Bill Riddell

Meaning of Life and Death

Since my mid-teens I have wrestled with the meaning of life.

It raised so many questions that would often swirl in my head. What is the meaning of life? What is our purpose on this earth? Does anyone really know! Is their a definition that a group of people can agree on.

All of those questions and more have plagued me since then. Here I give you my compressed views on life and death and how to live.

The Meaning of Life – Part 1

When these question first arose in my teens I was struggling with a debilitating and unknown illness that left me confined to my bed, with no friends and very little to live for. After many months I was deeply depressed and contemplating suicide, I almost followed though with it. But just before I took the jump I realised half the puzzle – the meaning of life is just that, to live.

Survival plain and simply.

Beyond simple survival there is ensuring good health, enjoying life, having fun and interesting hobbies, possessions and surroundings that bring you joy.

I’ve understood the first half for quite a few years now but only last year did i fully realise the other half of the equation. It just seemed to simple and I thought there must be more to it.

The Meaning of Life – Part 2

The other half of the meaning of life, the noble and less selfish side of life is love.

To love others and to give life, replication (or furthering) of the species. That’s right, Charles Darwin had this stuff figured out. Survive and replicate. Live and Love.

You do not have to give birth or raise children but you should enrich or further the lives of others. You may be a teacher nurturing young minds, a doctor saving lives, perhaps volunteering your time and/or money to support worthy causes, or just being a good friend and family member to those close to you.

Also live a remarkable life, set a great example and consider what legacy you can leave for future generations, it may be by writing a book, set-up a charity or organisation to benifit others, etc.

Life Balance

To me that is all there is to the meaning of life. We make it all seem so very complex and confusing when in fact it is all so very simple – just remember to Live and Love.

Once you understand the meaning of life you need to develop balance between the two parts. If you focus too much on yourself you will become, selfish, self centred and arrogant. By placing to much focus on the needs of others you will ultimately neglect your physical and mental health. Find balance between the two and your life will be complete.

Your job does not matter – as long as it enables you to survive and give love and life to others. The same goes for money in the bank and many other of life’s big concerns.

Dont fret too much about the balance day to day and month to month. Sometimes you need to focus more on yourself, just getting by or dragging yourself up from rock bottom. Other times you may put your all into helping others. Just remember to balance it back out eventually, dont neglect yourself or the ones you love.

Momento Mori

That little latin phrase, ‘remember you must die’ remind me that from the day we are born we all have a death sentence hanging over our heads. It may not be tomorrow, but it will happen. The grim reaper will catch you then it is all over. No negotiations, no do-over’s. Your dead.

I believe you cannot have an understanding of life without grasping the other side of the coin, the understanding of death.

Regardless of Your Beliefs – Believe in Life

Personally I do not believe in reincarnation or an afterlife. I believe when we die our corpse decays in a box or is cremated and reduced to ash. Our soul does not soar to heaven or magically be transformed to some other form of life. Instead our soul will live on in the memories and lessons of those close to us and via any legacy we left behind.

If you have an alternate view thats fine too. Just because you have somewhere else to go after this does not mean you should not make the most of what you have now.

Life = Death

Life is the original sexually transmitted disease when you think about it, and it has a 100% mortality rate – kind of morbid but quite true. You WILL die.

You cannot control when death will find you. The best you can do is live a healthy life in hopes of reaching old age rather than succumbing to a heart attack.

Just as importantly as staying healthy is choosing not to wait till retirement to make your dreams come true . Instead live them now, because you may never make it to old age.

I’ve had my fair share of brushes with death and don’t want to die wondering. I was resuscitated back to life after I was born, nearly drowned when I was 3, wasted 18 months of my life stuck in bed with illness, seriously considering suicide during that time and then crashed my race car into a wall at around 120km/h in my early twenties.

I could spend my life wrapped in cotton wool, afraid of death. I wouldn’t go swimming for fear of drowning, I wouldn’t race my car or any other engage in other ‘risky’ activities. That is not living, your already dead.

Don’t live in fear of what may happen – do not fear death. Instead FEAR WASTING YOUR LIFE. Be afraid of missing out on the fun of life, the opportunities and the adventures.

Get Out & Live – Were All Going To Die Someday

“Dream as if you will live forever, live as if you will die tomorrow.” – James Dean

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