The Two Meanings of Life

If you've rushed to this post as an explanation of higher powers or what true purpose is or what yours might be, I'm sorry; that's not what I'm going to talk about.

What I am going to talk about is the two meanings of life. They each come up in literature and movies and stories; entire characters and story-archs are based around one or the other. A line could be drawn in the sand and they would very clearly stand on opposite sides, and each one of us can find ourselves on one side or the other. It is my belief that all of us- so long as we are human- belong only on one side.

One meaning of life is simply that: life. To have a pulse; to breathe; to function as a human body is supposed to; to have a conscious; to not be dead. This meaning is very easy to understand. Are you reading this? Then you have life; you are alive. Have you woken up this morning? Then you are alive. No one who does not have life will ever even know I'm writing this, let alone ever read these words.

Now this life is essential; without it, we can have nothing else. We need it. However, this meaning of life is very, very minimalist. It shows up most often as a plot twist in a way to save a life. One is supposed to die, another loves that someone. They find a way (through magic, a wish, an act of god, etc.) to save their life (usually after making a sacrifice). In these stories, the one who was supposed to die does in fact live on. The point of these stories always lies with the other character, the one that made the sacrifice, that wanted to save the life. These characters witness their loved one come back to life, but the life they have is the first meaning of life. They breathe, they function, they live. They are not dead. The character then tried to undo everything, it can't be done, the story goes on.

The point comes from why they try to undo it: because the person who was saved is missing something; they aren't the same, and that something is what they wanted to save. That something is the second meaning of life.

The second meaning of life is nothing simple at all. When I speak about this life, I say the word differently. It feels different on my tongue, and it rings differently through my head. This life is what makes living in the first manner worth anything. This meaning of life is to truthfully live; to experience; to feel; to be passionate; to love; to care. This meaning of life is what gives someone's eyes a spark. This meaning of life is what excites people to their core; it's what makes each and every life its own story.

This meaning of life is the side we should stand with, because without it, we're husks. We breathe, we function, we live. Until we die. Because we all will, like it or not. So while we have life, I beg of you, I beg of every single person, to live. To experience. To love. To care. To be passionate. Stand on this side of the line, and truthfully live.

As for what the meaning of life is? If you ask me, I say you make your own meaning. And as long as you pursue that meaning while living- the second definition, that is- you can't be wrong.