An interesting comment was overheard recently about a place that helps the homeless population.
The statement was " people there aren't living, there are existing, at the most."
As someone who writes about meaning in life it seemed to pose an interesting question.
Just what is living life?Most people would probably not like to hear that they are just "existing." Would you?
You might consider living having a lot of money or a lot of friends. You might consider living fame and status, or just lying on a beach.
But is it more?
If something is living it is growing.
When asked what living life constitutes many people would likely include things like money, relationships, career, family. In other words a sense of purpose.
Existing sounds like going through the motions - eating, some entertainment and limited activities. There is however, no larger purpose.
This is where is becomes opinion.
The author would assert that working to provide for your family is living. But why? What kinds of things are included in a conversation about "living life"?
1. Growth
Life is growth. You are constantly evolving, and life is not static.
This could mean personal growth, raising a family or improving yourself in your career. Growth, though, involves learning and using the attributes God gave you.
As you grow your priorities in life might change.
2. Something to leave posterity
If you are just about accumulating wealth for yourself, then the author asserts something is lacking.
It might be something other than children, like a piece of work or something you started. People usually have a bucket list in the back of their head, even if it is not written.
3. Social activity
Humans are meant to be social animals, at least to some extent. You might be an introvert, (like the author), but just working to survive by yourself is generally not considered living, or maybe living minimally.
A word here, though: staying around people that take away your energy - and do little else - is not recommended.
4. Improving something or someone around you
Again, wealth and status are limited indicators of truly living. What are you doing to improve your world? or at least your community? Hobbies would probably fall into this category and, of course, passions.
This is an arbitrary list, of course, since it is a blog.
What these things have in common is using your God given abilities to grow and improve.
Even in retirement people do things to improve themselves (some people do). Most people think they would like to just lie on the beach, but this post asserts "living life" involves improvement.
You might have your own list. You should have your own list, for your mental health.
As we age, though, we might start to think about it more. We think about it more because the pains of life might begin to slow us down and make us aware of what we could be doing.
As this is a spiritual blog, one can apply these concepts to a relationship with God - a personal relationship.
This blog asserts living is developing. As long as you are working toward something (constructive) it is as least development.