Marc Amos

On April 12^th 2012 my very good friend, Matt, passed away after battling dermatomyositis.

There are so many things I could write about him, our friendship, his unexpected illness, what his death did to his family and friends … ugh … but for now I want to share a poem that was distributed during his viewing/wake:

To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Reading that poem, in that moment, hit me hard — Matt was the embodiment of every line.

I think about Matt quite a bit, and whenever I do my thoughts eventually drift to this poem. It’s a nice reminder of what’s important in life, and what isn’t.