Thinking Out Loud

Published on by J. Kelland Perry

What is the essence of a life?

A deep thought indeed, but putting aside the belief in the existence of a supreme being for a moment, what is the first notion that question conjures for you?

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Is it the wail of a newborn when she is pushed from the womb, wet and shivering, into a cold world of bright light and jarring noise?

Is it a living being’s will and drive to survive?

Is it the slow and arduous process of becoming what your potential keeps whispering you can be, or the serendipitous ease of slipping into a role you were born to fill?

Is it what we cling to as we grow old, try to recapture, strive to enjoy in every waking moment, as the end draws ever nearer?

Could it simply be the state of being, dreaming, pondering and loving?

Or hating and enduring what the universe has given you?

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Maybe, life is the constant of the everyday: the laughter of a stranger on a crowded subway, the silly song that got stuck in your head and you sang in the shower this morning, a face that suddenly smiles in your direction, a warm hug, a lover’s kiss, or a soft place to fall after a long day.

100_3366Perhaps it is the enduring memory of a giant harvest moon, the languid ripple of a pond you sat beside last summer, the smell of warm cinnamon in an apple pie, the taste of licorice, or the sweet sip of ice-cold raspberry koolaid you loved as a child.

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Some of life is lived between the lines of our subconscious, in the many subtleties of our private, innermost selves.060

Life is all of this and much more. It is joy and disappointment, connection and camaraderie, isolation and despair, exquisite pleasure, and acute suffering.

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Life is the endurance of the human experience and the divining of purpose. Life is the continuity of unconditional love.

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What do you think  life is all about? What is your answer to this enduring question?

40 thoughts on “Thinking Out Loud”

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  6. I’ve been lucky in many ways, including love. I merely wanted to point out that the cup we drink from is very deep. Autumn is a time of reflection, is it not; when the old leaves are dying and the naked boughs are setting for the winter chill? But the joy of life is in the giving, and this is a time when I look back and wish I could have given so much more. Take no notice of me; the old black dog seems to be whining at the door. I’ll just sign off!

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    1. Autumn for me is very much a season of reflection as well. I am relieved to read you have been lucky in love, and I am sorry if my response suggested you haven’t been. A familiar wish for me as well, to have given more to others, but I hope for a future where I may be able to remedy that in some fashion.

      As for the black dog, he also visits me from time to time, I regret to admit. You have nothing to feel badly about where your remarks are concerned. You bring up a different angle I do appreciate. I welcome your comments as always, and hope you’re feeling better soon.

      Jennifer xo

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  7. ‘We hardly saw the crossroads and small attention gave, to landmarks on the journey from the cradle to the grave’. We had it ingrained in us to strive, to succeed, to demand more of ourselves: we were never given time, and so it is that the sum of our experiences is but a fraction of those we missed, or those we trod underfoot, I’m sorry to inject such a negative note, but now I have time, at last, to stop and look back, I am acutely aware of all the love I spurned, and all the joy I could have had. But hey….as to what life is about? I made four or five trips and as part of each I carried my piece of leaf back to the nest. That’s all anyone can really ask, isn’t it?

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    1. Frederick, thank you for weighing in. 🙂
      I would imagine there will be few of us who won’t have a regret or two when we look back. There has to be more to life than striving for goals though, and to realize you have passed up opportunities for a more meaningful life on your own terms and by your own definition of what matters, such as the experience of loving someone and the joy in its reciprocation, well, that is sad indeed.

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    1. Oh, Jacqui! *smiling* The thought of growing old being like Groundhog Day is hilarious, if it wasn’t also so damn depressing. As for those scales, I’ve wondered where they are many a time. (I’ve been told I’ve had a keen sense of justice since I was a little tot.) 🙂

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  9. Jennifer, the first thing that came to my mind was love. And to see you end this beautiful post talking about unconditional love is absolutely perfect. To be with someone who is happy and content to be with you just as you are is a glimpse of Divine love.

    Blessings ~ Wendy ❀

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  10. Very reflective post, Jennifer. Life, the endurance of the human experience – that is a profound thought. To me, life is about being in the moment, enjoying and treasuring what you have around you. Loving and thinking about others around you. Giving and sharing, and picking up each other when we’re down 🙂

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      1. No, thanks Jennifer, for this thoughtful post. In an “ideal” world, we’ll all get along and show each other a lot of love. But we will never know what love is if we don’t experience the opposite and go through challenging times 🙂

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  11. Oh…you’ve said it all so beautifully, Jennifer ≧◠◡◠≦✌. Life s to be yourself, live simply, love and help one another, think happy and laugh heartily 〷◠‿◠〷. Cheers, Pat (◡‿◡✿)

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  13. Beautiful writing. “The constant of the everyday” really means something to me because I have really begun to appreciate those simple little things and happenings. Thank you.

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  14. I love every question in this post Jennifer! I was especially drawn to these lines: Is it the slow and arduous process of becoming what your potential keeps whispering you can be, or the serendipitous ease of slipping into a role you were born to fill? ❤
    Diana xo

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