Soon you will have forgotten all things: soon all things will have forgotten you

I’ve read Meditations many times over, however I’m reflecting on these verses today, especially for my birthday:

“Soon you will have forgotten all things: soon all things will have forgotten you.”  – Book 7, Verse 20

“Look back over the past – all those many changes of dynasties.   And you can foresee the future too: it will be completely alike, incapable of deviating from the rhythm of the present.   So for the study of human life forty years are as good as ten thousand: what more will you see?”  – Book 7, Verse 49