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Original poster

To think life is overrated

213 replies

dexent · 25/09/2018 06:52

You're born without having a choice. Then you live a life. Some of it might be good, some of it bad. You might get a lot more of one than the other. Alot of it is out of your hands. You then die. What was the point. This life is so temporary, so fleeting yet we cling on to it so dearly.

OP posts:
cantfindname · 26/09/2018 14:30

Yes it's a cliche, but, life is what you make of it.

TheNavigator · 26/09/2018 14:34

I think the opposite - life is under rated, if anything. I do acknowledge this means I am very fortunate. However, that does not mean I have not had my share of tragedies. But this life is all we have, so I intend to cling on to it as long as I can.

Enb76 · 26/09/2018 14:39

Life is totally overrated. I am fairly happy that I'm alive at the moment. I'm one of the lucky ones, I'm healthy, I've had great parents, I've had brilliant opportunities, I love my job but... as soon as starts going to uttter shit either in terms of physical health or mental degeneration, I'm looking into euthanasia.

If I get some dreadful disease in my 70's, I think I will go down with the ship - I don't want to prolong a life that has been happy and fulfilling with pain and/or terminal ill health. Hats off to those who do but I don't want it for me.

Theworldisfullofgs · 26/09/2018 14:41

I kind of agree. Life is hard and I do sometimes think we over complicate it to try and make it wonderful. Think in particular we've over complicated society. Money is just an abstract concept and somehow we've conflated it to mean someone's worth or success.
Too be twee probably, my moments of greatest happiness have been with people, particularly family. If I can catch myself I try and notice.
However on other days it's a grind.
I'm a coach (so people think i must have everything under control rather than being a normal flawed human being) and used to work in mental health and think we've got obsessed with being 'happy'. It's such a catchall phrase.... and that being unhappy must mean were depressed. Being sad is normal. It comes to all of us sometimes.

Yes life can be hard work. It is a grind getting up at 6.00 am everyday to get the kids to school and get out to work etc. There is lots to worry about and only so much we have in our control. Sometimes you need to just get on with it and sometimes life is a joy.

If I'm lucky I'll die like my parents. Quite suddenly and quite quickly, whilst I'm still living an active life in my own home. Still being able to do some things that give me joy.

shearwater · 26/09/2018 15:49

I find it strange to hear life described as "overrated". As you say, you don't have a choice to be born, so it just is, and you make what you can of it.

Also, I don't know for sure obviously, but I imagine it is better than the alternative.

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 26/09/2018 15:59

The older I get, the more I appreciate how privileged and lucky I am to be born in a time of peace, in a safe country. To be healthy and have the opportunity to raise my family in love and contentment. To not be persecuted, hungry, oppressed, imprisoned, made homeless or attacked for my beliefs or because I was unfortunate enough to be born in a troubled place.

I try to count my blessings every day and celebrate life - it really is a wonderful, beautiful, precious thing.

MakeItStopNeville · 26/09/2018 16:28

This is one fucked up thread. I don’t know, maybe I’m sore as I’ve just watched my friend lose her fight with cancer at the age of 38. She literally clung onto anything and tried everything and bore immense pain with as much dignity as she could muster, just so she could have one more day of life and one more day with her daughters. That’s not pointless at all. It’s all we’ve got.

Kemer2018 · 26/09/2018 16:35

I agree with you OP.
I suppose life is about relationships, achievements, failures, suffering and the odd glimmer of hope.
It's just biological though.
If i had an off switch i would have switched in my teens.

mugginsalert · 26/09/2018 16:53

Enough rest, health, a clear conscience, connection with others, a purpose to my days, the ability to make choices, and freedom from poverty - these are blessings. I've had times of acute depression or persistent melancholy and on reflection it's when some of those things have been missing however fine the surface detail of my life. I find buddhist teachings very helpful in looking clearly at the arbitrary/fleeting nature of life and yet valuing the unique and precious opportunities it brings.

darkriver198868 · 26/09/2018 16:53

I dont love life. The last 18 months have been horrendous. I lost so much in that short time. I have also had an awful life so far.

Its weird but, I almost died (Massive bleeding during surgery) when I was 19 you think I would be grabbing life with my hands. At the moment if I had option to go to bed and die I would likely take it.

lovesugarfreejelly63 · 26/09/2018 16:59

Probably the oldest poster on here, had my share of tragedies/joys etc., poor health, but I am religious and that has sustained me all my life. I still look forward to starting each day.

OddBoots · 26/09/2018 17:02

@SnuggyBuggy you can opt out of life extending treatments if you get dementia but you have to think about it and plan in advance and ideally discuss it with your GP too.

I have made a detailed and clear advance decision for when I lose capacity using an advanced decision maker on the compassion in dying website.

FlorencesHunger · 26/09/2018 17:34

I have moments of thinking it's all just pointless and I will be dead any day in the near or far future. As it is I am alive so plan to enjoy it and generally plod through life and put the thoughts away.

I imagine how easy it is to be snuffed out, via a car accident etc.

Helmetbymidnight · 26/09/2018 17:52

All those who think life is meh, do you find it distressing and awful when strangers die or do you just think, meh, too?

I’m not trying to be snarky - I know it may sound it- sorry- but if you value life so little - does that not affect how you respond to others’ death?

Vitalogy · 26/09/2018 18:06

.

To think life is overrated
SnuggyBuggy · 26/09/2018 18:08

I think you can only really speak for yourself though I have felt relief at the passing of some people who I knew were greatly suffering.

Helmetbymidnight · 26/09/2018 18:11

Ah yeah but terribly suffering and/or being over say 85, isn’t really what this thread is about is it? This is normal people leading normal lives who are just nonplussed.

Rudgie47 · 26/09/2018 18:14

My Dad died young at 57 of a heart attack, I hope I go young like him and am not hanging on with ill health in my 80s and god forbid 90s. I'd rather do myself in than be in a care home or suffer from dementia. Fortunately dementia doesn't run in my family at all.

Like a lot of people I've had really severe depression, I've not got it now but I can appreciate the simple things in life,thats enough for me. I also have no tolerance for bullshit.

Storm4star · 26/09/2018 18:23

All those who think life is meh, do you find it distressing and awful when strangers die or do you just think, meh, too

Honestly? Mostly meh. The exception being children. Because they haven't had a chance to live. I never get why people get so upset when celebrities that they don't even know die. I often struggle when friends lose close relatives because everyone rallies round to support them but I never know what to say!

Helmetbymidnight · 26/09/2018 18:24

Gosh, my mum died very young and I can only think of what she missed out on.

I suppose if you don’t think they missed out on much, it’s a different kind of grief.

Helmetbymidnight · 26/09/2018 18:25

Honestly? Mostly meh

I appreciate your honesty! Smile

Tinkobell · 26/09/2018 18:34

I think when you've been hurt, felt loss and pain then it's easy to ask what's the bloody point. However, when I see a baby smile, my puppy roll over for a tickle or a mummy bird feed her chick, I think life's a beautiful vital thing to cherish....albeit fleeting. Human love if you're lucky to have it also makes life purposeful.

Viviennemary · 26/09/2018 18:37

I know where you're coming from. Sometimes it seems like just slog slog slog to no avail. Who wrote that 'stop the world I want to get off'. Can see what they mean. But on the other hand when people are close to death they start to value their time on earth and wish they had longer.

MarmaLaid · 26/09/2018 18:42

Why does there have to be a point? I think we are conditioned to believe we must be happy all or most of the time when maybe we don’t. We have many other emotions and feelings and it’s ok to feel all of them or different ones at any time. There perhaps no point but don’t worry about it.

MarcieBluebell · 26/09/2018 18:49

ah yeah but terribly suffering/being over say 85, isn’t really what this thread is about is it? This is normal people leading normal lives.

Unfortunately being in terrible suffering is normal for many people.