As I visit their gravesites and see their names etched in the headstones, I’ll think back to all of the memories I have of my times with them — and I’ll feel the natural mourning of not being able to create more memories with them.

Some of the burial sites will be individuals who I didn’t personally know, ancestors who laid the foundation that resulted in me being where I am today. Additionally, I’m sure I will pass dozens or hundreds of headstones that are the final resting spots of strangers who mean nothing to me, but mean just as much to their families and descendants.

As I walk through these locations dedicated to memories and history, I often find myself wondering about the lives of those who have gone before.

They came from all walks of life, women and men, young and old, different professions, different beliefs, different heritages, different experiences.

I imagine what they would want us to know.

I’m not the first to do this, of course.

Thorton Wilder, in the third act of his famous play “Our Town,” had the character of Emily Webb say, “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? – every, every minute?” and “It goes so fast. We don’t have time to look at one another.”

In the movie “Dead Poets Society,” the character of English teacher John Keating (played by Robin Williams) has his students look at the images of past classes at the school and says: “if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? Carpe — hear it? — Carpe, carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”

I think that many who have died would agree with the sentiments of those characters, and would tell us to make the most of the time you have in life.

But what does that mean?

There is an old joke that tells of a parent telling a child to live each day like it was their last — only to have the child respond, “I tried that once and you grounded me for a week.”

While imagining such an exchange is humorous, I think the message from those who have passed away would be more about focusing on priorities than it is about just doing whatever crazy things that come to mind.

I think they would encourage us to cut through the noise, decide what really matters to us and then carve out the time to pursue those things.

I suspect they would say that stuff and status aren’t nearly as important as we think they are, while relationships, learning, experiences and skills are much more valuable.

If that is what we think their advice would be, what better way is there to honor them than by following it?

I think of the many wonderful people I have know who have made my life better, and feel like the absolute best way for me to repay them for their kindness, instruction and care is to be the best person I can be and pay it forward.

Just like them, I won’t be perfect at it. I shouldn’t expect to be.

But my challenge this Memorial Day is that when you see the flowers and flags and headstones that you treasure the memories you have and resolve to make your friends and family proud of who you are today.

And I hope you will do that by appreciating and valuing the wonderful people and opportunities that are in your life today.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Jared Lloyd is the managing editor of the Daily Herald and can be reached at jlloyd@heraldextra.com.