Leave with Zero

By Kieran

 Leave with Zero


 

Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by th homily of the day by Rev Fr Brendan McGuire of St Simon's Church, Los Altos CA encouraging us to circulate not accumulate our gifts of talent and time.

Consider this tree that started as a wee seedling nourished by the rain

It flourished where it was planted, weathering storms over and over again

 
In time the sapling spread it's branches giving shelter to birds of the air

To make no mention of it's abundant delicious fruit would simply not be fair
 
 
Strangers would rest under the shade of its branches when it got really hot

Not thinking about how the tree kept giving all it had, even if wasn't a lot
 
 
A powerful lesson for us who came into this world and will leave it empty handed

Leave with zero, for if can take a U-Haul to the graveyard, there t'will be stranded

Comments

Anonymous said…
Has anyone read the book
“Die with Zero”
If not, I highly recommend it.
It’s more about money but about living life to the fullest, maximizing the opportunity of experiences etc etc (WhatsApp comment from a very dear friend in Australia)
November 19, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Kieran said…
Yes - this is the book he mentioned during his homily


According to hedge-fund manager and energy trader Bill Perkins, your goal should be to die with zero dollars in your bank account because you’ve used all your money to lead the fullest possible life. Perkins explains that people generally tend to over-save and under-experience, but at the end of our lives, we’ll actually value experiences more than the money we saved. In Die With Zero, he proposes a strategy for maximizing enriching experiences throughout your life and minimizing unspent funds.

Source: https://www.shortform.com/summary/die-with-zero-summary-bill-perkins

- Kieran
November 19, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Anonymous said…
Thanks, my friend, for circulating and not accumulating (WhatsApp comment from another childhood friend on the same group)
November 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Kieran said…
Without a shadow of doubt, this art journey wouldn’t have happened if I were not to share it with y’all. Stay blessed - Kieran
November 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Anonymous said…
Powerful words, no doubt! Reminds me of words from a long time ago …
Babies haven’t any hair
Old men’s heads are just as bare
Between the cradle and the grave
Lies a haircut and a shave…
Thanks again, Kieran!
(WhatsApp reply to above comment)
November 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Kieran said…
I like that 😊 - Kieran
November 19, 2025 at 6:10 PM
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