This is how I want to live it. It may not be how I live, but it is the way I want to live. I want to live my life in such a way that it will be remembered. I want to leave an impression on everyone I come in contact with.

I want to live as Thoreau said, "to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and spartan like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to it's lowest terms."

I want to be open and honest with everyone, to be remembered by my actions. I want to lead my life in such a way that I can be respected. I want to live my life so I can be an example for others. I want to aspire for greatness but never be famous. I want to live sure of myself. If I doubt myself, others will too. I want to live my life in such a way so that in the future I won't regret my past.

I want to believe in myself. I want to capture the strength I have deep inside. I want to believe in tomorrow and what it might bring. I want to be able to trust and in turn be trusted.

I want to begin every day thinking this is the beginning of a new day. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important because I am using a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever leaving in its place, something I traded for it.

I want to be a friend to everyone. I want to always have a dream. I want to be remembered for the good I did in my life. People won't remember what I said, people won't remember what I did, but they will always remember how I made them feel.

"I shall pass through this world, but once. Any good therefore that I can show, to any human being, let me do it now for I shall never pass this way again."

--- Copyright © 1999 Nathanael Stakland --- Iowa