Marcel Borgi
It all began one day when I was watching a TV movie that I don’t even remember the name of—but one very important scene changed my whole life.
A teacher asked the twelve-year-old children in her class to read the obituary page of the newspaper as a homework assignment. She then asked them to write their own obituaries by imagining what people would say about them, the day they died, and their achievements.
I was really impressed by this exercise. I asked myself: “What would my children say to their children about their grandfather and his achievements?”
I could come up with no answer to this question. I was shocked.
I spent fifteen years of my life in Africa. I lost all my various businesses and my investments. I never built anything. I never wrote a book. I never taught anything. I never did any community work. The only answer I could come up with was that I was not a bad person (according to my belief system), but the only achievement I had made at the age of fifty was that I had raised a beautiful family of three kids the best way I knew how.
I wanted to achieve something, but what could I do at this age? I didn’t even have enough money to leave an inheritance for my children, and I didn’t think I had any free time to help in the community. Then a very stupid—but inspiring—idea came to mind. The decision was made.
I called my wife, Mireille, and told her, “When I die, I want everyone to say that I lived every single minute left of my life happy.”
The commitment was made, but the big question was how to get there. Could anyone be happy all the time?
Is it possible to feel constantly peaceful?
Is it possible not to get angry—ever?
Is it possible not to feel fearful or not to worry?
Is it possible to live without nagging problems?
Is it possible to have all my needs met and to live respectfully of others?
Is it possible to control other people’s behaviors and actions toward me?
