What it Means to Live: A Reflection of Humanity
Written By: Alaina Yan
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The meaning of life has been contemplated since the birth of humanity; to this day, the reason for survival is still nebulous. Some are transcendentalists like Henry David Thoreau who believes that people should give up the unnecessary things in life, while others believe that the human experience is what truly gives life value. By defining what it means to live, we can change our approach to life and truly appreciate its precious gift. From my perspective, to live a full life is to live with no regrets, actively find and pursue a purpose, and be loved.
Though living without regrets may seem cliche, it is a vital aspect of a life well lived and is seldom accomplished. Taking risks and leaping into the unknown entails giving up the safety of the “easy” choices to grow as a person. It is similar to adding color into the black-and-white still image of people’s lives. My brother’s college experience encapsulates this principle of life. When he got accepted into an out-of-state college, my mom immediately discouraged him from moving out. However, my brother believed that the opportunities and experiences on the East Coast would be unparalleled. Rather than live in hypotheticals and overthink what would happen, he moved to his college of choice with confidence and hope for a brighter future. On a Facetime call, he admitted to me that, although he missed home, he loved the new culture, new people he met, and new experiences he gained; to him, it was like a fresh breeze from the ocean.
Living with no regrets often follows finding a person’s purpose. Finding a purpose is not pursuing careers and jumping into opportunities to chase wealth or status. It is selecting the job that makes every work day exciting and encourages us to push harder and grow, both technically and mentally. Because everybody differs in their talents and hobbies, finding one’s purpose in life can be difficult; the idea of devoting oneself to a single future can be terrifying. My mom, however, was not one of those people. Fresh out of college as an accountant at a large firm, she lost herself to the repetitive life of an office job–she felt like she was not truly living. As somebody who loved children, she dreamed of starting her own family. Thus, she left her job when she had my oldest brother. I was shocked when I learned of her decision, but when I asked her about it, she told me that, although raising my siblings and I was difficult at times, the life lessons and experiences she gained from raising us made life fulfilling again.
Connecting to others and being loved is also an essential part of leading a deep life. As social creatures, our brains are hardwired to thrive in groups. The movie Wall-E perfectly demonstrates the importance of being loved. While the main character, Wall-E, is a solitary robot on a polluted, uninhabited Earth set in the future, he represents an isolated human. Alone on the desolate planet, Wall-E spent his days waking up, compressing trash, and waiting for another being to share his loneliness. When Eve, another robot, arrived on Earth, Wall-E was immediately excited, showing off the small trinkets he collected. Although Eve initially attacked him, the duo became close friends and even lovers. Compared to the beginning of the film, Wall-E bounces around with renewed energy and joy of his new relationship. The feeling of belonging and knowledge that he was loved by somebody reignited his spark to live and led to a more joyful and fulfilling life.
At its core, life consists of ups and downs. To truly live is to walk through life regret-free, purposeful, and loved, not to be driven by greed, status, and power. At the end of the day, we must question whether our life is well-lived. If we follow the guidelines above, embracing uncertainty, living with purpose, and connecting with loved ones, then can life’s colors truly shine through.
