I don’t want to dwell on death, really. But, just as Dylan Thomas used his gift to write poetry that stirs the soul, and gives us ammunition when contemplating the end of life, so also Robin Williams used his comedic talents to inspire others to deal with life’s problems and to live with gusto. I will never forget his wonderful portrayal of a teacher in Dead Poet’s Society, in which he exhorted his students to live their own lives, and not those pushed on them by their parents and others. He counseled us to not be afraid of others’ reactions to us, but to live our lives authentically. In a sense, both Thomas and Williams committed suicide; although Thomas did it indirectly with his drinking. Williams faced down alchoholism; but, when incorrectly diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (after his death, the diagnosis was changed to Lewy Body Dementia), he ended his own life. Both men realized that we only have a short time to live, and the only rational thing to do is to live it with passion and things that make us happy. Here is another moving video, a compilation of interviews with Williams that touch on these themes. They should inspire us to live the time we have, no matter the difficulties we face, with as much internal resolve as possible. Be happy today. You get at least one more.
