Short, Intense Life

I would like to live a short, intense life.

Living a short life is a blessing. The shorter you live, the fewer sins you commit. I'd rather live until seventy, a not-too-ancient age, and have a lot of fulfilling moments, the likes of being able to concentrate on things I like. Living a long, calm life, on the other hand, is depressing, particularly if senility has caught up with me.

A short, intense life would make my life more purposeful. I would always be on the go, trying my best to get things done properly to delight myself and my loved ones. Diary-writing has been my passion, and to make my life a memorable one, I would make the publishing of my own memoir a life goal- sharing my life stories with everyone.

Before seventy, I would make use of all my savings to travel around the globe, my focus being South Pacific islands, particularly Solomon Islands. Their pristine forests and friendly aboriginal people have a strong magnetic pull on me. If I were granted citizenship in the country, I would volunteer to teach orphans English, the best way to share my expertise before I return to dust. If I lived too long and became bedridden, there is nothing I could contribute to the world.

To live my life to the fullest, I would try to fulfil my artistic dreams, painting all the good and bad memories of my life and having all my works exhibited in my home studio. I would invite anyone I know to witness that special moment, even those who have caused me great misery. The exhibition is my most sincere way to thank everyone for teaching me much about life.

A long, calm life, in contrast, is full of endless waiting. Every day, you hear of different friends returning to the Lord, and in the immeasurable depths of your heart, fear is struggling to be free and possess you, making you question when your death comes. However calm you are, the passage of time would gradually make you fed up with your long life.

A long life makes you a walking zombie. A lot of health complications keep rearing their ugly heads. Because you are no longer as active as before, you have to submit yourself to ‘calmness.' Being 'calm' deprives you of many things. When the younger ones are enjoying a sweaty physical activity, you could only sit in an inconspicuous corner on a bench, watching them, trying to repress the envious feelings in you. You are gradually losing the strength of every physical and mental faculty, embracing the status of a passive audience.

A short, intense life keeps me on centre stage. Whatever you do, others could feel the vigour of your spirit and couldn't get enough of you. When death claims you at the height of your glory, you would become a legend. Your beauty would be fresh in everyone's memory. If you die a senile man, you would only be remembered with pity.

For the above reasons, I am all for a shorter, intense life.

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