I really do believe that because I am alive when so many of my friends are dead, I should make the most of the time I have left (hopefully it is decades). I should try to use time wisely, live a good life, maybe carry on the important work others left behind. I must ensure that my living is not in vain. I have no children. I can ensure my living is not in vain in other ways. I found three interesting poems on ways to ensure your life is not in vain:

If I live my life fully and my purpose I attain, I shall not live in vain.
If I can inspire someone to rise and prevent them from falling again, I shall not live in vain.
If I can live without hurting anyone and ease someone’s pain, I shall not live in vain.
If I can wipe someone’s tears and make them smile again, I shall not live in vain.
If I can release someone from bondage and make them fly again, I shall not live in vain.
If I can live in a heart with a love that forever remains, I shall not live in vain.
If I can leave the world a little better from the time when I came, I shall not live in vain. – Jyoti Prateek

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain. – Emily Dickinson (https://www.yourdailypoem.com/listpoem.jsp?poem_id=2330)

If I can help somebody, as I travel along / If I can help somebody, with a word or song. / If I can help somebody, from doing wrong, then my living shall not be in vain. / No, my living shall not be in vain. – Lyrics to song by Mahalia Jackson (https://www.daytondailynews.com/ideas-voices/voices-if-i-can-help-somebody-then-my-living-shall-not-be-in-vain/TM4CZOKUKZA7HALFVNNAPCSKGY/)

I also found this interesting poem:

In Life’s Garden
by
Dixie Willson

Count your garden by the flowers,
Never by the leaves that fall—
Count your days by golden hours,
Don’t remember clouds at all.
Count your nights by stars, not shadows,
Count your life by smiles—not tears—
And with joy through all your lifetime,
Count your age by friends—not years.

The Bible has this interesting verse on work that is with purpose (not in vain):

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV).

I am publishing a lot of articles and poems, and so on. I will be remembered for all of this.