We're all moving in the same direction; All of us, no matter whether we want to be or not. Each and every day we move a little closer to the final destination, with the inexorable turning of the clock it get's closer, and no amount of hoping or wishing will slow it down or reverse it. Quite simply time carries us forward, all of us, and there's no stopping it.
It's not all bad though, right? I mean we have developed into who we are today, right at this moment, through the passage of time and the experiences gained along the way. We learned to walk and talk, to reason and logic, to love and respect and many other useful things together with less productive ones like hate, prejudice, greed and ego. Still, no matter what each of us learned we will all end up in the same destination no matter if we are kings, paupers or even both throughout the course of our lives. We are born and from that point all head in the same direction...Towards death.
Here's the thing though...We get to live life along the way. We get to make choices that provide us with positive, uplifting and enjoyable moments or the hurtful, negative moments most of us experience throughout life as well. It just sort of comes with the territory I guess. Good and bad. It's the journey of life that is the true prize though because the destination only offers a lights out scenario as far as anyone really knows. Sure, some believe in some sort of hereafter however I'm yet to meet anyone who has been there and come back to talk about it so for me I sort of subscribe to the lights out thing. That's the motivation I use to make sure I live the best version of my life possible, each day, and try to be the best version of myself also.
The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.
Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote that. I think by direction he didn't mean the final destination of death, more the direction a person's attitude and actions can lead; To good (positive) things or to bad (negative) things. It sort of hints that things can change in life, dependant upon our own attitude.
I believe it is important for a person to understand that they have a finite period of time available to them on this planet and that life, (time) will not slow for them. The journey of our lives really only leads in one direction however within that journey is the opportunity to experience amazing moments, to be the best version of ourselves and to create a life that allows us to hold no, or very few, regrets down the track.
I don't know what is right for anyone. I mean, I sometimes struggle to know what is right for myself so I'm hardly the person to speak for others. Thinking about what those who came before us, those that have passed away, might tell us if they could is an interesting proposition though. I think they would tell us to live life to the fullest, to design it the best we know how and to remember that ego and hubris have no true value. I think they would tell us to laugh more often, to look inwardly as much as outwardly and to be humble and kind. I think they would tell us to do these things now, whilst we can because death comes for us all, and most of us never knows when the reaper will come calling. That's what I think they'd say.