Since you really want to know what you might be missing, then you would if you keep reading.
Doesn’t it sound weird to say that all you own right now isn’t actually yours?
Oh, what the heck is Chris trying to sound like? The truth is that, you simply own what is yours and still don’t own it.
We live in a world where both the rich and the poor own something, no matter how small the later owns. We are in a world where possessions especially money is now part of our natural course outline.
Before taking some walk into the land of the unknown, a little dive into some real life stories will pave the way into some deep truths worth sharing.
Marvin Gaye 
R&B hit maker Marvin Gaye definitely knew how to belt out chart-toppers, but successfully managing his personal finances was a different story. Much of his professional royalties went toward his two failed marriages and tax troubles that briefly exiled him to Europe.
In order to cover the $600,000 Gaye owed his wife in alimony, he gave her the rights to his album “Here, My Dear.” A serious drug addiction also wiped out his bank account, so when he died Gaye was penniless.
Not good right?
What about the King of POP music?
Micheal Jackson.
The King of Pop, Micheal Jackson is one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Michael Jackson enjoyed unbelievable success that allowed him to live lavishly. But outside of music, his personal life was plagued with drama. When he died in 2009, his estate went bankrupt, and he owned about $500 million to the IRS.
His upcoming music tour was planned solely to resolve his debts, but due to his untimely death it never began.
Below are some popular names you might also know:
- Marvin Gaye
- Micheal Jackson
- Judy Garland
- Franz Schubert was worth $12 when he died
- Poet and Painter William Blake couldn’t earn a living
- Gary Coleman
- Stephen Foster died with 38 cents to his name
- Bela Lugosi
- Judy Garland died owing money to too many people
- Sammy Davis, Jr. died owing $7 million
- Nikola Tesla got screwed out of millions and died a debtor
- Billie Holiday
- Oscar Wilde who died “Above His Means”
- Edgar Allan Poe was a starving artist
- Charlie Parker died penniless, despite changing the face of Jazz
If you take your time to read about each person’s biography or life history, there’s a similarity or common thing that all of them shared. And what’s that?
They all had possessions.
Some like Micheal Jackson was extremely popular and celebrated, some very rich, some were just financially balanced while some others weren’t so okay. That’s just one similarity.
The most interesting thing about all of these people is the fact that they all ended up in the same place but not the same way.
Confused? You shouldn’t, okay.
Each an every one of us owns something. I own this blog, I own a smartphone and other gadgets, I have money, you own stuff too and the list keeps going on and on.
Now, you might be asking, what is so important about what I own that I need to keep reading this article?
The truth is simple, you don’t really own everything you have. Yea.
Who owns it then is another question?
Let’s answer this question. How is’t possible to have something you can’t actually own forever? Does it sound too weird or am I becoming a little bit religious? Oh no, I won’t make it look or sound off topic.
A friend of mine always like reminding me of one saying which says, History keeps repeating itself because no one is listening. Does it make sense to you? I guess yes.
What Do I actually own/possess?
The simple truth that you might never know and no one will ever tell you under normal circumstances is that you can never possess all your belongings forever. Don’t feel sad, there’s also some good news at the end of this article.
My dad told me how much he loved my seriousness in school and would want me to become someone remarkable in the future. I always worked had to achieve those dreams and put a smile on his face.
I remember promising my dad that I will make sure I become someone he would be happy to have and be proud of.
Well, the story wasn’t so cool.
He died even before I finished high school. He isn’t here anymore to smile and raise my hands up in satisfaction.
But, what he gave when he was alive is actually what he owns.
The real proof of ownership is the ability to be able to transfer the rights of ownership or probably share it.
The richest people you know who have passed away all owned what you might be dreaming to also own. The cars, clothes, houses, children, lands, jewelry and all the good things in life. It’s just a funny circle of dreams.
If you can’t really give out what you have, you don’t even own it.
People are mostly known on the day they are born and remembered or forgotten the day they die. You will be forgotten if you never gave what you have and be remembered for the things you gave, whether materially or in abstraction.
When the time comes, everyone only goes to the great beyond with just nothing. Seriously, the things that made most people take lives and laws into their hands, break the laws, cause societal havoc to others and other evil acts will all be left to those who weren’t even a part of it.
See if you can remember some great individuals that are dead but the world is still remembering in one way or the other.
The world only remembers those who give her something to keep for others, whether good or bad.
Most of the richest men in the world today like Bill Gates will never be forgotten because they don’t just own, but are giving out in large quantities. His knowledge has brought advancement in the field of computer science and others including you and I are benefiting.
Mark Zuckerberg didn’t keep his idea of Facebook to himself initially, he made it known and then brought it to everyone. Facebook is free and accessible to everyone today. Why on earth would he be forgotten? Even if he’s no more, what he has left behind will certainly remain his’ because he gave it out.
The real show of ownership is the ability to give it out. You can’t actually give what you don’t really own.
- Even the Bible says that it’s more blessed to give than to receive.
- Chemistry shows that the electron donor becomes positive +ve while the acceptor becomes negative -ve
- A river that gives out it waters stays fresh while those that always reserves might become like the dead sea.
- When you give, you open up more spaces to accumulate more.
The happiest thing you could always keep repeating as you journey this path is the attitude of giving, whether paid or free. You could give out your wisdom, knowledge, skill, money, houses, cars, wears or if possible your life and it will then be yours still.
They are too many soldiers in the American Army and it’s very hard to know each and every one of them. But, America never forgets any American soldier that has sacrificed their skill or gave out for the country or his fellow soldiers. You keep seeing Hollywood movies dedicated to soldiers and patriots who knew that to keep what you have, you should give it out.
I love something I found in my school’s library, inside a book about the World War.
If you can, just think about every person that the world still remembers, if you search a little more, it’s actually what they gave or did that will always keep the memories of them in the sands of time.
Why do we/the world remember people like:
- Mary Slessor
- Marin Luther King
- Nelson Mandella
- Charles Babbage
- Jesus Christ of Nazareth
- John Lennon
- Bill Gates
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Benjamin Carson
- Socrates
- Aristotle
- Wole Soyinka
- Harriet Tubman
- Irena Sendler
- Abraham Lincoln
- Thaddeus Stevens
- Etc
They all gave out and the world can’t help but always remember them because they left something for others to keep.
If you keep on chasing the fantasies of life without looking at what will be left when you aren’t around, you will be forgotten and only remembered as a reference to someone who wasn’t contributive in their lifestyle.
Conclusion
Each moment, a life is added and taken out of this earth and only the names of a few are remembered in the hearts of others. To make yourself remembered for good, think of how to become a better person, be useful to yourself and the society and then think of how you can keep an image of you on earth even when you aren’t around.
You could also check out how to live a happy life and feel free to drop your feedback, ask questions and share as well.
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