A Life that benefits others should prove Eternally Rewarding

By Sivaramakrishnan A, 21st Jan 2012 | Follow this author | RSS Feed | Short URL http://nut.bz/19sx1zwe/
Posted in Wikinut>Guides>Activism

Our lives should have a greater meaning than touching few lives and leave fleeting memories. We are part of the whole evolutionary process and we can well get the meaning of the part we had to play from a vantage point later. That will decide whether our lives were really worth the while!

Shifting Landscapes
Accepting Realities
Conscience is our Master

Shifting Landscapes

In a dog-eat-dog world, one cannot be faulted for being preoccupied with self preservation and personal advancement. After all, when we have a family to support, we cannot be altruistic in a materialistic world. We can eschew some basics even, but what about family members who look up for our support?

Increasingly, the carefree childhood days are robbed right from the cradle, especially in city lifestyles. One is rushed from point A to point B and such paths continue right through adulthood. They are accepted as the norm and few dare to take a contrarian path. It is a herd instinct with few pausing to question and think of alternate lifestyles. These are especially evident in Asian societies out to catch up with those already ahead and perceived as worth emulating. This mad race is putting pressure on even the pace setters, causing them to feel the pressure to maintain their lead, preserve their lifestyles!

Accepting Realities

Eternal life

Increasingly, the utter hopelessness of such lifestyles and the resultant strain on societies in general have made many to question our direction and the price we are forced to pay. The environmental degradation through over-exploitation of finite resources is becoming increasingly apparent. There is mad scramble for limited resources from hitherto underdeveloped countries. And then is the inventing of ways to make quick money through dubious methods that finally take their toll on societal well being, with the poorest citizens having to carry the ultimate burden. The pioneering spirit and sacrifice that built the foundations of developed countries is clearly missing in modern societies, with many after lifestyles ensconced in luxury but avoiding the hard choices necessary to forge ahead, or at least keep up the present lifestyles well oiled with positive actions.

We become aware of prevailing emptiness and lack of foresight, living beyond our means, bankrupting and robbing future generations of basics that we were provided with. Investment to build solid infrastructure is lacking; resources wasted on expenditures that give no return. They also cause huge psychological negative impact on the moral fiber of societies. All in all, poor lifestyle choices all round!

Our leaders are expected to lead us to where we aspire for. But they have also to please those who prove crucial to their hold on power. But the former have own axe to grind! Even in liberal democracies, some are able to exercise more than equal citizenship rights through ways that are not above board. They have influence that others lack. The majority are busy with their lives, earning their keep through fair means.

Conscience is our Master

How do the ordinary citizens find meaning and just reward for an upright lifestyle? What legacy can he/she leave behind that rest easy on conscience? Change what we can and accept that we cannot - is a way to trudge through life and do our own bit. Each can do but little, but if each does that little, all will be done - is another way! We fight many injustices but when we slay one, others rise, like the multi-headed hydra! We can never take our eyes off to have an easy life, served on a plate; have to accept those that may not please us, but as a society we have to carry on, on the basis of give and take.

It is said we need to live a life that we will be proud of in our last moments on this beautiful planet. We leave fleeting memories, but some footprints and imprints might survive till eternity. We might as well reflect on our life forever, realize the whole purpose of it, from a vantage point that lies hidden now when we can’t see the forest for the trees in our present lives. But we have an inner voice that tells us what is right from wrong; guides us along. A life lived to benefit many, both seen and even unseen, gives us genuine meaning and reward. Modern lifestyles are a challenge but we still can find resources to lead a life to touch the disadvantaged. Then the final moments should prove defining, after a life that was lived well and passing on the right morals for others to build on. We carry the baton and run our short distance. We run not only for entire humanity, other species, but also ultimately as a part of whole evolutionary process. Our lives might be seen as totally insignificant, but there should be a role to it, and the conscience, burning inside us, guides us till our last breaths. Are we up to the challenge?

Meet the author

Sivaramakrishnan A
Professional accountant. General take on life, business, international news comments

Share this page

Delicious Digg Newsvine Reddit StumbleUpon Twitter

Mark Gordon Brown moderated this page.
If you have any complaints about this content, please let us know

Comments

XX=MAD_MAX=XX
21st Jan 2012 (#)

such great work sir. ^_^ and oh yeah, i love this " Our lives should have a greater meaning than touching few lives and leave fleeting memories. " opening. it hooked me into reading your work .^_^

A Life that benefits others should prove Eternally Rewarding

Shifting Landscapes

Accepting Realities

Conscience is our Master

Tags

Meet the author

Share this page

Comments

Wikinut search

Wikinut options

Similar pages

Featured pages

Similar tags

Page categories