Mamapolo2016 · F
For me, it’s the little things. That moment when you come upon a little garden of wildflowers. The slashing violent beauty of lightning. And memories. My 19 yr old’s eyes when we rode the maid of the mist at Niagara Falls. The closeness with my mother after her dementia was diagnosed. My dad, going with me to an abandoned farm just at sunrise on the morning of my wedding to gather lilacs for the church.
The beautiful things. The comforting things. The new discoveries about the world. Dreadful horror masks of deep sea creatures., and stunning mountain vistas.
For the most part, it’s not big earthshaking moments.
I remember the first time I saw the Rockies and had to pull off the road because I was awestruck.I sat there, tears of awe wetting my face, thinking what did I ever do to deserve seeing this?
And it’s about expectations. The world doesn’t owe me a life. That’s up to me.
The beautiful things. The comforting things. The new discoveries about the world. Dreadful horror masks of deep sea creatures., and stunning mountain vistas.
For the most part, it’s not big earthshaking moments.
I remember the first time I saw the Rockies and had to pull off the road because I was awestruck.I sat there, tears of awe wetting my face, thinking what did I ever do to deserve seeing this?
And it’s about expectations. The world doesn’t owe me a life. That’s up to me.
CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
Mmiker · 46-50, M
@CrazyMusicLover Respectfully, you didn’t answer the question.
FreeLittleBird · F
It’s a gift denied for many. Honour those who aren’t here and love, live ~ life for them.
When I lost certain loved ones…my friends son who died from cancer at the tender age of 10… I grieved for them both differently as the individuals they were … each of their absence hit me heavily. I didn’t just spring back into life after they left I carried grief with me what felt like eternity until one day I woke up and realised I should live life for them too
So I did and that’s how I see life now
That experience change me but I had to see it for what it was first … I had to face the pain with clarity.
That’s why fresh air is so wonderful because it’s just one of many reasons to appreciate being here
We can’t take it or anyone or nature … animals with us ( not in the physical sense anyway ) so smile because that’s a gift too 🥹🙏🏼🥰
When I lost certain loved ones…my friends son who died from cancer at the tender age of 10… I grieved for them both differently as the individuals they were … each of their absence hit me heavily. I didn’t just spring back into life after they left I carried grief with me what felt like eternity until one day I woke up and realised I should live life for them too
So I did and that’s how I see life now
That experience change me but I had to see it for what it was first … I had to face the pain with clarity.
That’s why fresh air is so wonderful because it’s just one of many reasons to appreciate being here
We can’t take it or anyone or nature … animals with us ( not in the physical sense anyway ) so smile because that’s a gift too 🥹🙏🏼🥰
katydidnt · 61-69, F
I am shallow, not deep, when it comes to philosophical thought, but by looking things up, I note that the early 20th Century Existentialist movement posed this very question, well put in these words:
“...[we] explore the human individual's struggle to lead an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence.”
Their question lay not in seeking an answer to “why do we exist”, but to examine why, given that we do exist, are we driven (or coerced) to live “good” lives, knowing that with few exception among the living, we’ll be forgotten in the short space of a few generations? Why are we such angstroms in a world of light years?
These thoughts have me by the ear, here in the days of my waning moon. They leave me helpless, able to offer in answer to your question only the above--another question.
“...[we] explore the human individual's struggle to lead an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence.”
Their question lay not in seeking an answer to “why do we exist”, but to examine why, given that we do exist, are we driven (or coerced) to live “good” lives, knowing that with few exception among the living, we’ll be forgotten in the short space of a few generations? Why are we such angstroms in a world of light years?
These thoughts have me by the ear, here in the days of my waning moon. They leave me helpless, able to offer in answer to your question only the above--another question.
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DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@Ferise1 I didn't want to make this a book to begin with!
Ferise1 · 46-50, M
@DeWayfarer that doesn’t even match what’s been said
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
katydidnt · 61-69, F
As one who is still wrestling with the initial question, I like best the responses from those who are of the same mind. Less so, the unconditional declarative sentences written without stating the writer's premises.
