Just accept it.

We exist to eat and procreate like every other species on this planet.

I agree.
And welcome to sciforums Mallory! :)

Welcome to sciforums Mallory Knox.

That's one hell of an opening statement. :)

I have to agree, that there is no metaphysical or spiritual or moral or whatever meaning to life. There is biological purpose. Beyond that, the meaning of life is something we must each find for ourselves. The meaning of life for me is no doubt very different to the meaning of life for you. Not that I know what the meaning of life is for me; I'm still working on that one. I'm still searching for some meaning. Why search, instead of simply give up and sit on the couch watching watch soap operas all day? Because I'm stubborn. The universe is my bitch; I will never be the universe's bitch. Life will never beat me. I may not get out of life alive, but I'm still going to kick its arse.

Thanks for the welcome.

Well I wasn't expecting anyone to agree with me, hey, I like this forum! :D

Originally posted by Mallory Knox
Thanks for the welcome.

Well I wasn't expecting anyone to agree with me, hey, I like this forum! :D
You like this forum because people agree with you? :p

Originally posted by Joeman
meaninglessness is all relative so that it gives everything a meaning Mallory ;)

Ummm...what?

Who is Sekrah?

Re. "We exist to eat and procreate like every other species on this planet."

Forgot 'kill' and 'die'.

Take care, and welcome to Sciforums ;)

Welcome to Sciforums. You're right, I think I'm gonna post a thread kind of like this one. I've come to a relization based on similiar theme. Check it out.

~Cactus

Originally posted by Mallory Knox
Just accept it.

We exist to eat and procreate like every other species on this planet.

That may be true, in essence. However, is it not then up to us, having realised this, to then ASSIGN a meaning to it?

The thought that life may not have a cosmic meaning is not a new one to most of us. What separates the bread from the crumbs is that some of us then find a meaning for ourselves and make it all worthwhile... without which you may as well go and jump off a cliff, for all the good you're going to do anyone.

" ... and make it all worthwhile... without which you may
as well go and jump off a cliff ... "

How true.

Ever since I decided life had no meaning, I think I was about
twelve years old when it dawned on me, I've fought with myself
every morning to keep from finding a cliff to jump off.

It's been a fifty seven year battle and the only way I've survived
this long is because each morning, when I wake up determined to
find that cliff, I remember that I have other things to do ... and
resolve to do the looking the following day.

Take care :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Squid Vicious


That may be true, in essence. However, is it not then up to us, having realised this, to then ASSIGN a meaning to it?

The thought that life may not have a cosmic meaning is not a new one to most of us. What separates the bread from the crumbs is that some of us then find a meaning for ourselves and make it all worthwhile... without which you may as well go and jump off a cliff, for all the good you're going to do anyone.

Who? Who are these people I'm supposed to do good for? I don't give a damn how much "good" I do anyone else. Everyone else can bite me. :D

"...that some of us then find a meaning for ourselves..."

That would seem to indicate you, for a start. If you dont care, then why post anything at all? :rolleyes:

Since there is no absolute meaning of life you get to make up your own. Just do what you like. Of course I can't think of a better way to start having fun than eating and procreating.

Eating and procreating ARE fun...but I still can't seem to find any meaning.

Try Pizza. All the mysteries of the universe are in the Pizza.

Originally posted by Adam
Try Pizza. All the mysteries of the universe are in the Pizza.

Mmmmm pizza.

We have superior intelligence wich no other species on the planet have it. Is that meaningless? :eek:

Don't you "feel" we have something to do, such a duty with it? :bugeye:

Humans are the most self destructive species on the planet are you sure we're that smart?

Originally posted by Neutrino_Albatross
Humans are the most self destructive species on the planet are you sure we're that smart?
I'm not sure about that. Many species deliberately kill their own young. For example, among baboons, lions, and horses, when a new alpha male takes over, he will kill the infant offspring of the previous alpha, to ensure the best chances of survival for his own. At least I seem to recall such activities.

But no other animal kills itself.

http://www.sciencenet.org.uk/database/Biology/9608/b00604d.html

I just asked my brother, the biology-type-stuff expert of the family, and he pointed out the obvious example: whales and dolphins ending up on beaches. That of course may be accidental. What about spiders? There are some species of spider in which the female will eat the male after sex; the male goes willingly (or is driven purely by biology) to that death.

Adam,

I don't think that any of your examples quite compare to the wars and mass genocide that humans seem to be so fond of.

