The Internet Makes Us Immortal But Most People Don't Use It That Way
If you had to guess, how many paintings do you think Van Gogh sold before he passed away?
During his lifetime, Van Gogh sold only one painting for £16.
That means all of his fame came AFTER he passed. One could say he was misunderstood for his time. I prefer to say that he created a style so profound that it stood the test of time.
If you’re anything like me, you probably have aspirations to do big things in life.
While we’re not aiming for post-mortem fame, it helps that anything we create now can be viewed by anyone for the rest of time.
When I create, sometimes I act like I’m talking to my future grandkids. I want to be the cool grandpa who has relatable fun stories. I didn’t get to watch videos of my grandparents as kids. I didn’t get to read their journals when they were in their mid-20s. But mine can, and I hope they do.
It’s also just fun to say I was thinking that far ahead when I was in my mid-twenties.
Passing on your genes (aka a version of ourselves) to the next generation so that our lineage can live beyond our time on Earth is why we developed every single instinct, our senses, and behavioral reward system (ie: workout, feel good, sit around, feel bad).
The same need to replicate our genes goes for our ideas (aka our legacy).
Fame is worthless when you’re dead, but your legacy can live forever if you leave a legacy worth remembering.
We’re one of the first generations capable of having our lives stay on the internet forever, so why not give future generations something good to remember?
This post was inspired by a Tweet I read by a great content curator & writer, Trung Phan
That clip is hands down one of the best Dr.Who episodes ever. Brought a tear to my eye first time I saw it <3
Great read Ezra. The vibe of leaving crumbs for the future generations to identify with and learn from resonated!