Do people live or do they just exist?

1. 59

   CosetteClareeseposted 9 years ago

   Do people live or do they just exist?
   
   I just want to know how most people view their lives. Also if there is a difference between these two.
   
   

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2. 84

   gmwilliamsposted 9 years ago

   
   
   Unfortunately and sadly, most people lead monotonous, gray, and purgatorial lives of utter desperation.  They can be aptly called the living dead.  They have no joy in their lives.  They act upon automaton and messages inculcated by parents, religion, and society.  Only a small percentage of people live lives on their own terms and by their own rules.
   
   The majority of people follow others' programs as to how, what, and to be.  They are proverbial puppets on a string so to speak.  They lead quite circumscribed lives.  They prefer this purgatorial existence because of fear, comfort, and safety.  They do not want to branch out and lead a fearless, fierce life because they are fearful of being ostracized by their peers and family members.  As a result of this fear, their lives are comfortably purgatorial at best and endurably hellish at worst.  So many people fail/do not live up to their human potential.  They are drowning psychologically and psychically but they refuse to acknowledge it.
   
   Many do not realize that they merely exist in a purgatorial limbo until something happens to shake them out of their purgatorial stupor or worse, on their death bed.   Many are leading unfulfilled lives and continue to live in denial and in a stupor.  Many wake up TOO, TOO late to do anything to change their lives.
   
   People who live are actually engaged/involved in their lives.  They live to their utmost potential.  They take risks and live the lives that others envy.  They are succulent people who live at full throttle.  They see life as a gift which is to be embraced and lived fully, never half way.  They live a life of no regrets.

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   1. 70

      dashingscorpioposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Very true.
      Most of us live out our youth as if we have 1000 years to go. We're shortsighted . A 30 year old can't imagine being 50 and a 50 year old can't imagine being 60 or 70 and so on.
      We can't imagine us running  out of time...

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3. 70

   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   
   
   A life without dreams isn't living; only existing.
   I believe every child starts off having dreams and believing they can accomplish them. After a certain amount of heartache, setbacks, and disappointments many people "give up" on their dreams and learn to be content running on the treadmill of life.
   Get up, shower, dress, go to work, eat lunch, go back to work, at 5 PM leave work, run an errand or two, head home, eat dinner, watch TV, go to bed and REPEAT until Friday. Over the weekend do some work around the house, maybe go see a movie, visit a park/beach, or some other local activity. Possibly go to church on Sunday and that evening start preparing for the upcoming week.
   Days become weeks, weeks become months, and months become years. Occasionally they go on vacation, host or attend events, (weddings, funerals, graduations) and cope with stress and unexpected financial crisis from time to time.
   Gradually physical changes and reduced abilities occur until the state takes away your drivers license and you have to rely on others to get around. Eventually your adult children find a "nice place" for you to reside AKA nursing home where the highlight of your day is mealtime, bath time, and waiting to watch "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!"
   You stare out the window from your wheelchair wondering where all the years went while you were preparing for "some day" which never came. It's now too late to even create a "bucket list".
   The most significant treasures of the world are not in museums. They are the unfulfilled dreams of people buried in the cemetery.

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   1. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, most people lead a harrowing, purgatorial existence where they exist as musselmen i.e. the living dead.  Sad indeed!

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   2. 59

      CosetteClareeseposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for your answer. It was very thought out and seems to be true. Very sad though. I would like to raise awareness on this subject and hope that people wake up and not only have dreams but also help them make it happen.

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4. 81

   Missy Smithposted 9 years ago

   I think there is a difference, but it is up to the person to choose what they want to do with their lives.
   
   It will entail some bravery to get out of the normal human existence, and then come into a true self-existence.
   
   
   It's sad really when you think about it, because most don't think they can do anything else, but exist. The bills and mortgage help them to decide that. However, I believe you can change that if you just change your way of thinking. If you choose to be more humble than fighting to get up everyday to go to the same job just to pay the huge bills.
   
   
   There are always ways to downsize, it's just if you are brave enough to take the chance I suppose. People think simple life is not what will make them happy, competing in the material world is what they feel is happiness. However, we all know that's a deceitful lie. I mean we should know that.

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   1. 59

      CosetteClareeseposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      How would we get out of the normal human existence to self-existence? What steps do we take to stick it to the man so to speak? What does it take to say you know what I am no longer going to exist I am going to live today!

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