One of the common metaphors for a person’s life is the hourglass. The sand starts in the top, birth, and runs out into the bottom, death. I like this idea because it gives the sense that although there is a finite time for living, the pace is controlled by the hole in the middle. But unlike a real hourglass, the pace isn’t a constant. The problem is that individual behavior and luck operate together to change the damn hole size. For instance, you can have half the sand in the top and be killed by a bus. Giant hole, all the sand moves south at once. Or, you can exercise, eat right, get plenty of sleep and water and maybe tighten the hole a bit.
So, life is viewed as a finite resource with a variable consumption component. The real bitch, though, is looking at the glass as time passes and noticing the inexorable flow out of the top into the bottom. At some point, most people would give almost anything to be able to turn the glass and keep going. Not bloody likely. On the other hand, a life well lived is enough for most of us. As the sand shifts south we all gradually shift south ourselves. We slow down, get weaker, get shorter, get more philosophical and less radical, and, yes, usually get somewhat rounder.
I hate that the sand will run out someday, and I hate knowing that the sand is more in the bottom than the top, and I hate that I can’t just turn the glass. But I love the life already lived, downs as well as ups. I love the idea of life and look forward, however long the sand will last, to more of a life well lived. Bring on the wine, food, adventure and love. Simon and Garfunkel said it best: “Life I Love You – All is Groovy”.(1) What’s not to love?
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KZi-aV0VTk
Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnZ4TKdcZYKNPGz1B_i0iSrnlrbEyT4QDlDZVmNvMTepq6WxJjTObyrqCy4U00DEjjGAFKa35TQsYVUqy8r9nDrnO-lXDiHh7nGQDAU7myMG16cWTGTtDm6YsBoF2HqwObs_a1HfJTrrc/s1600/hourglass.jpg
So, life is viewed as a finite resource with a variable consumption component. The real bitch, though, is looking at the glass as time passes and noticing the inexorable flow out of the top into the bottom. At some point, most people would give almost anything to be able to turn the glass and keep going. Not bloody likely. On the other hand, a life well lived is enough for most of us. As the sand shifts south we all gradually shift south ourselves. We slow down, get weaker, get shorter, get more philosophical and less radical, and, yes, usually get somewhat rounder.
I hate that the sand will run out someday, and I hate knowing that the sand is more in the bottom than the top, and I hate that I can’t just turn the glass. But I love the life already lived, downs as well as ups. I love the idea of life and look forward, however long the sand will last, to more of a life well lived. Bring on the wine, food, adventure and love. Simon and Garfunkel said it best: “Life I Love You – All is Groovy”.(1) What’s not to love?
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KZi-aV0VTk
Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnZ4TKdcZYKNPGz1B_i0iSrnlrbEyT4QDlDZVmNvMTepq6WxJjTObyrqCy4U00DEjjGAFKa35TQsYVUqy8r9nDrnO-lXDiHh7nGQDAU7myMG16cWTGTtDm6YsBoF2HqwObs_a1HfJTrrc/s1600/hourglass.jpg
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