Baselining the Finish Line

There are myriad of ways in which one can claim that a person has lived a good life. After all, isn't what we are all aiming for ? To have a "good life".

Obviously, the definitions of the same may differ. It maybe defined by certain achievements, familial bonds or a hundred other ways.

But this writer just wants to have a baseline. A minimum qualification, after which all the beautiful add-ons of achievements can be appended to quantify the so called "good life".

Clearly, this post isn't about quantifying anything, it is about qualifying for the claim.

This writer believes, if one can get through life, onto his/her deathbed, without harbouring great bitterness and resentment, he has succesfully qualified for claiming to have led a "good life".

Think about it. While some humans might be luckier than the others, we are all subject to the injustice of birth, bullying, the perils of beurocracy, the eventual indifference of the world for an individual, loud heartbreaks, silent abandonment, occasional ditching by friends, people moving away, physical pain, betrayals, the random genetic lottery, hurtful relationships, the end of relationships, manipulation, diseases, forgery, the brutal despair of grief, the pangs of longing, death, unfair expectations, disspointment, social prejudice...

We might run out of words while delineating the human suffering.

And despite of all of these things, if one can reach the end of their life without being a brittle, cynical and resentful human being, I believe, that's enough. The whole civilization should clap in unison in awe of this wonderful, extraordinary person. What a resounding success! What an indomitable will !

That, my dear friends, just might be enough.