The sudden death of actor Matthew Perry shocked the whole world, especially the fans of the sitcom "Friends". Although he was best known for his role as Chandler Bing, the actor didn't want to be remembered for "Frriends" and his point of view teaches a valuable lesson about our priorities in life.
Instead of "Friends," he wanted to be remembered for something far more meaningful: his commitment to helping others fight alcohol and drug addiction.
In other words, in life, the impact we have on people's well-being and emotions is far greater than any accolades or achievements listed on a CV. How you make others feel is more rewarding than anything else.
Perry's approach seems to challenge us to reassess our priorities. Often, social pressures and external expectations shape the goals we have. However, we can reflect on what really matters to us.
In the fast-paced world, it is easy to get caught up in the "relentless" ambition for success, fame, money, power, etc. Perry's perspective encourages us to slow down a bit and appreciate the meaningful moments in life.
What do you want people to say about you at your funeral? Do you want them to tell stories about how you spent more than 10 hours in the office working? Or how many family events you missed because you were busy with work? Surely not. How you want others to remember you will help you make better choices.