... that was the question.
Existing is like living a robotic way. Like a machine, your body functions, your body has some needs which you answer to. You wake up, you sleep, you get hungry - you eat and so on and so forth.
Whilst Living is when you live a dream, you take challenges, you fear, you love, get hurt, laugh and cry according to emotions.
It was an explanation from a 40 something year old man.
A question was raised by a 30 year old man, whether staying in your comfort zone is existing or living.
Few agreed that it is merely existing because you stay in your comforts. You only take what is easier and comfortable for you. You do not extend your existence outside your blanket. You are satisfied with what is merely there.
A young girl, 22 years old, begged to disagree. She said that it is commonly heard from many nowadays that they don't want to go to work at 8am everyday, come back home in the evening, do weekend shopping, visit relatives on Sundays. They don't want this kind of existence and they call people who live like that merely existing. Her point was, no matter what kind of life a person is living, you can't say they are not "living". Everybody has someone or something to love. A construction worker for example goes to work, does his job, takes money and brings it to his family whom he loves and in return loves him back. So he has a life, he is living. Even the most feisty person has a cat or a pet to love. Everybody has emotions.
The 40 something year old man interrupted. "How sure are you that those people like what they are doing and love their life? If a person is doing something like going to work, providing for a family or feeding a pet, it doesn't mean they always like it. Some of them just have no choice but to live the way they have to", he added.
It is difficult to say, everybody agreed.
If those who do not like the circumstances in their life learn to accept and like it, then they'll start consciously doing things not in a robotic way but with a feeling that they like what they are doing. And maybe feel happy.
Will they start living and not merely existing?
We ended the conversation with an open ended question.
If you have any insight to add or contradiction to point out, please feel free to share.
I don't think it is something that can be judged from the outside, by another. Only the person living the life can assess it properly. Some people live very humdrum, routine lives from the outside but have a rich and vibrant inner life, for example.
ReplyDeleteIt's all a matter of perspective. We each define 'living' in a way that suits us. Some people need bigger adventures, others are content to experience smaller ones. Some people are very happy in their comfort zone, others need constant change. If you are happy and fulfilled, you are living.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point. I think it comes back to the idea that "life is what you make it." Most people in the past didn't have anything like our opportunities, even the richest ones. Some of them got a lot out of life though.
ReplyDeleteI think that living a routine life can still be living. Living beyond your comfort zone and seeking out new experiences is also living. It really depends on your personality. Some who do the same thing every day are content. They don't need to seek the thrills that others seek because they may have loving family and friends who fill their time with interesting things or hobbies or charities. We often thing of routine people are living a boring life and being boring people but you would be suprised. They can be most fascinating if they are not only focussed on themselves. Sometimes those pushing their limits and boundaries and always going for excitement are boring people because they seem more interested in themselves and not so interested in others. I'm not saying that all people who live outside their comfort zone are boring but there is a tendency to assume they are probably more interesting people when that isn't always the case. Thanks for asking the question. It made me think a bit :-) Enjoy your week.
ReplyDeleteInteresting discussion. I think everyone's definition would be different. For me, in existing there is no joy, no real satisfaction apart from the fact that you can be joyful or satisfied you are still alive and kicking. Living is savoring the moments -- good and bad. Feeling. Being. Existing is by rote. I existed in my last year of my job. I got up, went to work, got through the day. But when I came home, I began to live, to enjoy my time creating or being with those I loved or holding and playing with sweet Lizzie. You can live and exist at the same time. But I should think if I was only existing, I'm not sure I would want to continue to live.
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