Butterflies

“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” – Carl Sagan.

The universe is ancient. The scientific consensus is that it’s approximately 13.8 billion years. It may even be older. Recently, a scientist proposed, based on observations made by the James Webb telescope, that it might be 26.7 billion years old.

In comparison to the universe, a human life is a brief flash. The average lifespan for most in the developed world, depending on where you live, is between 76 and 80 years. Of course, being an average means that a large number of people won’t live that long.

Despite our relatively short lifespan, we go about our days as though we’re immortal. Of course, if asked, we’ll say we know we won’t live forever. Then we’ll shove the idea away and go back to blissfully ignoring our mortality.

If ignoring our mortality meant that we always lived in the moment and enjoyed every minute of life, that wouldn’t be so bad. However, it more often means that we spend most of our life on pursuits that waste what little precious time we have in this life. 

Don’t waste your short time in this life.

Memento Mori.