FTT: The Finitude of Life

I try never to forget two things:

1. We are all going to die.
2. Life has no meaning.

On the surface they both seem depressing, but I actually find them to be comforting.

Knowing that life is finite puts our problems into perspective and reminds us to live in the present.

Understanding that life has no meaning frees us from the stress of trying to live the "right" way and instead make of our lives what we want.

For better or for worse, we often need to be reminded of these two points.

While these reminders typically occur when we lose someone we love, my latest reminder came in the form of a Facebook post from a friend and former classmate, Sam, saying she'd recently been diagnosed with ALS.

Sam is 25 and while it would be easy (and justified) for her to become cynical and to complain, she has taken a much stronger approach and decided to remain optimistic—to focus on the good, of which there is plenty.

Nothing I could write would do her mindset and her character justice.

Instead, you can read her story for yourself here.

It's easy for us to take our time on earth for granted and to worry about whether or not our lives meet an arbitrary standard.

But when we do we end up racing to the finish line.

Instead, at least every once in a while, let's stop our race, forget about where we're going, and focus on where we are.

“You are living as if destined to live forever; your own frailty never occurs to you; you don't notice how much time has already passed, but squander it as though you had a full and overflowing supply—though all the while that very day which you are devoting to somebody or something may be your last."—Seneca, On the Shortness of Life

Live your life to the fullest,

Chris

Watch my video on the meaning of life here.