Death

Humanity = mortality. As a human we are inevitably going to die. This is the sad reality we must face given our higher understanding of the world around us. Throughout history, humans have sought numerous ways to cheat death. Immense monuments, beautiful art works, supernatural feats, the list goes on and on. Our attempts of immortality are seen all throughout out literature and society. We are forced to create symbolic aspects of life to somehow achieve immortality in the face of the harsh reality that the end of our life as we know will come no matter what we do.

Religions are formed and cultures are developed with this in mind, perhaps mostly on an unconscious level. In placing faith in something many of our neighbors believe in, in placing faith in something greater than ourselves, we are some how comforted. The symbolic helps us move past our fear of death. I mean, in reality, we are a nothing in a vast sea of infinity. The forces of nature and of chance control us more than we even know.

My intent is not to send a bleak message or to say that all religion is hogwash. I am, in fact, very spiritual. My main purpose in writing this post is to increase the awareness of our inevitable death. Contrary to the main message, I wish to advance happiness in doing so.

Whatever ways we find to forget about death help us get past our fears and actually live life. But all too often, our methods blind us too much far beyond the initial goal. We forget completely about the incredible worth each second of life has. We lose focus on what is truly important because it seems everything will last forever. We lack urgency in our actions. We put off what we should do today for another day. We put our true and meaningful desires aside to work because maybe one day if we work enough we'll have a lot of money.

Death will come whether you like it or not. Don't wait to pursue the loves of your lives; be it a babe, a hunk, or any burning passion. And for that matter don't wait to tell the people in your life you love them. Don't wait to do things that make you happy. Re-evaluate your values with death in mind. Figure out what really matters. Don't waste any time on negativity. Make every second count because it could be your last.

What I've Got

So I tend to think myself as someone who doesn't complain all that much and in a humble manner, this is true. But it's also true that the limiting nature of my humanity brings me to have some degree of an unsatisfiable desire. As a student I fight against assignments piling up on my daily planner. I may complain to friends about how I'm swamped with homework. I realized today the gross ingratitude of this. Imagine for a moment my friend being some one in a third world country living in abject poverty. Someone who barely has clothes on their backs let alone shoes on their feet. This malnourished someone who has to trek multiple miles each day barefoot just for a clean source of water. Each step meaning life or death for his/her family. One tiny cut on the foot stands the chance to kill knowing all too way the poor medical system.

I'm not sure how to change these sick inequalities. This is a problem for which I eagerly search a solution. However, I do know what I've got. I know I have way more than I need. I know that by either some random force or by destiny I was born an American. While I may be lower to middle class here in the US, I am one of the very privileged in the whole of the world community. Not only have I been educated, I've had the opportunity of a higher education. To complain about an assignment that's due or a shower that's not hot enough is ridiculous from a more universal perspective. We should be grateful of these things - of everything we've got.

If you're reading this, given your access to some technological device with internet access, you've probably have more than you need just like me. Lets use our resources for good instead of wasting them on complaints and insignificant garbage.