“If I were to die today”, is a line of thought many of us may not choose to indulge in. We appreciate life as a valuable gift that should be cherished, but how often do we feel exceptionally fortunate, just to be alive?

In this world, people die at all ages. Many die as babies, in childhood, or as young adults- missing the chance of living full complex lives of seeing, growing and learning much- before their journeys are cut short. They are not even offered the possibilities, that most of us take for granted. 

Yet, we spend much of our own lives criticizing and complaining about things, that are not as we want them to be.

As biological creatures, we cling to life, but do not value it. Not very often, do we appreciate, this precious chance we have just being alive! We forget to wonder, admire, be completely in awe with our own existence, just as we are.

Demanding, expecting, planning, scheming, striving- we easily miss the most important point- that we are alive and free to use this, any way we want!

Yes, there are constraints, limitations that come with a body-mind, but there is still a lot that we can experience and explore, no matter what our situation is. We unceremoniously brush these miraculous privileges aside, as if they were insignificant- for constantly wanting more.

Creating enormous complicated entanglements, struggling with many psychological and emotional burdens, we lose sight of the simple fact, that being alive, is the most precious good fortune we already have- regardless of how difficult our lives may appear to us.

A range of social, political or economic troubles have always been there in some form, for every generation, for every member of the civilized human society. Some get it much worse, while others manage to cope relatively better. Perhaps nobody in the history of our planet, has had an absolutely trouble-free life.

Life is naturally full of ups and downs, rarely smooth sailing for long. It brings turn upon turn of difficult, unpleasant, annoying, or surprising situations.

But considering for a moment, if we had died ten or twenty years ago, we would have missed on so much more growth, maturity, wisdom, joy and appreciation for life, which we have enjoyed since then.

That is the real worth, the meaning of life. That essence of our lived experiences, is the real value of our time.

This value comes, not just from the good happy occasions, or the joyful memories, but, from the totality of our life experiences, the good with bad, kind with unkind, happy with sad.

The whole range of our life is valuable, from its deep dark corners where we hide in our gloom and misery, to the cheerful bright open spaces, where we dance in celebration!

Ignore for few minutes, all ambition and utopia projections of a perfect world with flawless existence, which we vaguely hold in the back of our minds. Try to see, that no matter where we are now, we have likely lived a beautiful, full life so far.

The flaws are not in existence, they are in our outlook, because we focus on small parts, rather than looking at the whole picture of what is. These parts are in flux, with moving subsets, changing aspects- while the Whole constantly remains in perfect balance and harmony. But we miss the balance and harmony in the totality of all that is.

Specific portions of the Whole evolve and transform in apparent isolation. They mix, merge, are created and destroyed, within this constant movement of the flow of totality. It has always been, and will forever remain this way.

If for once we zoom out, we can see the differences merging, the separations disappearing into a singular oneness. This Whole is truth, not a concept- the division, the partition, the separation is a concept.

Starting from within one single atom, from a living cell, to the whole expanded universe, where is a real separation, a real border, which is not conceptual, arbitrarily assigned by us?

In its ultimate analysis, is it not all in fact, only energy vibrating? We are all just that. Everything that exists is just that!

So, if I die today, of what value has been my life?

I am fortunate enough to be alive and consciously know, that I am! All other mundane details of my existence merge into this one truth. I have lived, and have been part of this miracle, that is not just being alive, but also, consciously knowing and appreciating, what it truly means!

If I were to die today, I am content and happy, with no complaints, or regrets- no loose ends left to tie, filled with immense gratitude, for this beautiful life, I have already had!