Something came to mind after the news about the death of Papsie’s cousin reached me. He was only almost 41. Very young age for me to die. And I thought I have not yet lived life to the fullest. But did he?
Papsie’s cousin A* seemed to have lived his life to the fullest according to his perception. He had not been a responsible parent and left the responsibility to his wife rearing their only child. He cannot do what a parent should do – love, provide and support. Self-satisfaction is a priority to him. He cannot live without the indulgence of vices – women, gambling and liquor.
He had a number of women, all seemed to have borne his character. It was always a puzzle how they have learned to love and bear with him. He frequented casinos, and indulged himself to mah jong and drinking liquor until the wee hours of the morning. He would then pester his friends and cousins about his fare when nothing’s left. He did not care about what the people around him would say. He would insist on getting what he wanted.
A* seemed very nice when sober. The façade can fool people who do not know him. Perhaps this is the reason why there are people who befriended him and went with him, and even considered him a friend. After some time, when they serve no purpose, they will instantly be shut down from him; and he would then pop up again when nothing’s left of his resources. It seemed to me that life is just as simple as that to him. All the show of self-pity and melancholy was just his way of winning people and getting what he wanted.
Maybe it was his idea of living life to the fullest. It was the thought that to live life to its fullest is to satisfy one’s self to the fullest. It’s just a maybe. I maybe mistaken. But the thought of living only for thine self is an aversion. It is pure selfishness.
Living life to the fullest is always equated with the material things one acquires but it is more than the acquisition that really matters. It is the satisfaction that one gets from being able to acquire with one’s own effort and abilities that really matters. It is the fulfillment that one was able to surpass the hits and bumps before getting to the goal. It is earning the reward after an effort. It is winning the hearts of many with their sincere smiles and warm hugs until death comes.
I guess we each have different ideas of life but I have no doubt that life is, for each of us and in varying ways, a battle ... it is a constant struggle between right and wrong, happiness and sadness, sickness and health, etc. Even when we say that we should be content with what we have, it's still a struggle, di ba? As they say, "tayo ay tao lamang".
ReplyDeleteHave a happy week ahead, Bing!
P.S. My mother died when she was only 32, my eldest brother when he was 27 so living up to 40-something or 50 like me is a bonus. :)
He lived his life according to his choice. 41 is indeed a very young age for one to die. But as it is - we never know when God will take us.
ReplyDeleteHaving lived life to the fullest, for me - is when you have accomplished your mission in life - whatever it may be. I believe each one of us has a mission. We may or may not be aware of it - but it is this mission that gives us our purpose in living. :)
The say that its not "adding years to our life but rather adding life to our years that counts".
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that living life to the fullest isn't about satisfying our self-indulgence but what one achieves and more importantly the legacy he leaves behind to the people who knew him.
Barely 41 and already dead. I guess his living "life to the fullest" has finally caught up with him...
ReplyDeleteBTW, this kinda reminds me of the saying, "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die". Maybe that was his motto.
Yeah..different strokes for different folks. Some people find fulfillment when they make others happy, when they contribute something to the community and the like. Maybe A is not like that. I just don't get it. I mean how can someone be happy if they "use" or hurt people?
ReplyDeletehi, bugsy! 32 and 27 are very young ages to die. and you're right, it's a bonus to be living SK (sobra kwarenta :-D). to be content of what we have - material things, specifically - will never happen. this is a sinful nature each human creature is born with. so if we mean living life to the fullest with the abundance of all these material things, that is not satisfying. the human race's craving for these material things will never be satiated.
ReplyDeleteindeed, rhodora. we never know when God will decide to get the breath of life he had lent so it is best that we live life to the fullest with His words. i agree, too, that each of us have a mission we have to fulfill.
truly, what is important, bw, is the legacy that one leaves behind. it is not necessarily the abundance of wealth and properties (though they can be a result of a life that is lived accordingly), but also the good name and reputation that we had.
ha ha ha that must be his motto, single!
believe me, verns, there are people who gets happy when they hurt or use other people. just take some politicians who are typical examples. :-D
Well, we all have different ideas and perceptions on how life should be for everyone but I feel that living in self-pity and self-satisfaction is not good at all. Hurting others is a no-no too, but who are we to say anything? All of us lead separate lives after all.
ReplyDelete:)
I think living life to the fullest is quite subjective. For me it boils down really to having a content and productive life. Reminds me of my favourite song "Live like you were Dying" by Tim McGraw.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I like how you embossed your photo there and the way you did the ambient light. Very artistic.
hi, kyels. indeed we all lead separate lives. but sometimes our perception of other people is a result of their traits and character which are visible to the naked eyes. i have no right to judge A* but his early death made ponder how my own life should be lived to the fullest. :-)
ReplyDeleteas what i have written, the idea of a life lived to the fullest is subjective, rey. and i like that song title and i think i heard an adage that says the same words - live like you were dying.
thank you, rey, for appreciating the pic. but it's not even me. :-D
How sad that there are people who only live for their own good. Maybe he has his own reason why he lived that way or maybe nobody tried to control him of his wrongdoings or maybe that's his purpose in life. I believe he serves as a lesson for us who's still living - to live life responsibly.
ReplyDeletethere are a number of reasons why he ended that way, malaya. and i think he had left everyone - his friends and relatives - ponder about the value of life.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he has an anti-social personality. This type of persons have ways to lure people into believing that they are... uhm... nice that is why "It was always a puzzle how they have learned to love and bear with him."
ReplyDeletehe's not anti-social, mon.
ReplyDeletepls. extend our sympathies...
ReplyDeletemay he rest in God's presence.
thank you, tk. he was cremated last tuesday.
ReplyDelete...Living life to the fullest!
ReplyDeleteFULLEST does not necessarily mean all the vices and toxic stuff we introduce to our bodies. Running wild and crazy with everything is not a standard for living life to the fullest to some.
i very much agree, noypetes. and some others say, it can be subjective. :-)
ReplyDeleteLast night I had dinner with my 18yo. A rare moment when I could spend some one-on-one with this child. She told me that I was a good dad and was happy how I always treated her like a smart child. She feels very confident and very much loved. If I die tomorrow - I'll go to my grave smiling :-)
ReplyDeletewow... that's nice. and very sweet of you to say that. :-D
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