Do not mourn my departure.

Celebrate my existence and the fruitful life I lived.

It is perhaps the greatest mystery known to man—what lies beyond? Is there really a magical place where dead things go, or is it just back to the dirt whence we came? Could we all be a collection of ones and zeros in a simulated reality, could we perhaps receive an upgrade for the next dimension, or might we return to this very same land with a different face? I have long been enthralled by such existential questions, and so, regardless of whatever answers do or don’t lie ahead, I look forward to the possibilities.

Make no mistake though, I could have found no greater balance of purpose and happiness in this life. My house, the toys within it, vacations to beautiful places, and thrills of the highest caliber have brought me great joy. My creative indulgences, legacy as a mentor, and closest relationships have brought me much fulfillment. The marvelous, fascinating realms of science, philosophy, and art have provided me with endless stimulation. And it’s the infinite quest of self-discovery that enhanced all of these things. My setbacks, my shortcomings, and my internal struggles not only made me stronger, but they helped me better appreciate the simplest of gifts like the warmth of the sun, a glass of water, two legs to walk, and two eyes to see.

It would seem there is a great equilibrium amongst all things without end, a concept transcending time and space and every world there ever was, is, and will be. It seems difficult for many of us to accept this eternal ebb and flow when our own journey here is only temporary. But a thing is all the more precious and beautiful when it doesn’t last forever. The fleeting moments we long for stand memorable only in the wake of their passing. Those of a higher awareness will strive to embrace each moment for what it holds, savoring even the smallest piece of human experience in whatever form it takes. They will know this world is not ours, that all of existence may just be a magnificent field of energy dancing for itself and we are simply the specks of dust floating in its breeze, a cosmic hiccup on our way from one glorious oblivion to the next.

I urge all of you to question, explore, and create. Feed your imagination. Share your thoughts. Challenge your beliefs. Disconnect from the close-minded, tribalistic tendencies that have permeated human history. Pay attention. Know thyself above all else. Strive for balance, but embrace imperfection. Seek discomfort. Grow. Be not afraid of the unknown. Never forget the incomprehensible size of what lies beyond our tiny spinning rock called Earth. Whether death offers us a new beginning or life is nothing but an aimless blip in an infinitely dimensional multiverse…make the most of it.