On Life (and Death)

The funny thing about life is, you blink and it’s over. The phrase “Life is Short,” is one often used, but seldom taken seriously. In some cases, everything is going ok, until it’s not. In others, life is a constant waiting game for the next thing to happen for their optimal life to be achieved. In the latter, that time hardly ever comes. Many times too, Life is taken away much quicker than expected from the factors of disease, crime and accidents. They say “Live everyday as if it were your last.” One day, you will be correct.

If I have your attention so far, this article isn’t a sappy death story. But I have been faced with my share of observing mortality from those within my circle of influence, as well as had several near-death experiences. In every occurrence, I found it life-altering in one way or another. I feel therefore, that perhaps my personal views on life’s brevity cannot be assumed to be universal, albeit I hope it is. For I believe, if you live everyday as if it were your last, and you live long enough, you still had only to gain. As such it was important to begin this article regarding our inevitable mortality, in order that it may force us to seriously consider the following.

Ok. So Life is short. We get it. So how does that affect us? Well for me it means I have little time to do the things and live the life I want. And what’s the life I want? Well, this isn’t about me so I won’t make it personal. However, I will share the process I used to determine it, since that technique technically can apply to everyone. It is simply – To begin at the End. I thought about my life in the final moments of death, and wondered, what would have given me a fulfilled life of no regrets. Who would I want to be there. What would I want them think about my life. I challenge you. If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there. Begin, at the end.

What I learned from that exercise is that many times in life, we get lost in its chaos. We lose sight of that which is inertly our most important values. What I learned is, what I accomplished career wise was less important to me than the relationships I maintained. That it didn’t matter then whether I was President or had a billion dollars in the bank. In a flash, my physical life will disappear, and the only thing that mattered was those moments, with the people I loved and who loved me. If you’re still not with me, and feel your career accomplishment is more important than I’m letting on, let me try one last exercise. If I told you that you had 30 days to live, would you spend it taking risks to have accomplished more in your career, or with your loved ones. Death forces us to recognize that which is most important. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if we didn’t die.

True happiness is derived from Relationships and Love. From people. That’s why there is no correlation between riches and happiness. In fact, studies show that materialism is toxic for happiness, and that the happiest people surround themselves with family and friends.

Cherish them and cherish the moments.

One Love,

Manoj