Love, Death & Everything in Between

Many people ask, “What is Life?” Perhaps one of the simplest yet most complicated words to be defined is life itself. The wittier answer would be, ‘Life is a journal’. However, the life that I’m talking about here is the very essence of our human race.

Picture a goldfish swimming in its bowl. It swims around aimlessly popping its eyes to whoever approaches. Many of us might live our life like the goldfish, boring, monotonous and routine. What we need to do is to make the most out of life. Most people spend too much time looking back at what they could have done, reflecting on missed opportunities lined at their door. When we miss an opportunity and look back, we are lost in a state of regret – thinking of the ‘what ifs’. Seriously, who can ever be happy living that kind of remorseful life?

Death, in everything alive seems to blend perfectly with the humdrum cycle in which we exist. In other words, death is a part of life and undeniably, no one can choose when to die. When the time is right, death will beckon the individual. One can’t resist, one can only accept. However, people tend to take death for granted. That is, until a loved one dies or one’s own demise approaches. It hits like a bolt of lightning, quick, precise and painful. It makes us realize the harshness of reality. What if you can’t see your loved one anymore? What if you can’t feel the warmth of their hugs? It would be too late for regrets. It will also be too late to tell them the three simple words that they have always wanted to hear.

So the saying ‘cherish your loved one‘ is true on many levels. Love is a precious gift without asking anything in return. Yes, it is easier said than done. But in order to gain something precious, sacrifices need to be made. And sometime these sacrifices come with a high price.

An essential part of our lives are the people around us. Many people tend to neglect their families and their loved ones, living only for themselves in the circle of life. Some people only spend few hours a week with their loved ones but their justification is, “it’s not the quantity that counts, it’s the quality.” We’ve heard that one before. But never forget, on the days that go bad, these are the pillars that keep you strong although neglected, mistreated or taken for granted.

On bad days when I don’t feel like getting up in the morning to face the world, I look through the daily newspaper, not to read the front pages that will make me feel even worse but instead I take a look at the obituaries. Each deceased person listed there would be more than happy to trade places with you, no matter how many problems you have. They are dead; they have no more opportunities, no more chances and no more life. When you realize that, I’m sure you’ll feel grateful that you are still alive and well.

So that’s my life now, learning to grow up and cherishing people around me. I’m trying and learning…. because when you start to appreciate, you can make your life more than just a goldfish in a bowl.