42

Life asked Death, 

"Why do people love me but hate you?" 

Death replied 

"Because you are a beautiful lie...", a wry grin manifesting across his face

"and I, a painful truth". 

And with that humorous dialogue gracefully painting a melancholic forecast, let us attempt to unravel an age old question. 

"What is the meaning of life?"  

An unassumingly straightforward question so intricately woven with ambiguity it has haunted even the most brilliant philosophical minds for eons, and continues to overwhelm anyone who dares provoke the great existentialism beast. 

*Gulp*

According to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything is simply, and get this, 42. Now, do note that this response was only revealed after 7.5 million years by Deep Thought, a supercomputer created to answer that exact question. And after millennial of calculations, its reply seems rather...underwhelming. 42? How absurd. Perhaps even Deep Thought is unable to decipher such a simply complicated question. 

So what is it? What is life?

Well...it's all relative. From a definite viewpoint, life is but a condition that differentiates living things from inorganic matter. From a pragmatic perspective, and do forgive me here, life can be summarized as a prolonged breeding process to ensure the continuity of the human race, an endless cycle to maintain and grow Earth's homo sapien population. Ask any pessimist and they would declare solemnly that life is meaningless because it eventually ends. Question their optimistic counterparts and, with much enthusiasm, would announce that life is meaningful precisely because it ends. 

The passage of time degrades even the mightiest mountains to rubble. It is inevitable. Thanos or not, everyone turns to dust eventually. So...now what? Do we just succumb to our sealed fate and give up trying to find any sort of purpose, and with that slowly decay into oblivion as each second slowly chips away at our already deteriorating bodies? 

No. 

Think of the glass of milk you drank this morning. Life is like milk. Just as the liquid serves its purpose as a healthy breakfast beverage, life is meaningful because we are alive and able to dictate our purpose, our direction and set end goals for ourselves. Similar to sentient beings, milk too has an expiry date but that does not downplay its purpose whatsoever, as evident by millions of people still purchasing cartons at their local supermarkets. 

This, I realize now, is a terrible analogy. Not one of my greatest, ill admit, but there is no need to snicker.

But with that said, is life simply a journey determined by a sole purpose? What about a collection of purposes? And upon completing these objectives, will the imaginary fulfillment progress bar we enslave ourselves to finally be full, and with that will our endless hunger to seek even the smallest morsel of meaning finally be satiated? 

I believe that life, at its very essence, is simply...existing. That's what it is. To exist is to be alive, and to be alive is the greatest gift of all. Once you grasp that life is an experience designed to lack a goal, the fundamentals in which you base your ways of living will change. The very fabric that constitutes your character will change, and liberation soon overwhelms you. For with no purpose, there is nothing to achieve. No mountain to conquer. No race to finish. No hunger to satisfy. You will simply exist, and take each day as it comes. 

The roller-coaster of being -  a permanent ride that promises euphoria and sorrow, love and loss, unforgettable memories and painful experiences you wish to be erased forever. A moment of triumph interrupted by the suffocating embrace of failure. Explore the wonders of the world with much awe, and remain comforted by the sight of your neighborhood.   

Reflecting societal state, innocent minds are being constantly being corrupted by a plethora of unrealistic standards that, allegedly, represents an ideal individual. Money, fame, beauty. Sure, these traits may bring you temporary happiness and potentially more followers on Tik Tok, but the road to obtain these shallow attributes is (more often than not) littered with disrupted relationships, a damaged self-worth and an inflated sense of insecurity. That is not your purpose in this mortal realm. 

Of course, let us step back to observe the forest and not lay emphasis on a singular flower. One still needs to set and achieve personal goals as they symbolize checkpoints, milestones in your timeline that  encompass your very identity and what you live for. These aspirations need not be extravagant; but it is instrumental that you remain confident and determined throughout this journey, no matter how many lemons litter your path. 

And while a proverb does suggest transforming them into lemonade, there is only so much you can produce before all you have left...is sour. 

- Molly