What makes your life worth living? Tell me no lies.
Friday, December 9, 2011
What makes life worth living?
I've been asked to speak in church on the l8th and I want to address the question that my favorite novel this year, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, asks: what makes life worth living? What makes life worth living even when it is absurdly sorrowful? Like when you've lost your house or your job, or your spouse, or your looks, or your dignity. What makes life worth living if you're exhausted from care-taking, or studying or limping or hormonal spikes.
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Well, for one thing, this charming blog...
ReplyDelete(There, I de-lurked.)
Seriously, good writing makes the world go around. Like the scriptures.
Changing seasons. Always something better to look forward to seeing. Arizona doesn't get drastic changes but boy howdy do we notice. Noelle pointed out red and orange leaves on some of the trees. I know those are long gone in other parts of the country that are now experiencing snow and frozen twigs. I loved he changing seasons while we lived in Boston. Just when you thought you couldn't handle on season for a second longer you'd get something better or different. Sometimes winter was too long, but... We still surged until spring made an appearance.
ReplyDeleteDon't mind my typos. Darn. Mobile commenting at its finest.
ReplyDeleteA good book, the way the sun shines through green leaves, a hot shower, a good snot-nosed/hiccup-filled cry, or alternatively a throat scratching scream -- basically doing something that reminds me I am indeed alive and thus in some way separate from what hurts, and then the hope or faith or peaceful feeling that it will get better and hold on.
ReplyDeleteAt least that's what's worked in the past for me. It sounds like I am not all that original though :) (I am also de-lurking)
Long hikes in the mountains. A symphony. A big chunk of Lindt chocolate. A slurpy kiss from my dog. It's the moments that sustain the whole life.
ReplyDeleteHope makes life worth living. In all of the scenarios you named, there's hope that they'll get better. Reunited after death, a better future hair day, finding a job, etc. The whole, "This too will pass." Also feeling loved and needed helps.
ReplyDeleteChocolate. My children. Running. Going to school.
ReplyDeleteI am the non-athlete of my family. I am the tallest of my sisters and the only one who didn't play varsity basketball in high school. I didn't play basketball at all. I am uncoordinated. Almost exactly a year ago, at age 39 1/2, I started exercising regularly. A month later I started working with a personal trainer weekly. I did lots of good things, but always had trouble running because my knees hurt. I am not overweight. So I just didn't run for more than a couple of minutes at a time. I can walk at 4.5 mph, and do so quite regularly. A few weeks ago I heard that some of my siblings and their spouses are doing a relay next year. I couldn't think of anything more fun than sitting in a van full of sweaty, stinky relatives for 48 hours, taking turns running from 3 to 8 miles. I wanted in, so I did some research. I slowed down, shortened my stride, and two days after Thanksgiving I ran 4 consecutive miles with no knee pain. That's the farthest I've gone so far, but I am so happy to be able to run! I have a secret hope of getting up to 8 miles--with hills--so I can be the one to take three long, tough legs for the team. We'll see.
Don't ask me that question in the winter. Wait until the sun is shining and it is warm and it doesn't get dark at 6pm.
ReplyDeletep.s. I have the book, looks like now is a good time for me to read it.
Having a hot shower. Some people can't say that, you know. Everyday I thank God for hot water.
ReplyDeleteNights like tonight when the boys and I are sitting on the couch watching a movie, cracking pistachios, eating bread, gouda, orange slices, popcorn, and ice cream, with dogs in laps, a lighted Christmas tree with a fairy on top in the other room, and a little one fluttering around inside me. Close to perfect.
ReplyDeleteHope. Love. Friends. When pain is overwhelming, those are the constants that help just enough.
ReplyDeleteMy husband makes my life worth living. He has given me a perspective of boundless charity, patience, giving without expecting anything in return, and finding the beauty in small, insignificant details that I'd never had before. He is my rock (and only fear of lightning strike keeps me from adding "and my salvation" to that sentence).
ReplyDeleteThere's also other, littler things: a well-tuned sentence, singing in an echo-y place, the sound of my baby's chortle, watching snowfall from a cozy spot, the smell of a live Christmas tree, the spitting sound of a beloved record playing, the moments you read the scriptures and actually get caught up in them.
You need to go read the Joy Triggers article! Joy triggers make life worth living. Ultra-conditioned hair. Reading really really good novels for the first time. Monitoring blog stats.
ReplyDeleteSleep makes life worth living. I know because I have a 2 week old baby and am ready to die from lack of sleep.
ReplyDeleteDoing or learning something new, particularly something you didn't think you could accomplish. Suddenly so much more seems possible.
ReplyDelete