The Lucky Accident of Life

We are alive, for now.

Most of us have our bodies, our minds, hopefully good health, and some family and friends to spend our time with.

It’s unfathomable to contemplate how many things had to go the exact way that they did in order for us to be right here, right now.

Don’t get me wrong, nothing is perfect and of course there are situations that we may look back on and only wish we could go back to fix.

But life doesn’t work like that and the more time we spend fixated on the past, the less time we have to appreciate or even recognize what’s right in front of us.

It’s truly a lucky and very fortunate accident that in this moment, we have what we do.

Out of the billions of people alive right now, many of them would risk it all to live the life we currently do.

Take a moment to let that sink in.

This isn’t to say that the problems and worries in our lives aren’t justified, but rather there’s always an opportunity to reframe our perspective. 

There’s never a better time than the present to take stock of our existence.

To take a mental step back, push all the bullshit aside, and notice just how much we have in our lives to be grateful for.

Ask yourself these two questions:

How much of what brings me peace and joy do I take for granted on a daily basis?

How devastating would it be to lose any of those things if it ended right now and I was never able to enjoy them again?

We must teach ourselves to catch these moments in the act and treasure them as the ultimate prize that life has to offer. 

Because for them to have ever occurred in the first place, and to still be fortunate enough to have them, is the lucky accident of life.

“We need to keep in mind that it is a lucky accident that we are enjoying whatever it is we are enjoying, that our enjoyment of it might end abruptly, and that we might never be able to enjoy it again.” – William B. Irvine