If we're so damn smarter than animals why haven't we figured out how stupid and pointless it all is?

WE LIVE TO HAVE FUN!!!!!

HOW CAN THAT BE MEANINGLESS!?!?!
:):):):):):):):):)

Love,
Nelson

What does it affect, Nelson? In the long run, what does it matter?

See my post in 'Assigning a meaning' ;)

What does it affect, Nelson? In the long run, what does it matter?

What do you mean...?
Can you be more clear?

Originally posted by Neutrino_Albatross
Humans are the most self destructive species on the planet are you sure we're that smart?

Yes, indeed. That is because no other species can't stop it. Urrr... I was said intelligence, not smart. I have difference meaning of those words in my dictionary (my head).

Our intelligence is a great power. I think that hold great power also have great duty*. And that is not meaningless.

---------
*) Americans "think" theirself is police of the world, because they have economic power.

Life is meaningless

i just got dumped

Life SUCKS

Yep. Life is meaningless.

Nelson:
"What do you mean...?
Can you be more clear?"

Well, Nelson, you live to have fun. That's a fine meaning, but it really won't affect anything in the long run, will it? You have fun today, but you'll be dead in 70 years. Won't matter that much, on the scale of the eternal.

Sorry Ismu, that quote was aimed at Nelson.

Originally posted by Asguard
Life is meaningless

i just got dumped

Life SUCKS

Xev, I think it is clear enough... :rolleyes:

Wow, I hope my zeal isn't lost so easily. I bet there's a meaning, I'll keep y'all updated and when I find it I'll flaunt it, hahaha. Now it's time to make an av.

Xev,


Well, Nelson, you live to have fun. That's a fine meaning, but it really won't affect anything in the long run, will it? You have fun today, but you'll be dead in 70 years. Won't matter that much, on the scale of the eternal.

Children have fun...
Are they worried about the next day...?
It doesn't seems...

If you don't have fun in your life, whet do you have...?

Love,
Nelson

I've noticed that when I'm down I say:

"Life is meaningless"

When I'm in a brighter mood I say:"

"Life is beyond meaning"

Two different points of view for the same thing. The top one is very nihilistic, while the bottom one is more of a Zen Buddhist flavor. Too me meaning is our rational side trying to create a model of the universe. To "figure it out", so to speak. No model (meaning) can describe what it's trying to describe (the universe) perfectly, otherwise it wouldn't be a model, it would be what it is describing.

Hmmm, what if anyone's reasoning could completely "describe" the universe... well it's unfathomable, I guess.

-Xenu

That you even have the ability to ponder the meaning of life gives it meaning. I laughed when my son told me today that we are all kids and that we all need timeouts. Some of us more than others I believe.

Xev,

Since there is no way to really affect the futeure why not just have fun. What thave you got to lose?

Originally posted by Neutrino_Albatross
Since there is no way to really affect the futeure why not just have fun. What thave you got to lose?

Life isn't fun. Life sucks.

Life isn't fun. Life sucks.

From your point of view you are absolutely 100% correct!

Actually life can be really fun if you don't spend most of your time on a science forum board trying to attack someone for no reason on a friday night.

Mallory and Pine,

Read Xenu's post... ;)

Originally posted by Tyler
Actually life can be really fun if you don't spend most of your time on a science forum board trying to attack someone for no reason on a friday night.

Are you talking to me?

Neutrino:

Since there is no way to really affect the futeure why not just have fun. What thave you got to lose?

Aye, and that is where the Absurd comes into play. It's pointless, but one does anyway.

*Xev grins*

I sound like a Camus fundie, if such a thing exists.

Tyler:

Actually life can be really fun if you don't spend most of your time on a science forum board trying to attack someone for no reason on a friday night.

Ha ha ha! Touche.

Why is there no way to affect the future.. Everybody affects the future. - In their own way. People who live just to have fun will probably affect it the least. If you really want to affect the future go to politics ;) .
At the end of the day, it is what you are satisfied with.. I am not satisfied with just having fun - I never was. I get a depression if I don't study or do something creative. I am sure a lot of people feel same way. I would call it the "Home sapiens sapiens" need. If I do something creative I will get "high".
Life is meaningless if you really look at it from within. Look at it from the other side: There so many amazing things going on in this world. Skyscrapers collapsing after being hit by a plane - watching it just reminds me how fun and interesting this life is... Relationships breaking up.. New relationships being made.. Life is one BIG game and it's fun.

Why is there no way to affect the future.. Everybody affects the future. - In their own way. People who live just to have fun will probably affect it the least. If you really want to affect the future go to politics ;) .
At the end of the day, it is what you are satisfied with.. I am not satisfied with just having fun - I never was. I get a depression if I don't study or do something creative. I am sure a lot of people feel same way. If I do something creative I will get that "high" that not even sex can replace (ok I'm exaggerating here.. ;) ).
Life is meaningless if you really look at it from within. Look at it from the other side: There so many amazing things going on in this world. Skyscrapers collapsing after being hit by a plane - watching it just reminds me how fun and interesting this life is... Relationships breaking up.. New relationships being made.. Life is one BIG game and it's fun.
Peace and respec

heyoo everyone,
Re. "We exist to eat and procreate like every other species on this planet."

Yep right, and why do we feel the need -urge sometimes- to do this ?

Coz, just like nearly every other specie on earth, we have a "pleasure system", something that release very nice things in our brain when we eat or procreate (eating/sex are not pleasant by essence, we make them pleasant)

So, by considering that sex/eat are some kind of material meaning to our life, we can extend to pleasure=meaning.

So on a individual point of view, life can be seen as a quest for pleasure. And as an earth specie, pleasure can come from sex/eating.

But we have a far far far more complex pleasure system than other species. Do you feel the same amount of pleasure when you eat a pizzaz and when you are in front of 200 persons who applause your theory about meaningless of life ? (if not then IMEDIATLY tell me what you eat....)

Furthermore, complex pleasure stimuli tends to be exclusive to each other whereas sex and eating are not (hey i am not saying i am having sex and meal at the SAME time...well some apple pie sometimes but... that's not the topic :o ) and we have the meaning of time (wich seems to be absent in other specie).

All of this implies that we have to make choices, ie accepting to feel pain/displeasure today(by studying for ex) hoping that on a long term we will have more pleasure...

Adds to that the fact that we are socialized, we have strong ego etc... etc...and you find yourself in front of a very very very complex pleasure system... that can gives us direction, unique direction for everyone (just try to maximize a 1000+ variables function, mathematically speaking, you have nearly infinite way to go to the top).

Of course, we will never know if life/nature has a meaning/direction, but as we have the choice to live meaningless life / meaningfull life (maybe artificially) it gives (this choice) a meaning to our life. Camus& Sartre says that life is meaningless as we will never know the essential truth in nature, ie Life and Time are meaningless to human. But our life and our time are meaningfull to us.

sorry if it was a pain to read... hey it was your choice :p

ndrs,


At the end of the day, it is what you are satisfied with.. I am not satisfied with just having fun - I never was. I get a depression if I don't study or do something creative. I am sure a lot of people feel same way. I would call it the "Home sapiens sapiens" need. If I do something creative I will get "high".

Have you ever seen the imagination and creativity of a child? Why do children create? Because it's how they have fun!. The same to us... :)

Love,
Nelson

Some people would argue consistant drug use provide consitant fun and imagination.........

Cactus,

And than a headache. And you always have to get more dozes to have the same effect. It's an addiction. You must be self-fulfilling to always have fun. You have to have fun alone and than have fun with someone....

Cactus:

Yep.

Consistant drug use, wild, kinky weasel sex, scientific exploration, programming, hockey, cars, philosophical gibberings......

These are the things that make life worth living.

Nelson:

And than a headache. And you always have to get more dozes to have the same effect. It's an addiction.

Bah! Addiction is for pussies.

Ash:

But we have a far far far more complex pleasure system than other species. Do you feel the same amount of pleasure when you eat a pizzaz and when you are in front of 200 persons who applause your theory about meaningless of life ? (if not then IMEDIATLY tell me what you eat....)

Demon pizza!

Feta cheese, mozzarella, pesto and tomatoes. Better than 200 people's applause - unless they give me money, of course.

"Have you ever seen the imagination and creativity of a child? Why do children create? Because it's how they have fun!. The same to us..."

Nelson I'd watch your fascination with children a bit. People will either think you're Mr. Rogers or a pedophile.



"And than a headache. And you always have to get more dozes to have the same effect. It's an addiction. You must be self-fulfilling to always have fun. You have to have fun alone and than have fun with someone...."

Drugs give me headaches? Says who????? And that more doses thing only applies to some drugs. Ditto addiction. And addictions vary from person to person. I talked about it with another person in this thread but I've been able to easily drop things someone would call 'addictions' cold turkey. Ditto my mom and dad. It's just a matter of slight will power. That's why I never understood the hubbub over quitting smoking. You just don't pick up a cigarette. Simple as that.


"Consistant drug use, wild, kinky weasel sex, scientific exploration, programming, hockey, cars, philosophical gibberings......"

Xev, my love!

"Nelson I'd watch your fascination with children a bit. People will either think you're Mr. Rogers or a pedophile."

Or a 'pedafile' like certain, now banned, posters. :p

"Drugs give me headaches? Says who????? And that more doses thing only applies to some drugs. Ditto addiction. And addictions vary from person to person. I talked about it with another person in this thread but I've been able to easily drop things someone would call 'addictions' cold turkey. Ditto my mom and dad. It's just a matter of slight will power. That's why I never understood the hubbub over quitting smoking. You just don't pick up a cigarette. Simple as that."

Ditto.

"Xev, my love!"

Darling!

Tyler,


Drugs give me headaches? Says who????? And that more doses thing only applies to some drugs. Ditto addiction. And addictions vary from person to person. I talked about it with another person in this thread but I've been able to easily drop things someone would call 'addictions' cold turkey. Ditto my mom and dad. It's just a matter of slight will power. That's why I never understood the hubbub over quitting smoking. You just don't pick up a cigarette. Simple as that.

Chemical addiction...
But I agree with the variations...


Nelson I'd watch your fascination with children a bit. People will either think you're Mr. Rogers or a pedophile.

Mr Rogers...?
Nahhh... I just like children... :)
Enough to have many many children... :D:D



Xev, my love!


Darling!

Awwwww...:D
[wedding march] Taa ta ta raaaa.... taa ta ta raaaa...[/wedding march]...
:D:D:D:D:D

Love,
Nelson

"Chemical addiction...
But I agree with the variations..."

Not all drugs have chemical addictions. And some of them that do have very small chemical addictiveness. Something like cocaine is hugely addictive while (I believe) something like shrooms are more of a psychological addictiveness. And psych addictions are very easy to get over.



"Mr Rogers...?
Nahhh... I just like children...
Enough to have many many children..."

Man, that means either you or the woman (or the other man, I suppose) best be staying at home. It's gettin' harder and harder to find a woman these days that wants to be stay-at home.


"Awwwww...
[wedding march] Taa ta ta raaaa.... taa ta ta raaaa...[/wedding march]..."

Nah.....although a little Barry Manilow may be in place....

Man, that means either you or the woman (or the other man, I suppose) best be staying at home. It's gettin' harder and harder to find a woman these days that wants to be stay-at home.

Other man...?:bugeye:
Are you kidding...?:eek:

Stay at home!?!?!? The world is big!
We will travel a lot... :)

Mr. Rogers? You know how long it takes that man to take off his coat and shoes........jesus.

"Stay at home!?!?!? The world is big!
We will travel a lot... "

Then you better make a shit load of money.

By stay-at-home in English we mean a mother who doesn't work. Who is a mother, not a worker. If you have 4, 5, 6... kids I'm hoping one of you stay home. Personally, I am not a supporter of having nanies raise children for you.

Haha, touche Cactus.





'Another brick in the wall'

getting into the floyd?

"Getting into Floyd?" - DEAR GOD NO, been into Floyd for a LONG TIME :)

"Man, that means either you or the woman (or the other man, I suppose) best be staying at home. It's gettin' harder and harder to find a woman these days that wants to be stay-at home."

And is getting harder and harder to find women willing to parasitise...most interesting.

"Mr. Rogers? You know how long it takes that man to take off his coat and shoes........jesus."

Ha ha! Yes.

"DEAR GOD NO, been into Floyd for a LONG TIME "

You seemed the type who would appreciate.

"And is getting harder and harder to find women willing to parasitise...most interesting."

Women want to work more, what can I say. It's not a wrong thing. They should be given every oppurtunity and every right. I'm not going to deny though that I feel more women working is worse for society. As far as raising a family goes, I believe kids are far better off having a parent raise them then a nanny. If more women (or more men for that matter) stayed home and raised their kids properly, perhaps we wouldn't have as many problems in youth.

Tyler,


Then you better make a shit load of money.

