The Fear Of Being Forgotten
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Fear Of Being Forgotten

Athazagoraphobia (n.): The fear of being forgotten or ignored or the fear of forgetting.

2475
The Fear Of Being Forgotten
Favim

Everyone is afraid of something. Some are afraid of spiders, others of clowns. Many are scared shitless of heights, and to some, the very thought of crowded spaces puts them off. I, on the other hand, am scared of something much less tangible.

I´m terrified of oblivion. I´m afraid that one day, nobody will remember me at all and that everything I´ve ever done will just fade away, lost forever. No one will recall my existence in the slightest. I know, it´s very ´The Fault in Our Stars´-Esque, but it´s a surprisingly common fear.

Now, I know oblivion is inevitable; Nothing was ever made to last. One day, there will be no humans left to remember any of us. Mankind will ultimately die out and the triumphs of even the most influential people will eventually be gone. In the words of John Green himself, ¨Everything that we did and built and wrote and thought and discovered will be forgotten and all of this will have been for naught.¨

I want to be something that nobody, as long as humanity is still here, could possibly forget. I long to be like Martin Luther King Jr, or Marilyn Monroe, or Alexander Hamilton. I want to make a change. It may just be the dramatic side of me, but I´ve always felt the need to have my story told. A hundred years down the road, I want people to still remember my name and to be able to tell their grandchildren about me. I want my legacy to pass from generation to generation and to be scribbled down into books and, someday, I want somebody to feel influenced by my actions.

I´m not writing this to be a downer. Rather, I write this to inspire. That´s all I´ve ever wanted to do. Everybody wants their life to have meaning. For me, I want to be able to encourage those who follow me. I want to spark great things in people. Some of us are complacent being in the ensemble, and that is perfectly okay. But for those of us who dream big and tend to reach for the stars and hate the thought of being lost in history like myself, I write this for you.

The truth is that every single person you meet is a part of something. We, as individuals, are each a piece of one great big puzzle that will shape the future; Everybody fits in somewhere. In our current society, many young adults feel like they´re not important. They feel as if they´ll never be good enough due to ridiculously unrealistic beauty standards, violent discrimination, and even some of our elected officials (I´m looking at you, Donald). But I want to remind every one of you that you are important to somebody.

Oblivion may be inevitable, but I know I sure as hell will make the best of my time and hope for the best. I strive to live a life worth passing on.


What will be your story?
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

57156
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

36863
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

958612
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

190361
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments