How is life a 'gift' if it's filled with nothing but misery?

Question

seriously... it's sounding like a cliche...

Answer 1

maybe it's a gift of misery. nothing says a gift has to be a good thing.

just ask Job.

Answer 2

Yeah, people say that so much, it is a cliche.

But cliches become cliches for a reason: they're usually at least partly true.

Maybe when people say life is a gift, even though it has some rough times (I would hope that you're whole life hasn't been 100% misery), it's a gift because the alternative is to never have existed.

That maybe even though you feel pain, you are REAL and living, and the opposite of that is never to have existed in any form. So to some people, cliche as it is, the gift is Existence over Nothingness.

Answer 3

But life not filled "with nothing but misery." Sometimes life can seem pretty miserable, but every day contains the small moments, wonderful experiences, beautiful people, etc., these are the things, strung together over a lifetime, that make life a gift.

I wouldn't give up even the most of miserable lives if it meant I would miss just one wonderful moment with my grandson, my daughters, my husband, my parents, and friends. These experiences are what what make life a gift -- these are the moments that must be nourished and cherished.

Inspiring people are the ones who have suffered through concentration camp, war, natural and unnatural disasters -- and they still love life!

Concentrate on the good things. Life isn't always easy, but it's the only one we have.

Answer 4

You know it really is amazing how much I tend to take for granted. I have wondered what it would be like to have been born in a country where the nearest hospital was 40 miles away, or my brothers were dieing from malaria or something else and we only had rice to eat. When I try to place myself in their shoes it only makes me wonder more what the point to all of this is!
It is easy for me to say what I'm going to say because I have never dealt with extreme misery. I have had my share of bumps, but I have had more then my share of joy! Misery is a testimony to the strength and resilience of the Human Race. Someday if the planet allows us to grow and mature as peoples, we will look back on the pointless misery of others and shiver at the injustice of it all. That in itself will be a gift to humankind. A gift of achievement, the gift of enlightenment.

Answer 5

The taste of chocolate is a gift.
The warmth of the sun is a gift.
Seeing those you care about smile is a priceless gift.
A kind word is a gift.

Life is only miserable if you let it be. Granted, sometimes terrible things happen that knock you down, but even in the most destructive catastrophes we face there is something valuable to be absorbed and experienced that can turn into a gift for yourself or others. If you truly believe life is completely miserable, you need to realize that you have more control over your happiness and contentment than you realize. To an extent, it is dependent on other people, but if you put too much hope and faith in others, they will eventually fail you in some way. But that's not the end of the road, we're all human, and you don't have to write off every person who lets you down, what you need to focus on is loving yourself for the way you see yourself. You can't let what others think about you determine your own self worth. I'm going through this transition, learning to love and enjoy who I am as I am, scars, flaws, dysfunctions, and all.

"You can plan a pretty evening but you can't predict the weather."
-Outkast

Same is true about life.

Answer 6

IF it were filled with "nothing but misery", then it would be no gift at all, of course. But if you can install a good solid loving relationship into your life, then life can truly be heaven on earth. Without that, it does reduce to the hard and obligatory things only, in my opinion too.

As I get older, I am toying with the idea that it is not at all ABOUT us, but perhaps about he or those who created us - perhaps just as when I get a bowl of goldfish to watch, it's not for their benefit, it's for my own, to amuse me. I don't see life as an especially nice gift - other than love, which is so fickle and rare, it is filled with horrors, guaranteed death, unbearable loss and fear and doom - gee thanks a lot. Give my next gift to Bob over there, willya? I think I've had about as much giving as I can take for a while -

Answer 7

Well, because it was given to you. The Preamble to the Constitution guarantees us the right to the pursuit of happiness, but nothing is said about actually getting happiness.
But, come on; there must be something that is not misery, isn't there?

Answer 8

Unless you're writing from Africa and your village just got raided by rebels and you're now walking through the desert in search of shelter - don't talk to me about misery.

Americans have nothing to whine about, even our poor are better off then a lot of people in other countries.

So, put on your big boy underwear and grow up and lose the "oh poor me" attitude!

Answer 9

Because how can you appreciate true happiness without understanding what pain and misery is?
Simply put, it is an experience that shows you what hardship is, so that in the end we can appreciate what Paradise is.
Without pain, how can one appreciate joy?
Also, life wasn't always misery, sometimes it is fun, sometimes it is dirt.

Answer 10

life is A GIFT, misery is a CHOICE because you can choose not to be miserable regardless of circumstances.