Going On / Stopping Still

Life goes on - a cliche that seems to be used at every possible occurrence, even for the most mundane of things. People like to use it after an event of enormous proportions with possible life-changing side-effects. Whatever that affects you, may have little to no effect to others, and thus life that encompasses all that is in the world goes on like before, like the never ending currents of time.

But for an event that makes everything pause, another cliche is used - as though life, or time, stopped still. Events on this scale may have comparably huge proportions, but affects everyone and makes them stop and consider what has happened, and what life is and would be here on in. Questions will be asked: How did it happened? How could it have happened? What will we do, what will life be, after this happened? Can the world ever be the same?

Which would you rather prefer, life going on or stopping still, when you do something extraordinary? Would you prefer that everyone move on regardless of what you're doing or what happens to you, or would you prefer the whole world, or at least the world you know, to stop and turn their attention to you?

More importantly, what would your choice say about you?

Certainly, the former choice can only point to your selflessness, and perhaps to your humility, that you acknowledge the fact that in the grand scheme of things, you represent but a tiny detail. That would be the general perception, but are you thinking that there are perhaps other possibility? Could it be that you are hopelessly altruistic, that in action and even in death you still think of others before of yourself? Or could it be that you are shameful of your existence, and you would prefer that everyone just turn their eyes away for you? For that matter, could you be suicidal? (Mind you, this is just a thought.)

What about the latter choice? Would you agree that in choosing for life stopping still for you, you are to some degree attention-seeking? Could you be suffering from attention-deficit disorder, the dreaded ADD? Certainly, if you want everyone's attention, it could only mean that you think the world revolves around you. The general perception must be that you are selfish. But are we, if we take this option? Perhaps we are just admitting to, and even accepting, our natural human instinct. The proof is in an innocent child, who desires, and deserves, our every drop of attention. A child seeks the approval in the things he do, and must demand that the world stood still for him.

Of course, you can't expect to choose one and stick to it your whole life. No one is that rigid. The question is, which would you more likely choose more? Then again, you can't expect this to be the absolute truth. Perhaps you have something to add?