MAKING MARK ON HISTORY: A FUTILE AND UNDESIRABLE AMBITION?

Last month we went to Flint, a small seaside town in North Wales. The town itself is not very pretty. The ugly scars of haphazard industrialization and effects of economic downturn are quite evident. But the sea side is very nice with long walking tracks and tidal beaches. 

Also there is Flint Castle. Edward I built this castle in 13^th century. It had been an important player in influencing the medieval history of Wales and England. 

 

 Edward built it to stamp his authority on Wales and thwart any rebellion. Since then it has changed hands repeatedly and each time preceded by bloody and violent fighting. In its hay day, it would have been bustling with activity, its corridors and grounds full with aristocrats and warriors.

Now, it is in ruins, does not look like much more than a cluster of stone walls surrounded by a dry shallow ditch like dry moat. How the mighty fall! 

 Kings and Queens like to put their marks on the blackboard of history with indelible ink. But Time erases everything sooner or later.  People in their pride forget that and repeat this folly time and again. Most of the great ornate castles and forts all over the world were built with money levied from the poor tenants or looted in the wars with the sole purpose to get oneself remembered for centuries to come. How much better the world would have been if they could have suppressed their pernicious desire!

Ultimately, Nature takes over and reduces their great monuments to rubbles. This thought appears depressing, counterproductive to high achievements and desire to make one`s mark in history.

Looking at it in another way though, it is quite liberating and very positive. One does not have to do things in order to be remembered in perpetuity. You do what makes you happy now in your lifetime rather than for being remembered in distant future. 

People spend great amount of time and money trying to influence how others perceive them rather than doing the right things. This actually shackles their creativity and freedom. Purge this desire and you will be free.