Impermanence

What makes life so valuable? Death.

Death is what makes life precious.

LIFE

Life is too short. Is another way we say how precious life is but like everything else it is a matter of perspective.

When we were teenagers life was too slow. We can not wait to get out of our parents house and finish school, so we can go live our lives the way they want it. Then we reach mid to late thirties, and that’s when we slowly realize that it is a race against time.

It’s not just the age, suffering and pleasure also comes into play. When a person is suffering or is in some kind of prison especially the self made ones, life can be too long and wish that there is a reset button. On the other hand, when one finds their purpose and enjoys life, there is just isn’t enough time for everything else that we want to accomplish.

Usually we don’t know what we got until we are about to or actually lose it.

HEALTH

Ever had an injury that prevented you from walking? From the time of the injury and all through recovery, all you want is to walk again but you never gave any thought as to how astonishing it is for humans to actually walk upright. You probably never even thought that there is actually a proper way to walk. It does not mean that since you have been walking ever since you were a toddler that you actually know how to walk properly. Good posture, mid foot strike, forward lean, toes in and all other details that goes into walking properly are commonly forsaken. It goes for breathing as well. Most of us breath shallow, it is not until we have a stuffy nose that we even pay attention to even breathing deeply.

It is not that we take it for granted, it is more of thinking that it will always be there.

CHILDREN

Children are so cute when they are still babies but are quite a handful, so we pass them on to baby sitters, schools, after school programs, tutors and grandparents. We think “They’ll be there when I get home” but next thing you know they are all grown up and have left home. And we’ve missed it.

Things lose their value when there is an abundance of it. Either we grew up with it or there is plenty of it that we don’t give it much thought as to how did it come about or who paid for it. Have you ever heard of a “Millenial” associate Alexander Graham Bell with the smartphones that are attached to their faces?

Take participation trophies for example. Most of it are probably in the dump by now. Since everybody got it, there is really not much value to it. What gives a trophy or a medal its value is the hard work that was put in to earn it, otherwise it is just a piece of cheap metal, plastic and wood. It’s value to us is the memory that it brings of that moment of glory, fleeting as it is. We would not know the meaning of victory if everyone wins all the time.

FREEDOM

It also applies to the intangibles such as freedom, self reliance and security. There is a reason people from socialist countries choose to migrate or seek refuge in the US. It is the same reason that those people who promote socialism, are still in the US, especially the high profile celebrities and politicians. They know they can’t make the same money they make here, and they say screw capitalism? Yeah right. They just say what they say to pander.

We celebrate labor day because it gives us a three day weekend and we get paid time and a half if we choose the work that holiday but rarely do people think of the harsh working conditions that people had to endure just to earn a living before better labor laws were implemented. Despite dangerous working conditions, they went to work, to actually earn it and not just be a handout.

We have been pampered to live in a country that holds freedom as it’s founding principle, forgetting the price that was paid and the tools that were used to earn it. We think, surely the government will not oppress the people like that again, so we give up our right to bear arms. We are so spoiled that people who choose not to work have more than enough to eat that we think they don’t need to mug people. So we walk the streets and cry out to get rid of the police. These same people that cry out to “de-fund” the police are the same once who will dial 911 the moment their cohorts realize that its anarchy and they too have just become targets.

It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase Live in the now and appreciate the moment when we realize what it took to get here and how fleeting this moment is.