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When I was young I decided I wanted to read all the books and take all
the classes schools offered to become the smartest man in the world. Since I didn't have any friends I decided
I would fill my time with text books. I wouldn't have time for any friends. This naturally cancelled out any loneliness
I could have had. I never realized everything I was missing out on in my youth and young adult years. When all
of my peers were out going on dates, going to parties and social events, I was in my room studying. My parents
never forced me to do anything different, they found it fine that I studied; they said I was going to grow up to
be a well rounded person. As it turns out my life was not well rounded at all, my life was a photograph that could
be described in well under one thousand words. I don't regret missing out on social events, they never interested
me, and I just never experienced the things I really wanted.
My everyday life was all part of my plan. My plan, in summary, was for all of my hard work to pay off with a high
salary job in a high place in corporate America where I would be rich respected, and with both of those I'd be
happy. My life plan had at least fifteen more years before I could start enjoying myself. My plan had been built
brick by brick my whole life, and when those bricks formed a towering wall, it was destroyed by a car full of drunk
drivers. I never stopped to think that at any moment my life could have ended, and it did.
One thing I've learned since my death, which I wish I'd known when I was alive, is that you can't hang on to what
was. I've been given a second chance. I no longer feel regret, I no longer feel sorrow, or miss loved ones from
my life. The things I missed out on in life I can do here. I feel alive like I've never felt before.
I find this new place I come to after death to be very strange. There are no lines to wait in, arguments to have,
no traffic to sit in. a smile rests on every face, and everyone tips their hat and says "good day sir"
or "nice to see you". The welcoming warmth from each stranger makes no man or woman alone here. I'm comforted
by this new place, I sit in cafes with no windows, and every block is on beach front. Golden horizons and puffy
clouds fill the skies. Every door is open, everyone is welcome. I sit here on a barstool writing this, drinking
a beer milkshake, getting ready to board my ship and sail around the world. I've never been more alive.
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