Jetée

Why does it seem that you are treating existence as some sort of race, in which whatever we do along the way either registers to a win, or in your case, an inevitable loss?


What we accomplish in life is most reasonably only servicable to us in life, so you hold that in your contention, but it doesn't quite argue the point of why we strive for our every experience in the first place. First and foremost, what we do and what shapes us is our drive to survive. Considering we have accomplished that task and will continue to do so regularly, we are free to accumulate and tally more of our perceived needs, depending on our goals and cultural influence, it will vary accordingly. Need for wealth, need for security, need for family, need for status, need for meaning; without any pursuit to happiness, you are further indulging into your theory of nonexistent living is equated to overall irrevelance.


Whether you define it as mere sustanation, or being able to fish with more ease, or selling arms and living the kickass lifestyle of a warlord, whatever brings you satisfaction, and you have the necessary applications to fulfill yourself continually, it will elevate your overall sense of being. It's foolhardy to debate your worth living if you continue thinking that it won't matter once deceased, so why should I even bother now? Would a prominent civil leader state to his people, "Hey, I know the nation looks bleak at the moment, but what does it matter now since you will all die eventually in the future? Why should we work for a better tomorrow if not all of us will even realize it, so there's no point in change now"?


Despite your argument that once we die, everything we toiled for will immediately count for naught, I'd say a fair amount of individuals seek to make one's mark in the minds of those left behind. I don't know what will happen to any of us once our corporeal form expires, so I can't speculate on any one theory since not a one holds sound; but if you would like to experiment on your theory that ultimate death equals the ultimate disregard of our life's meaning in the first place, go ahead and proposition it for discussion.


I stated that once we encounter demise, it will not be registered by our living self in the least; it is who we leave behind, and the legacy of our actions, that will continue, only so long as you worked for that prestigious endeavor, instilled within those that cherished you the most. Be proud in what you accomplish because while not everyone will take notice and spread your undying word, you at least you appeased yourself, and that warrants some measure of honor.


Pursue what you can in life, do what it takes in order to attain your ideal self-realization. Life isn't fair—why would you expect any difference in death? If it is true that you can't take anything with you to the beyond, do as much as you can until reaching the terminal (or in an another manner of speaking, which utilizes metaphors: leave the buffet full and hearty, and don't spend time worrying beforehand of why you should even partake in the meal because you won't even savor the taste of it later).


Be. Free.

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As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world (that is the myth of the Atomic Age) as in being able to remake ourselves.

—Mohandas K. Gandhi