Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things.
Arthur Schopenhauer
MEANING OF THIS QUOTE
Humans are unarguably the most blessed and cursed species on the planet. We are blessed to have a lot of things that make our lives worth living – family and friends, good health, physical possessions, pets, and/or financial stability. Yet, we hardly ever realize what they truly mean to us. We generally only appreciate them when they are no more with us. Ironically, it is not their companionship or the things they do for us that make us appreciate them, but rather the fact that they are no more a part of our lives.
IS LOSS AN INEVITABLE TRUTH?
Unfortunately, it is. Nothing in life is permanent; in fact, even the planet we live on isn’t going to be around forever. Considering the larger scheme of things, we have the company of our near and dear ones for a very, very small window of time. The things we take for granted today will become but nostalgic memories that we can cherish tomorrow.
BUT WHY DO WE NEED TO LOSE SOMETHING TO APPRECIATE IT?
That’s the point – we don’t, and yet that’s how it is with most of us. Ask yourself this: when was the last time you thanked your mom for the timely breakfast, or treated your friends for always being there for you, or took a moment to appreciate everything that makes your life worthwhile? Unfortunately for us, loss is a potent teacher that shows us the importance of what we had.
CONCLUSION
The only permanent thing about life is its impermanent nature. Nothing we have today is going to be with us forever. It is, therefore, up to us whether we want that loss to be just another facet of life, or whether we want it to become a painful reminder of the good old days. In all honesty, it is much easier (and less painful) to acknowledge and appreciate the people and things that bring a smile on our faces. Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher. Deeply influenced by Hindu philosophy, Schopenhauer is known to have commented: “Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things.”