By stay-at-home in English we mean a mother who doesn't work. Who is a mother, not a worker. If you have 4, 5, 6... kids I'm hoping one of you stay home. Personally, I am not a supporter of having nanies raise children for you.


I'll do lots of money... believe me... :)

The girl I Love loves to work...
I'm always telling her that she is too busy... :(

We will both be with our children at the same time...
Work won't be between us! :)
And there will be 4... :)

Love,
Nelson

what is the point of life?

what is the point of it all?:(

I feel you. I really do. I dont get it either. What is to become of ones like ourselves?
I know everyone travels a road that is hard, but why are some of us left with a mark? Why do I feel like the world is a better place without me? Self esteem? Lonliness? It just doesnt make sense to me.

Why do you really care if life has a point or not? I've done my share of wondering and being depressed about it all too... until I realised it really doesnt matter a jot whether there's a purpose or not.

If there's some great all-powerful being directing things up there... then it hasn't told us what the point is or even if there is one. So why concern yourself about it?

If there isn't an all-knowing all-powerful being up there... then again, why concern yourself?

Get over it and start living instead.. you'll find your life suddenly gets a whole heap better.

what get on and start lying and cheating people?

so that i can get lots of money and try to BUY happyness?

not a chance

DEFINITLY rather be dead than surcome to the greed that swollows our world

Originally posted by Asguard
what get on and start lying and cheating people?

so that i can get lots of money and try to BUY happyness?

not a chance

DEFINITLY rather be dead than surcome to the greed that swollows our world

Don't remember saying to lie or cheat in there... or to get rich either. If anything, I would say to you to ignore the whole lot of the bastards you see as doing so. When you pay attention to them, the only person you hurt is yourself - they sure as hell couldn't give a flying **** about you, or what you think.

Plenty of people manage to lead meaningful lives without resorting to crap like that asguard.. perhaps you should stop being so negative and live for yourself instead of thinking you have to bear all the burdens of the world on your shoulders. Or maybe you don't want to? Well if not, that's your lookout. Go through life being depressed then... you'll achieve nothing, and no one will care.

Live yourself, and they STILL won't care... but you'll find that you're happier anyway. And you'll also find there's plenty of people who think the same way you do, but don't go getting all deprressed about it, but instead carry on and make the best of things they can. These people will become your friends, and there's a meaning in life right there. The choice is yours.

The man wondered what was the meaning of life through all his life and when dying he discovered:
the life...
is simply...
to live...

Originally posted by Mallory Knox
Just accept it.

We exist to eat and procreate like every other species on this planet.

I thinks thats a part of what we do. But its not all, otherwise we would not be writing in this forum right now.

Everyting between eating and procreating either contributes to us
doing those two things ... or keeps us from being bored out of our
gourds the rest of the time.

Take care ;)

What I don't understand is people who take a point of view, describe what they see from that point, and claim that it is the truth.

Biology: we are only cells, we procreate and transport our genes. Partly true.

Physics: we are only matter. Partly true.

Spirtists: we are only spirits. Matter is an illusion. Partly true.

...etc...

Is this to find some solid ground while existing? Is it to cover up insecurity?

I think it is too easy. And often unkind to other viewpoints.

Life is meaningless, but we must pretend life has a meaning. That is what philosophers are for.

And people often get carried away with the "meaning of life". That is what existentialists are for.

I believe Camus has some good ideas.

Camus is a babe. Very astute observer.

Originally posted by Xev
Camus is a babe. Very astute observer.

Who is that?

he's a French existentialist thinker. He died in 1960.

He sees that life is absurd but tries to deal with it. He rejects suicide as a sollution.

Thanx, A4Ever. Camus says that suicide is basically running away from the true nature of life, fleeing from the Absurd (http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/00/pwillen1/lit/absur.htm) instead of fighting it, as Sisyphus (http://stripe.colorado.edu/~morristo/sisyphus.html) would.

"Life is meaningless, but we must pretend life has a meaning. That is what philosophers are for."

Or ...

"We are all crazy, but those who analyze their craziness are often called philosophers."

Take care ;)

Xev, Joeman, Chagur, Truthseeker: I like your insistence that existentialism was the end of arrogance, except can you tell me if probably you haven’t totally explored the idea that people can either carry on determined to wait for the rules to be changed or can drop dead? The rules could be that there is no advantage in learning more about the consequences of our actions with a passion.

