There is no dearth of adages that tell you how to survive this confusing-exhilarating-depressing-difficult-breathtaking-wonderfully satisfying-suspenseful-thrilling-horrifying-intense-happy-sad-all-at-the-same-time roller coaster ride that we, with deceptive simplicity, call life. However, there are some that strike you instantly as rules worthy of putting up on your wall so that they catch your eye a moment before you bang your fist in. I came across on such quote recently - "Life is not meant to end by going quietly to the grave.. but rather in a full-on power slide screaming "HOLY SHIT! What a ride!!!"". This seemingly playful statement made me think more than many obscure and profound thoughts have because, lets face it, most of us go into our quiet graves more regretful than content. We remember loves lost, opportunities missed, lands unseen, words never said, joys never felt, feelings never expressed, paths not followed,promises not kept... it always ends with could have, would have, should have. The helpless despondence of it all makes these among the most unseemly phrases in the English language.
But thats what life is supposed to be, right? Dont the imperfections, the sorrow and the horrors just add to its glory? Why do we invariably die dissatisfied if we know that its all in the game? Maybe it has something to do with who we blame for our less-than-satisfactiory existence. Even though we spend our entire lives passing the buck around and blaming the teacher-the boss-the parents-the spouse-the other driver-God-nature for our misfortunes, it is when time is stealthily slipping away, that we realize that it was, all along, our own miserable selves who were to blame! A person who has played the best he could, given the cards he was dealt, does not resent life when at his deathbed. A person who has left no stone unturned in becoming the most complete human being that he could possibly be, does not regret lost opportunities at the end of the path. A person who spends his life spreading joy and love to everyone he encounters does not shed tears over undeclared love and unspoken feelings. A person who has spent every waking moment reveling in the wisdom of the past or discovering the immense possibilities of the future does not deplore the insignificant hurdles or the tiny disappointments. The man who dies in peace, is the man who sees joy, grief, love, loss, success and failure as opportunities - opportunities to better his life, opportunities to become a stronger person, opportunities to be more helpful to those less fortunate than himself, opportunities to learn from his mistakes, opportunities to correct the follies of his ancestors, opportunities to leave behind a world that is, atleast infinitesimally, better than it was before he was part of it; the man who dies in peace, is the man who sees life as an eternal challenge - a neverending pursuit, of excellence.
