Things Vital to One’s Life

Writing personal essays drill 4: a list of ... things

WATER: Obviously water is vital to one’s life. But it can be also dangerous. So, in a developing country, you are extremely careful because germs grow in the water. You don't forget a treatment. After the treatment, the water smells disgusting and it looks dirty, but it is now good to drink. You drop a tablet to add a flavor.

FOOD: One should eat. It is pleasure for most people to savor exotic dishes, but my judgment for a taste is very subjective. The mood at a dinner table dominates my taste of the dishes. Who prepared, who is sitting next to me, and what we talk about are more important than the food itself. What if you agree to me but are not so social? Fill your refrigerator with fresh vegetables and fruits. Those will keep you from unhealthy food at least. Lastly, be more careful if you are not rich, because we live in a country where the poorer the bigger.

Next, you got me: EXERCISE. Gym membership, yoga, marathon. All sounds good. I have registered for five half-marathons for the last four years. In return for ever-increasing entrance fees, I received blanket-sized T-shirts and a medal from each entry. Running is a good exercise but a medal is a whim. Think about it.

FRIENDSHIP: van Gogh wrote to his brother just before deciding to become an artist, “where friendship blooms, life is reborn.” Deducing his statement, one could say life perishes where friendship withers. Human connection beyond biological relationships is vital to one’s life. Friendship should continue to grow. But what if one you care about always hastens to leave you? What if the one doesn't give you anything back? Look in a different direction. Your care will be more worth to someone else.

DESIRE WITHOUT FEAR: The depressed are lethargic and have no life goal. But, they desire. They desire with fear from anticipated frustration. Your friend’s life might look rosier and all luck seems to avoid you. But you should have something special inside you. Look for it. Be confident. Then, desire without fear. That will bring your life unique.

ACCEPT THE MORTALITY: If you know when you leave your dream vacation, you want to do everything you like, not wasting a single minute of your time. You become more organized with full of energy. It’s because you know the beginning and the end of your vacation. On the contrary, we neither selected the beginning of our life, presumably nor its end. We don’t know where we are! How unfair! But, if we accept our own mortality, we don't need to hurry for the end. Every moment is a wondrous destination where we travel through. Accept your mortality. Then, you will feel the life. I am alive. Now.

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