Wednesday, August 25, 2010

What is the meaning of your life?

One month to live! What if your doctor told you today that you had one month to live? Not a very pleasant thing to think about but something that could indeed happen to each of us. What would you do? Of course, you say you would start doing those things that were most important to you. Chances are you would quit your job, tell everyone you could that you loved them, go out and buy something you had always wanted, make sure your bills and expenses were all in order and finally you might think about arranging your funeral. Would the last thirty days of your life be the happiest or would they be the saddest days of your life?

Would doing the things I noted above make them the best thirty days you had ever spent or would these tasks just be chores like you had been doing for so many years. What would it take to make the last thirty days, the best thirty days of your life? What would you really need to do? This is not an easy question because most of us think first of obligations and commitments and responsibilities. Secondly, we think of making amends to those we have hurt or loved.

Our lives are so inundated with tasks and chores that even if we knew we were dying, we would simply start filling up our remaining time with more tasks and chores. One has to understand the “meaning of life” to really live life. This meaning lies in finding the unique value that each of us has to give to the world. It lies not just in doing but in being. An old Cherokee saying goes “When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.”

Have you found the meaning of your life? How could a notice of your impending death help you to find this meaning if you have not already found it? How can you find the meaning of your life today and live it 365 days a year? Maybe you should not wait until you only have thirty days left to think about this question.

No comments:

Post a Comment