I saw the Rutgers production of "Der Mond" recently and I find it's sticking with me. Not particularly because of the production itself (although it was amazing and everyone did a great job) but more so because of it's message; no matter what we do, whether we live a sublime or squalid life, we all die. While obvious, this statement is astoundingly profound. It brings attention to the uncomfortable fact that we are mortals, that our planet will not be here forever. It can turn on that grim mental tape recorder that whispers in your ear, why are you still trying? Nothing matters.
But yet, here we are toiling away at our coursework, at our jobs, building friendships and relationships and networking. For some reason, we still try. It's amazing actually. People could slough off all responsibilities and spend time doing whatever they please because, in the end, everyone dies anyway right? But we don't. Why is that?
I do not claim to be a philosopher or any other title that would give me the jurisdiction to make such conclusions about why we humans continue to strive and try and work and dream. Truthfully, all this feels beyond my ken. But, I can offer is what I've noticed during my 20 years on this planet.
In my opinion, life doesn't matter. Moments do. Those little moments when you make a friend smile or get an A (or a passing grade because let's be real, passing feels good too) on an exam you studied so hard for or you win an athletic event or you play your heart out for a performance or you go to a concert with your friends or you kiss your significant other or you just take a walk and stare at a really beautiful tree. And even seemingly bad things can be moments too. Failing is an opportunity for growth and losing is an opportunity to reevaluate and create a new strategy.
So yes, no matter what we do, we will all die one day. But just because our mortal lights will be snuffed out, should not stop us from lighting the match. Do we refuse to light a Christmas tree (or insert whatever religious/spiritual thing you do) because we eventually have to take it down? No. Each moment is a spark waiting to set us ablaze. We just have to open our eyes and see it and ready our wicks to catch it.
