"It makes a tremendous emotional and practical difference to one whether once accept the universe in the drab discoloured way of stoic resignation to necessity, or with the passionate happiness of Christian Saints."
--William James (1842-1910)
I am not here to answer or discuss why we are here? Why we exist? But rather the empirical question Why do we keep on living? Oh yes of course many of us have heard and perhaps answered this very question. Many would say "I have something to live for"; whether it is true or not; whether it is honestly meant by whoever says them, it brings to mind a simple query: "So perhaps ultimately we live for another and not for ourselves? We strive to keep those we care and cherish pleased or supported by our existence?" Why is it that we do not live for ourselves? (whether this question is applicable to all or not) Why is it that every time you ask people what keeps them going through life; they are more inclined to give a selfless answer like "I have a family to look after". I am yet to hear a man or a woman state "The whole idea of living makes me happy, and this strive for happiness is what keeps me going".
Perhaps the answer to these questions maybe simpler than I can ever conceive. Perhaps I am being to much of a cynic and need to look at life at another angle. But ask yourselves "What keeps me living life no matter the misfortunes that has come to past and will possibly occur in the future?"
1 comment:
You've met me, and I am pretty happy with the simple idea of living... Sure, I love others, but I live for livings sake, for the challenge of existence, beholden to no one, requiring nothing, but at the same time, still giving and receieving. Of course, I am not perfect, and sometimes I fail to remain free, and to give and receive freely, but it is this I strive for, it is this state, of being free, but still attached to life, that I live for, not a person nor a cause, but a state of happiness, for myself, and both by design and pure happenstance, for others.
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