If we are all going to die why can we not all appreciate life more?

Question

We all know we're going to die but its only when the moment appraoches that we truly begin to appreciate life. Maybe if we held the fragility and beauty of living closer then there'd be less hurt and more kindness in the world.
In fact why dont we encourage kids to visit old folks homes so they can be given greater appreciation of their life and youth?
What are your views on this?

Answer 1

i think it has something to do with our learning capability.

different strokes for different folks. some of us are so stubborn that it has to take near-death experiences for us to realize life's beauty. while there are those of us who are hypersensitive to it that they get to see and experience it earlier on.

your question and statements seem so simple yet they require a long and thorough thought process. i think this prose will let you have a look at it's complexity and why people are the way they are. It's entitled The Masks (author anonymous).

"It all begins when we are little – we fall, but we aren’t supposed to cry – we get angry, but we need to control our temper – we become excited, but we must wait patiently. All good things to learn, but the mask begins to form nonetheless.

When we enter school, we learn new things – like what it means to be laughed at – so we learn to change – to become like “others” – whoever others are – to avoid being different, and to tease those who are – the mask becomes our identity.

Then we grow older, and we meet someone – someone who makes us want to remove the mask – and we do – and we get hurt – and we learn – that the mask is a shield – and we determine never again to remove it – the pain of being injured is too great – the mask becomes our protection.

So here we are, all with masks. There are many masks – masks of intelligence – masks of strength, both physical and emotional – masks of sarcasm, of wit – even masks of cruelty and coldness. We cling to our mask, even unwilling to view ourselves without it. As for others, certainly we cannot accept them without their masks, for we cannot accept ourselves. They know it, and like us, wear their masks – dutifully, and religiously – the masks become our lives.

We make ourselves separate, and alone – alone in a sea of millions…

To be sure, there are those with whom we will peel off the mask – sometimes unintentionally – sometimes only for a moment – but we are careful to keep it close at hand – ready to quickly don it once more if another’s gaze into our souls proves to be too uncomfortable.

Where will it end?
Will it end with you?
Will it end with me?

I will try – First, let me take a good long look at myself without my mask – give me a little time – allow me to cry at myself – to laugh at myself – and when I am done, to marvel at the complexity of who I am – the mask was so one-dimensional, and I am amazed at the depth I find - behind that mask.

Now I am ready – I want to look at you – don’t be afraid – I won’t laugh – show me your face – let me gaze into your soul – it may be difficult for me to look upon, at first – so different from the mask - but then, once again, I am amazed at it’s depth – different from me – and yet, somehow, the same – I find - just the same as me – and I am touched – forever – finally – united with another – the feeling is indescribable – and worth any risk – never again will I cling to the mask.

I will go out and seek another – I wear my mask – lightly – for I will always use it in the world – looking for others to experience that depth with – brothers, sisters, souls – one who is willing - and it will begin again – as moment by moment, layer by layer – we peel off – the masks."

i asked a friend yesterday, "why are people so negative?" and he said that it's a form of comfort: settling for mediocrity, not stressing one's self, seeing a bigger picture where society does not necessarily want the best so why stress over it?.

maybe some of us are just built stronger or wiser than the others? maybe we are here to show people that kindess really is possible. that there is good in mankind. that we are generally good.

you might ask when and where did it all start? who doubted man's potential? who stopped believing? i do not know. if we knew, then solving the problem would be easier, wouldn't it? but what we can do is be models. serve as examples so that others might follow and change what we can change.

"Maybe if we held the fragility and beauty of living closer then there'd be less hurt and more kindness in the world." Maybe. we have to try. we have to hope. and maybe, if we teach kids philosophy early on rather than religion then maybe there would be less hositility. another maybe.

there are alot of maybes. things are so simple if we just choose to see them for what they really are and not be so hostile. but alas, we are! i don't know who is the culprit. but i wish i knew.

Answer 2

Unpleasant things happen to other people. We do not make dubious judgements. We do not appreciate life more because we avoid people who are sick or dying, because the experience is too unpleasant.

But, we age every day, every hour, every minute and every second. We have the ability to rationalize what is in front of us and say that we will do something about life when we have time, but we are busy right now.

Pain and suffering are never easy to view, but that is part of the growth and wisdom process. Who has seen things and understood the process is better qualified to see the life parallels between us doing the watching and those doing the experience.

If we are fortunate to live a long time, the inevitability of death is like watching the headlight of a train coming straight at you. It gets bigger with each minute and gathers speed.

Life is for most of us not a sprint, but a marathon. The tragedy is to die young and unfulfilled in life. But, we are not promised tomorrow. We are only given today and yesterday. Still, life proceeds each day, so you get up, and see what it brings.

No one has gotten away from death, so escape is impossible. Gather those whom you love around you, and give thanks that you have been given another day to share with one another.

Think beyond your immediate family once in a while. There may be someone who needs a kind word, or a gentle hug. Do it now, before the idea gets old and stale.

Answer 3

quite a profound question. by placing two states opposite one another the reality of both present a considerable contrast. Zigg Ziegler once said "I read both the Bible and the news paper every day. The news so that i am aware of events going on in the present and the Bible because I will be dead a lot longer than I will be alive." I think that each of us should enjoy life to it's fullest, and if by viewing death we appreciate life more then make the comparison.

Answer 4

Amen to that. I am not in an old folks home yet, but noticed that as you get older you know you have a lot to share but the youngsters no longer listen. I know a lot of seniors who are lonely in nursing homes. Kids usually live in another state and have fewer and fewer visits. My husband has Alzheimer and my grandsons come often , it refreshes me and I adore them. They always get me talking about the past years and they are my best audience.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, we have a comforting "life after death" myth that causes us to devalue life. I agree with your sentiment and reasoning, but unfortunately religious belief is so culturally ingrained that it is very difficult for people to value life as it should be valued.

I've got two readings you might find interesting. One is Thornton Wilder's "Our Town", a very readable play on this topic. The other is far more difficult: Ernest Becker's "The Denial of Death" (see sources).

Answer 6

I think that as long as humans have been alive, legend and religion has kind of hard-wired it into our brains that there will be something after this life. No one knows for sure, but most find it easier to believe in than just dying.

Answer 7

Until the politicians realize that they are nobody special, until the greed in the world changes, there is no hope.
If the education of the young was well rounded then maybe,but, only perhaps.!!

Answer 8

I can agree with that I try to live my life to the fullest because I dont really see myself even in my 40's.

Answer 9

because some people in this world make it impossible for others to enjoy. and also, the understanding of life comes only with time.

Answer 10

Because the human race is only idiots and fools. We don't deserve to be the rulers of the planet.