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Credit: DH Illustration
Life is diminished or enhanced by the manner of living it. What drives life is the fact that it is not endless and there is only one life as we know it and it is incumbent on us to lead this life as fully and substantially as possible.
Because life’s law of impermanence states that nothing lasts forever is the reason why everything matters, the fact that we must die is the reason we must live well. This can be done in various ways ranging from excellence in different fields to leading a good life. It depends on us to savour the joys of everyday living, honour the modest comforts of life , to revel in the miracles of the universe that come to us gratis.
The sunrise and sunset, the light of the day and the peace of nightfall,, the magic of the twinkling stars, the birdsong calling, the selfless love of those who love us for the simple reason we are there.
The present is always imperfect , there is no present perfect but life consists in living through imperfections like clearing the weeds as we go along on a forested road, to let in the sun. It is an arduous process no doubt but largely edifying as we experience the glory of the effort , as we become aware of the good behind the seemingly bad and the kindness that lurks behind the veil of indifference . Not merely the burden of daily living but the deeper tragedies affect our lives but staying connected to the pain of grief is necessary as it gives us the grace of compassion and empathy
A mature process would be to let life go on and look at the loss not as a loss to be mourned but a passing to be revered. I n grief we learn to love anew and feel a gratitude for a time that was.
The German classical scholar, philosopher, and critic of culture, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, says human greatness is amor fati-- a love of fate. That one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backwards ,not in all eternity.
Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it--all idealism is mendacity in the face of what is necessary- but love it.