Why should I not make the most of my life then?

Posted on July 20, 2010December 30, 2013 by Akshat Rathi

Many times in life I have these realisations that, this thing that I probably read/saw/heard is exactly what can help me if I use/apply/spread it. I make a note of it but more often than not I forget about it. Has this happened to you? I suspect it has.

I don’t want it to happen this time and hence this post (inspired by Seth Godin’s post).

An elevator pitch to remind me of myself

This life is as much about living it as much it is about discovering myself. In the process if I am able to spread love and kindness and make some connections, it’s an added bonus. In this life the value of an achievement is only as much as value of the new challenges that the achievement creates for me. Limits are meant to be pushed and heights are meant to be scaled. Pain and suffering that comes along in the journey are only a reminder of the reality called life, nothing more.

For all the evidence I can find there seems to be only one life, why should I not make the most of it then?

Published by Akshat Rathi

Akshat Rathi is a senior reporter for Bloomberg News. He has previously worked at Quartz, The Economist and The Conversation. His writing has appeared in Nature, The Guardian and The Hindu. He has a PhD in chemistry from Oxford University and a BTech in chemical engineering from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. View all posts by Akshat Rathi

8 thoughts on “Why should I not make the most of my life then?”

Harshad Pethe July 21, 20105:24 am Reply

Brilliant post ! I just wish myself I write down the stuff that inspires me ! It’s so easy if you are in front of your computer the whole day ! But, more often than not you aren’t ! Cheerio !
Going to get myself to record all the brilliant stuff in my life ( at least that if not the mundane !!! )
1. akshatrathi294 July 22, 201010:55 am Reply
  
  Yeah you should do it. If you write about it on a blog then do let me know. I would like to subscribe to the feed.
Rajeev July 21, 201010:38 am Reply

I agree, Akshat, make the most of this life.
Alex July 21, 20104:32 pm Reply

I think my elevator pitch would be to lead a fulfilling life. I think that achievements are just one part of that, the bigger part being manifestation of the full range of rich experiences we as humans can reach — engagement in relationships, personal growth, unravelling of mysteries, creating things, hedonistic pleasures. I think these things are valuable in themselves, not just insofar as they lead to achievements.
1. akshatrathi294 July 22, 201010:59 am Reply
  
  I like your elevator pitch. 🙂 You are very right about a fulfilling life because without complete fulfillment one may never be able to experience the complete joy of an activity. Also what you call hedonistic pleasures, I call self-discovery (which encompasses many of the hedonistic pleasures that we know).
  
  What I’ve written is a living document and will be updated as and when I think it’s necessary.
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