Growing up we tend to think of ourselves as pretty invincible. And we take great risks without giving much thought to the potential harm we’re entering into. But with age and wisdom we come to respect the fragile nature of life.
Certainly, this is not to live in fear.
Life comes with many risks. And anxiety will eventually take us out when we don’t learn to accept these risks and live courageously. We cannot control life and eliminate all dangers no matter how hard we try.
At the same time, the longer we live the more we realize everyone doesn’t live to see tomorrow. Some who are here today are gone tomorrow. And death comes for the young as well as the old, the rich and the poor alike. No one is spared and it’s not something we always see coming.
From illnesses and accidents, to violence and natural disasters, we don’t have to look far to remember just how fragile our life is in this world.
And respecting this fragility helps us to make wise choices and not take the moments we have for granted.
For instance, there’s a difference between living courageously and living recklessly. Accepting risk doesn’t mean we’re simply chasing thrills and putting ourselves in harm’s way merely for the kicks of it. Rather, we learn how to enjoy many adventures responsibly – being bold and having fun while still keeping our priorities straight.
Likewise, remembering just how fragile our lives are reminds us to drink deeply and to cherish the moments we do have with each other. It’s a sad thing to waste time in meaningless disagreements or distracted by issues that don’t matter in the long run.
In the end, believing we’re invincible doesn’t make it so. And learning to respect our fragility doesn’t mean we give into fear and passivity. In fact, we live fuller lives when we remember just how precious each moment is.
It’s clear life in this world is fragile. Be courageous and wise and learn to enjoy each moment with gratitude.
