Question: Why is it so Great to be Alive?

Answer: Is It? It Is

Some streams of thought today.

My friend Robert asked me to respond to the question - Why is it so great to be alive?

And honestly, how impossible is that question to answer? I’ve been thinking about it for days. But then it occurred to me that Robert actually answered the question himself.

He said, “If everyone could hear someone with a talent articulate gratitude, then maybe everyone could start their day appreciating all the good things in our lives. It would go a long way to self respect and self worth, also respecting and appreciating other people.”

Trust me Robert, you articulated that perfectly. I have only a couple small things to add.

1. I’ve never met Robert in person, but I’ve followed him and his son on line and they are an amazing, inspirational team. Want to know why it’s great to be alive? Just watch Robert’s son. Easy to see it right there.

2. But my very first thought - if I’m going to be honest with you all - was, you know what, sometimes it ain’t so great. And I hesitated to write that, hesitated to address Robert’s question because, well, that’s not a popular thought, is it? Life can be hard. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety throughout my life and have developed a variety of methods to deal with it or compensate for it or ride it out when it shows up.

But I think, I think, what Robert is saying about appreciating what you have is similar to something a read a while ago about the universal law of polarity. I can’t recall exactly where I read it but the idea is that the only way to attain perspective in your life is to pay attention to the unpleasant parts.

You want freedom? Deal with restrictions. You want easy? Embrace what’s hard. Then you can adjust. Yin / Yang right? Is that it? I’m not sure, I’m just spit-balling here.

I mean, I like life. I generally think it’s ok. I like my family. I’m grateful that things worked out somewhat ok, despite the dishwasher breaking and my garbage knees.

So I ask you all - given what life is *gestures to all the chaos* - why IS it so great to be alive? Can you tell me? Is that question answerable? Does the answer change for every person? At every time?

I’m really interested in hearing your thoughts. Aside from Bob Dylan, our children, mango lassi and dumplings, the color purple, Shakespeare’s sonnets, that time when I met Ethan Hawke and that diner in Hackensack where they make those sliders with grilled onions, why is it so great to be alive? Wait, I may have just answered that question.

Want a reason to be alive? Here it is!

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