a moment before (when I was caught in that funny belief that we will all be here forever).

I look at my delicious, beloved friends and my brilliant family, and it occurs to me that I’m sharing the planet with a unique set of individuals that only showed up here within the last 60 or so years, and in another 60 or so years will never be here again.

I just think that’s really worth taking notice of.

I implore you – RIGHT NOW – reach out and tell someone what an incredible honor it is to share this planet with them. I promise it’ll be among the coolest messages they’ll receive today. (and maybe … ever!)

Because that’s what we’re doing: we’re sharing this planet with a completely unique bunch of human beings who just happen to be breathing alongside us during this itty-bitty teensy-weensy slice of precious time … and in 100 years more, like it or not, there’ll be all new people.

p.s. I heard this brilliant quote years ago and don’t know who to attribute it to. Could be one of my new favorite authors, Anne Lamott. Might be author Richard Carlson (Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff).