As the saying goes, 'Life is just a bowl of cherries.' But what about those pits?
In any case, I want to discuss a prescription that is available to everyone, and sadly not everyone can have a bowl of cherries. Which immediately also eliminates from consideration fame, fortune, beauty, health, etc., which everyone may hope and wish for, but none of which is entirely within every person's control or reach.
How about a heroic death? That certainly qualifies for a death that is good, but not necessarily a life that is good.
What then would qualify for life that is good? A life of pleasure? Comfort? All such relative and variable conditions? Must one have access to them always? Clearly none of these are available to all. Not in this world.
Perhaps the qualification comprises an absence of a negative condition? Something everyone has a chance to avoid? At least a fighting chance? There are lots of things people can try to avoid, but can not always succeed in doing. Can't always avoid making a bad choice without hindsight.
Well then, what about regrets? Can one always avoid them? I suppose not. Sometimes, like bad choices, they are not avoidable, except in hindsight. But, I believe regrets can serve as guidance for the avoidance of bad choices and lamentable behavior. We can strive to avoid having regrets when all is said and done. And the ideal to strive for is to have no regrets at the end of a life that is good.
Which brings me to the prescription, presented to humanity by the great prophet Moses: Honor your father and your mother.
If you do not, you will have regrets.
In any case, I want to discuss a prescription that is available to everyone, and sadly not everyone can have a bowl of cherries. Which immediately also eliminates from consideration fame, fortune, beauty, health, etc., which everyone may hope and wish for, but none of which is entirely within every person's control or reach.
How about a heroic death? That certainly qualifies for a death that is good, but not necessarily a life that is good.
What then would qualify for life that is good? A life of pleasure? Comfort? All such relative and variable conditions? Must one have access to them always? Clearly none of these are available to all. Not in this world.
Perhaps the qualification comprises an absence of a negative condition? Something everyone has a chance to avoid? At least a fighting chance? There are lots of things people can try to avoid, but can not always succeed in doing. Can't always avoid making a bad choice without hindsight.
Well then, what about regrets? Can one always avoid them? I suppose not. Sometimes, like bad choices, they are not avoidable, except in hindsight. But, I believe regrets can serve as guidance for the avoidance of bad choices and lamentable behavior. We can strive to avoid having regrets when all is said and done. And the ideal to strive for is to have no regrets at the end of a life that is good.
Which brings me to the prescription, presented to humanity by the great prophet Moses: Honor your father and your mother.
If you do not, you will have regrets.
No comments:
Post a Comment