Life Is Too Short | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

Life Is Too Short

Why we should strive not to kill time.

69
Life Is Too Short
pixabay

I have come to a point in my life in which many things no longer faze me. I have had to pick up the scattered remains of pets. My family spent years in a lawsuit against our own neighbors. I have even scrubbed human blood off walls. Between experiences like those and the usual crises and stress of a college student, I consider myself to be more jaded than most, and beyond that, harder to scare in general. I heard something that scared me last night.

 

“Life is too short.”

 

Usually, there is another phrase to complete that statement so that it turns into something like, “Life is too short to not get extra nachos, or too short to worry about someone who hurt you.” But when I heard that statement last night, it stood alone, complete.

 

You see, the person who said that was my grandfather. He’s ninety-four.

 

When most people say that life is short, they hardly ever actually think about how much time they have left. Talking about the briefness of life is in most cases, an excuse to waste time. It is ironic, a morbid joke that people use to shake up the monotony of a life that they are actively forcing themselves to settle for.

 

The phrase Memento Mori is Latin for, “remember you will die”. It seems distastefully morbid, yet how can it be morbid when it is a simple reminder of all that can be lost? Speaking of death is something of a cultural taboo in most circles, whether because of painful memories, or some point of belief, it is often safer in terms of maintaining a social atmosphere, to never speak of the last unknown. Instead of accepting our temporary nature, we are encouraged to live as if we have an eternity ahead of us, and nothing left to learn.

 

I do not believe that it is morbid to speak of death. The word morbid itself is used to describe an unhealthy or unnatural interest in diseases and disturbing subjects (including but not limited to dying). When addressing the subject of death in earnest, it is a serious matter, and it should be respected as all serious issues.

 

Now I must speak plainly. I admit that I waste time. I play games, I watch movies and shows, and even spend copious amounts of time scrolling through media feeds. Throughout all of these things, I realize that someone is making a profit from the time I am spending like this. It could be someone earning from a copyright, a company able to pay its employees because of the viewership of me and my peers. These are basic parts of an economy, and if it were so simple, it would be innocent. But in any machine, there is an element of waste, whether it is in resources or energy, and the systems we live in are still by nature, machines. In the examples above, there is time wasted, time that I can never, ever have back. Even if I live to be 100, I will know that there are the equivalent of days, weeks, months, maybe even years spent doing pointless things to kill time.

 

Looking back, I find that in trying to kill time, I am killing myself. It is harrowing to hear a relative talking about fighting in World War II, who was married for longer than most people live; talk about how life is too short, and to know that in your own life, you have spent more time trying to do nothing than actually live.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

149894
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

38639
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

34307
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments