Life Philosophy


In one of my classes we were asked, what I consider an immensely important question for individual life philosophy:

Would we rather have a long, mediocre life or a short, glorious one?

If I had to choose, by far I would want to live a life where I felt fulfilled. Consequently, I'd pick the shorter more amazing life over the life of average happiness and achievement.

Much like the Aristotelian concept of eudaimonia, I believe there is a benefit in feeling successful and satisfied at the end of one's life. I don't want to die until I've done everything I have ever dreamed of. From establishing a non-profit to help those in hunger, and working on international human rights reforms, to backpacking through nature, and buying a beach house to watch every sunset I can: I want to do it all. I don't want a longer life where I don't do some of these things. I want a shorter life where I feel useful and helpful. I don't want to live a life of averageness and mediocrity. I want a life where my dreams are passionate, grandiose, and vivid.

There's a quote, that is my all time favorite, and it says, "find what you love and let it kill you," by Charles Bukowski. That's what I want my life to be like. I want my life to be as passionate and fierce as it can be before it ends. No matter when it ends, no matter how short a life I get, I want to do everything I've ever come to love.

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