It's a hard problem the O.P. posts; it deserves more than glib responses. If someone states their premises, that could spawn a separate thread whose participants find interest in debating the question based on those premises. You don't have to side with those premises in order to have meaningful debate, you just have to agree to speak with the assumption that they are valid.
Most of us like me don't have enough time to indulge in such thought experiments. That's why we have philosophers.
It's a hard problem the O.P. posts; it deserves more than glib responses. If someone states their premises, that could spawn a separate thread whose participants find interest in debating the question based on those premises. You don't have to side with those premises in order to have meaningful debate, you just have to agree to speak with the assumption that they are valid.
Most of us like me don't have enough time to indulge in such thought experiments. That's why we have philosophers.
katydidnt · 61-69, F
@robertsnj I'm 22 hrs late seeing your question; so much for my not having time to check SW.
By now you've likely already googled and, like me who had to do the same, came up with such names as Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Jean-Paul Sartre. I'll add Albert Camus, a more contemporary figure. Google picked them, not I. I am snowed quickly by their writings, and even by wikipedia's reportage about them, so I'm no source of original thought here. Sorry.
By now you've likely already googled and, like me who had to do the same, came up with such names as Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Jean-Paul Sartre. I'll add Albert Camus, a more contemporary figure. Google picked them, not I. I am snowed quickly by their writings, and even by wikipedia's reportage about them, so I'm no source of original thought here. Sorry.
robertsnj · 56-60, M
is it existentalists day on SW? Cool I will take a crack
1) Because it is finite. It has a beginning and an end. The scacity of most things give it value by the nature of scarcity alone.
2) Because we all find pleasure in some things, hobbies, friensihips, intimate relationship, pet ownership / the cummulative pleasure over a span of year produces value and worth
3) Because of future achievements and current ones. Each of us will make achievements of our life that gives us fullfillment and add value to life
4) By the contrast of pain we feel from losing someone who passed. That pain you feel when your friend or lover or whomever passes is the recognition that their life and their relationship to you had value. If life had no value you probalby feel nothing or little
5) I guess to throw one more and not make this too long we assign worth and value --it is our autonomy that allows us tind value in life and it may be the same as others or dfferent but it is ours to desire and give ourselves. Life is worth living because we assign value to it in various ways.
1) Because it is finite. It has a beginning and an end. The scacity of most things give it value by the nature of scarcity alone.
2) Because we all find pleasure in some things, hobbies, friensihips, intimate relationship, pet ownership / the cummulative pleasure over a span of year produces value and worth
3) Because of future achievements and current ones. Each of us will make achievements of our life that gives us fullfillment and add value to life
4) By the contrast of pain we feel from losing someone who passed. That pain you feel when your friend or lover or whomever passes is the recognition that their life and their relationship to you had value. If life had no value you probalby feel nothing or little
5) I guess to throw one more and not make this too long we assign worth and value --it is our autonomy that allows us tind value in life and it may be the same as others or dfferent but it is ours to desire and give ourselves. Life is worth living because we assign value to it in various ways.
robertsnj · 56-60, M
@LordShadowfire yeah not that this should be a serious topici but,, let me put # 1 a different way
1) we have feel extra sadness when a baby or young person dies and call it "way too young" because collectively we assign value to the longevity of life by contrast
2) we often, and by we I mean society in general, feel less sad about an elderly person dieing becasue at least they lived a long life.
In both generic ideas if we, as a society do this, we are assigning value to the duration of life. By proxy of that idea the finite-ness of it the limited durartion is assigned in an abstract sense value.
1) we have feel extra sadness when a baby or young person dies and call it "way too young" because collectively we assign value to the longevity of life by contrast
2) we often, and by we I mean society in general, feel less sad about an elderly person dieing becasue at least they lived a long life.
In both generic ideas if we, as a society do this, we are assigning value to the duration of life. By proxy of that idea the finite-ness of it the limited durartion is assigned in an abstract sense value.
robertsnj · 56-60, M
@LordShadowfire i made a lot of typos / guess i gotta fo fix em / typing with brain fog / my chat jumped on my chest and woke me / speaking of things that make life worth liveing--kitty cats make life worth living
hope you have fun asnwering this question
hope you have fun asnwering this question
VersesAndBruises · 100+, F
I don’t really have a good answer to that. It’s a question I wrestle with a lot. Some days I can name reasons, and other days they feel thin or far away. Most of the time it’s not that I know life is worth living—it’s more that I’m still here, taking it one day at a time, hoping the answer shows up eventually.
SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M
For the little moments when the universe winks at you, and you wonder if there really is something more out there...God...the Creator...the Matrix...whatever....
Prime Example: My wife can manifest things by talking about them....she mentions something missing we haven't seen in six months....the VERY NEXT DAY it appears randomly during our day...
...I told her to start talking about finding a satchel in the woods with a million dollars in cash...we'll see if it manifests...😉
Prime Example: My wife can manifest things by talking about them....she mentions something missing we haven't seen in six months....the VERY NEXT DAY it appears randomly during our day...
...I told her to start talking about finding a satchel in the woods with a million dollars in cash...we'll see if it manifests...😉
SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M
I gotta say, some of these answers are profound. Sometimes this site really impresses me....
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
HowtoDestroyAngels · 46-50, M
robertsnj · 56-60, M
@HowtoDestroyAngels can i ask and no disrespect intented but by proxy do you mean
1) if you had no kids your life would have had no value and
2) when if your kids cease to need you, your life will cease to have value?
1) if you had no kids your life would have had no value and
2) when if your kids cease to need you, your life will cease to have value?
HowtoDestroyAngels · 46-50, M
@robertsnj option 2
For my man... the only anchor I have left now...
FloorGenAdm · 51-55, M
Jenny1234 · 56-60, F
Life is wonderful and beautiful
VersesAndBruises · 100+, F
@deathfairy I vote this as best answer! 💯
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
That is up to you to decide..But whatever you decide, be prepared to work for it..😷
riseofthemachine · 41-45, M
Your spirit , that's why ,nothing else .
robertsnj · 56-60, M
@riseofthemachine don't owe me a reply but just and observation, it is so fascinating that people in 2026 think we have souls. I even more fascinating when the attempt to delineate the differences between a brain and a soul and why, when they don't find many or any differences, why the redundancy exists.
LordShadowfire · 46-50, M
FrugalNoodle · 46-50, M
It’s a problem one can attempt to solve.
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CougarLisa · 36-40, F
@whowasthatmaskedman I know... those "others"... I'm so happy not to be one of them.
Ferise1 · 46-50, M
@CougarLisa For decades now, Republican politicians have used racism and sexism to turn out voters,
claiming that the growing economic divisions in society were the fault of Democrats who wanted to redistribute the tax dollars of hardworking white Americans to undeserving Black Americans, people of color, and women. Once in power, those leaders rigged the economy to move money not downward but upward, moving nearly $80 trillion from the bottom 90% to the top 1% from 1975 to 2023.
claiming that the growing economic divisions in society were the fault of Democrats who wanted to redistribute the tax dollars of hardworking white Americans to undeserving Black Americans, people of color, and women. Once in power, those leaders rigged the economy to move money not downward but upward, moving nearly $80 trillion from the bottom 90% to the top 1% from 1975 to 2023.
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swirlie · 31-35
Because we all came here into a lifetime for a reason, not by accident nor by coincidence. While we are here we must fulfill the goal that was set before we entered our lifetime and if we don't, then our life was not worth living.
swirlie · 31-35
@LordShadowfire
Well, that's the underlying secret that is answered right there in your own question!
It's not up to YOU to figure anything out. That part has already been done FOR you.
All you have to do is show up for for your 'life' everyday and do exactly what you end up doing without questioning 'why' you are doing it.
The answer to 'why?' will always be presented to you either immediately, or sometime up the road when you least expect to receive that answer.
I'm still trying to figure out how one figures out what that goal is.
Well, that's the underlying secret that is answered right there in your own question!
It's not up to YOU to figure anything out. That part has already been done FOR you.
All you have to do is show up for for your 'life' everyday and do exactly what you end up doing without questioning 'why' you are doing it.
The answer to 'why?' will always be presented to you either immediately, or sometime up the road when you least expect to receive that answer.
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
robertsnj · 56-60, M
@sunsporter1649 yikes i think you just took the meaning of life away from everyone with diabetes!