Mortality

In American society, everybody must go to school. From the age of six or so, we must sit through boring lectures, homework and nagging parents. During this crucial developmental stage, we learn how to write, do math, and act around other individuals. We are taught to care about how other people think of us, to care that we got a bad grade on a test. We are also taught though, to bother.

Our awareness of our own mortality affects many individuals. “Why bother with life?” they say. From the time of our birth, we are taught to bother. We bother picking up our toys so our mothers won’t yell at us, and taught to look both ways before crossing the street. These are taught to us so that our lives and our families’ lives will be better. By not crossing the street when a car is coming, we are making a difference in someone’s life.

We are constantly aware of our own mortality. We talk about it daily. “Anna Nicole Smith died last night in her home,” the radio announces. “My best friend’s great grandfather died of a stroke on Friday.” Sane people avoid walking in front of speeding cars. We are aware that if we die, something will happen to someone. Why bother? Well, for one thing, suicide is illegal in the United States.

While children in school, we are also taught to make goals for ourselves. Teachers might ask a child to study hard and get a perfect score on a test, and be rewarded with a treat from the candy jar. This is the perfect example of how we teach ourselves to make and fulfill goals in life. Some people bother because they wish to accomplish a certain goal in life and will not relent unless that goal is reached.

Life gets its meaning, at least for me, by achieving these goals. I work very diligently and pursuit my goals until they are completed effectively. Another thing that gives my life meaning is my family. They support me and help me through thick and thin. My main goal in life though, is to live through and experience as much as I can in as little time as possible. Every day I live to its fullest, going to as many places that my schedule and my parents will allow. Over the summer, I spent every day outside the house, going various places, eating excellent food, hanging out with my friends and visiting Europe. I have a craving for excitement; I will do anything (not involving anything too dangerous) solely for the experience and the bragging rights. This is what gives life meaning to me.

Fifty Cent is quoted in one of his songs, “ Get rich or die tryin’” in order to demonstrate the goals he, or possibly others, have set for themselves.

In the epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh’s goal in life is to make a name for himself. This requires doing feats of bravery and justice, such as when he goes to kill Humbaba in the forest. He has put out of his mind the danger of getting killed by Humbaba and goes for the gold. It does not matter if he does not succeed, but that he died trying.

Other people get meaning out of life by helping other people. Some individuals would give their life for a complete stranger. Doctors and surgeons give very large portions of their lives to their patients’ well being. Many people have personal lifelong goals and others have daily ones. Many people would die for what they believed in, such as volunteering for active combat. In Gilgamesh, the idea that death in battle is honorable is derived from true belief on what one believes in.
We create order in our lives by setting goals also. We have a destination in life and devote much of ourselves to fulfilling this goal. This goal setting is very important in finding meaning and direction in life. In the process, many people uncover layers of who they truly are. We create a false sense of eternal life in that we believe we are going to achieve these goals eventually. We create order in that we structure our lives around these goals.

**Sorry about the different fonts, my computer isn't cooperating.