A broader and deeper look at life gives us a new insight. Sometimes, we may be tempted to think that almost all humans are vain. Indeed, deep thinkers take a holistic view of life and living. What then is life?
Life is evidently the period one lives to the time of one’s demise. Life they say is a vapour. A vapour is a substance in a gaseous form. Just like all vapours are dependent on temperature and pressure, life is also very transient and fleeting. Some see life as a pendulum! A pendulum is characterised by swinging and it is essentially influenced by gravity.
It is a common place to see different shades of people and different metamorphosis of humans. We have seen how the shoeless young adult, becomes a President of a nation. It is also rampant to see erstwhile opulent individuals turn beggars. We are then swift to ask, what happened?
Life happened! Life happens! What then is the essence of life? Don’t wait for life to happen to you. Do not live your life to chance. As fleeting as life is, prepare for it. Endeavour to know the essence of life. The length of life isn’t what matters. It is the quality of it that counts.
The late Steve Jobs was an adopted child, who was also a school drop out. Yet, he knew the essence of his life. He yearned for excellence. He may not have been tailored for school but he knew his passion. He co-founded Apple with his college friend, Stephen Wozniak. Apple was born in Job’s garage. Before 1977 there were no personal or handy computers, only the bogus ones used in offices. Everyone aspires to have an iPhone now. Thanks to someone who knew the essence of life.
Chadwick Boseman, the Black Panther, protagonist lived for fourty three years. He was a playwright, stage actor and a film star. While working on the epoch making film, Wakanda, he was taking chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other therapies, for colon cancer. He knew his time was short and he needed to make the mark. Thankfully, he did before his death.
Need I say more? What is the essence of your life?
We put money in banks to save for rainy days. We get education to give us a platform for visibility. Some people wear perfumes to give them the aura of attraction. These are essences.
Remember, when purpose is not known, abuse they say is inevitable. Get intentional on knowing the essence of your life. We were all born with at least an essence. Know yours and live in that consciousness. Life’s a dream, do not wake up on the other side, full of compunction. This is 2025 and the year is still very young. Get started, do something worth the while.
Ebunoluwa Ibibo, PhD
@Golden muse
