I enjoyed this column today. Yes you can't have a nihilistic view of life, because we are here! If we could decide before we are born to be here or not, that is where the deterioration argument comes in, then maybe you would decide to not come into life. But the reality is we ARE here, so make the best of it! Live to your full potential, every moment, every phase of life has love, anguish, learning and joy. Death just helps us realize that one must live fully every day and that is a gift.
When I was a young adult I feared death. I think this was because I knew deep-down that I had not yet discovered my purpose—or, that great word I learned from this site, my telos. I kind of just blundered into it. I am not a planner, not a strategist. I was born to blunder. I am grateful that I have lived long enough to eventually blunder productively. In professional terms, it took me until age 40. In creative terms, I was 50 when I struck gold. In spiritual terms, by which I mean connecting with religion and philosophy, it was 70.
And now, it's expressing that late-blooming telos that makes my life worth living, and also somehow has made me not fear death. I found what I was looking for, and I know I have already engaged life deeply. Specifically this includes "experiential" travel-based teaching (which, of course is also for me the teacher experiential learning) as well as songwriting and playing music with beloved friends. The day job and the night job, in a very sweet balance, all of it a labor of love.
I enjoyed this column today. Yes you can't have a nihilistic view of life, because we are here! If we could decide before we are born to be here or not, that is where the deterioration argument comes in, then maybe you would decide to not come into life. But the reality is we ARE here, so make the best of it! Live to your full potential, every moment, every phase of life has love, anguish, learning and joy. Death just helps us realize that one must live fully every day and that is a gift.
Yes! Thank you for expressing this philosophy. I agree whole-heartedly.
Your writing just caught my attention big time and I may need to subscribe now. 🙂
When I was a young adult I feared death. I think this was because I knew deep-down that I had not yet discovered my purpose—or, that great word I learned from this site, my telos. I kind of just blundered into it. I am not a planner, not a strategist. I was born to blunder. I am grateful that I have lived long enough to eventually blunder productively. In professional terms, it took me until age 40. In creative terms, I was 50 when I struck gold. In spiritual terms, by which I mean connecting with religion and philosophy, it was 70.
And now, it's expressing that late-blooming telos that makes my life worth living, and also somehow has made me not fear death. I found what I was looking for, and I know I have already engaged life deeply. Specifically this includes "experiential" travel-based teaching (which, of course is also for me the teacher experiential learning) as well as songwriting and playing music with beloved friends. The day job and the night job, in a very sweet balance, all of it a labor of love.
Yes, go out fighting, that's the only way to go Amirite!?