Liu Xinyu, Class 4, Senior 3, Shenzhen Foreign Languages School

Have you ever thought about writing an epitaph for yourself?

Once I saw a post on the Internet: “If you were writing your epitaph, what would you say?” Wait... epitaph? It sounds so scary and far away, and truly, a little bit ominous somehow. That was my real first response. And then I continued browsing the site curiously. People commented various types of epitaphs down below. Some were humorous, like “If there’s nothing much, I just ‘ring off’ first.” Some are prankish, like “Look, I’m still moving.” Also, some are impressive, for example, “This man merely died unharmed. You guys, please continue your adventures.”

Well, I did write one as well.

It was my 18th birthday, an ordinary summer day in my longest vacation ever. Late in the evening, I seated myself at a desk, looking for a meaningful way to end this unique day.

At length, inspired by that post, I wrote down an epitaph for the first time: “She took love, sunlight and full sincerity, ran with time, and tried her best to do what she loved.”

Perhaps the sentence itself isn’t that special. However, what I felt and thought during the process made me feel that what I had done is worthy, since while thinking about how to use one sentence to conclude “my whole life,” I gradually, and maybe unconsciously, set a so-called “life goal” for myself. And, I believe that in my following unknown adulthood, this will always remind me of what kind of person I’d like to become.

In addition, while writing such a serious thing, I found peace and quiet inside my heart again. It’s not about something negative, but, actually, it gave me some time to think deeply. I realized that a lifespan is so limited that I need to treasure it more and do the right things, for example, stop wasting time on upsetting myself over others’ rudeness or offenses.

Have you an epitaph? If not, you may have a try, especially when you’re feeling impetuous, anxious or nearly submerged by trifles. I consider it a good and special way to calm down and think more deeply.