Squid Vicious:
"If there's some great all-powerful being directing things up there... then it hasn't told us what the point is or even if there is one. So why concern yourself about it?"
Why not have fun and concern yourself about helping people to find such a being, in case it exists? A reason I heard you might is if it really represented value.

Asguard, Strgrl, Squid Vicious: I think I could agree that becoming a greedy cheat would not be fulfilling and can you tell me what alternatives you will support?

Originally posted by mgs
"If there's some great all-powerful being directing things up there... then it hasn't told us what the point is or even if there is one. So why concern yourself about it?"
Why not have fun and concern yourself about helping people to find such a being, in case it exists? A reason I heard you might is if it really represented value.

Asguard, Strgrl, Squid Vicious: I think I could agree that becoming a greedy cheat would not be fulfilling and can you tell me what alternatives you will support?

In reply to the first paragraph, Pellinore I am not.

As to the second. I am rather greedy, I have to admit, but I am not a cheat. By the same token, I'm not about to give money to a beggar either, because in my opinion he has done nothing to deserve it. Let him show a measure of value to me and i will pay him accordingly.

So while I prefer not to take from others, I still accumulate for myself as much as i can. For me, in independance (financial I guess more than anything) lies freedom and comfort. I have never believed that being greedy is a bad thing... but allowing greed to take control to the point where you disadvantage others in your greed, is. If i sold a fake cure for cancer i would be scum in my own eyes, but if i invented the real cure, I'd take the money and retire in luxury in my castle with a high wall around it to keep the beggars out... because i'd earned it.

Perhaps "meaning" is not a static property of the natural world. I think "meaning" would be more properly defined as a perspective one uses as a tool in order to create an internal consensus that characterizes the ebb and flow of thought as either adaptive or maladaptive. Meaning may not be something that should be searched for. It should be something one creates.

Dude, totally.

Originally posted by Mallory Knox
Just accept it.
We exist to eat and procreate like every other species on this planet.

Personally i believe i'm here to learn.
By the way. I like to eat, but sometimes i have a few drinks.
Do you know most bees do not procriate? only the queens do.

Why does life need a goal in order to exist?

It can exist, so it does, and then invents the next step.

The meaning of life is to find the meaning of life.

Yes, and why waste another moment rationalizing the vanity of existence?

So here we stay...trapped in vacuousness.

:bawl:...:D...:bawl:

Why search, instead of simply give up and sit on the couch watching watch soap operas all day? Because I'm stubborn. The universe is my bitch; I will never be the universe's bitch. Life will never beat me. I may not get out of life alive, but I'm still going to kick its arse.

I love your attitude. I really do. I wish more people thought like that. And a year older than me too. Sometimes I think I'm the only one still wrestling this bitch to the ground with the same fervour that I had in my teens, so every now and again it's good to hear those sentiments echoed by someone else. Anyway...

I don't know why exactly I am here. I've been pondering the question for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I run with a particular answer for a while, and it's usually a pretty compelling one, but I never really stop pondering. My favourite answer of all however is also the simplest and most practical. I might not know why I'm here, but what kind of fucking waste would it be if I didn't try to make the most of it regardless? You see, there's one thing a person does know with absolute certainty. You are indeed here. And honestly, that's a pretty damned incredible fact all by itself. Consciousness. Awareness. Being you. So you need to ask yourself. Do you really want to spend this time reflecting upon how there's actually not really any point to spending it at all? Live life. Experience it. Suss it out. See what's waiting around the corner. Explore. There's a endless supply of every kind of intriguing shit out there, and even right here, sitting in that chair of yours right at this very minute, or any other minute wherever you are and whatever else you might be doing.

What I guess I'm really getting at, and it always comes back to this for me, is that all by itself, the fact that you exist, that you can think and feel and touch, and ask these questions, is the most profoundly incredible actuality in all of existence. Seriously, tell me you never think about this. Tell me you never wonder why it is that you are you instead of somebody else. And in that moment, when you're struggling to comprehend the nature of human existence itself, and how it is possible that you are you, that you don't start wondering if something this profoundly incredible is actually possible, what else might be? What it really all boils down to is this. How the fuck do you know that life is not worth living for some reason that you just don't understand yet?

If you don't think about these things, you really should. It motivates me just as powerfully as any religious or spiritually based idea that I've ever come across. It's simply about dedicating yourself to properly appreciating life for what it is. A truly amazing thing, whether we know why it's here or not.