The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly – that is what each of us is here for.
Oscar Wilde
Why are we here? What's the meaning of life? What's the purpose of it all? These are tough questions to answer. In the cosmic scheme of things our entire planet doesn't make any impact at all, really – it's just an infinitesimal mote in an immense universe. Given that, what's OUR point, tiny and transient creatures such as we are?
Well, it's a big issue and it's given birth to a huge array of religions and philosophies. Too big a topic to cover even shallowly here. But I thought Oscar's contribution was quite a good one. It's something that we can wrap our minds around and profit from. Our aim in life should be, paraphrasing here, to become the best that we can be. (Man, that sounds like a commercial, doesn't it?)
It's impossible to realize one's nature perfectly (perfection being so elusive) so where does that leave us? In a state of continual striving, that's where. It's all about the journey, not the destination.
To me, his two sentences encompass a wide panoply of follow-on realizations. Rest on one's laurels? Never! That's not self-development. Do a slap-dash job? Not unless your nature is to do things poorly. Tell people you're an expert before you've made every possible mistake? Not going to happen.
Wilde's simple prescription for life strikes home with a power that belies its gentle tone. It's an endless journey he has gifted to us, but one that helps us along through its continual exhortation – "keep working, get just a bit better, reach just a bit further.
And just keep your fingers crossed that your nature isn't just to be a jerk. That'd be so depressing.
That sounds great, but if our life ends when we die, then it’s nothing other than to spend a day cooking a meal, and then just trow this meal out, without enjoying the benefits.
So I guess, either life is self-developement and it doesn’t end with our death, or if yes, it’s only to enjoy what we can (in which case I don’t think it really worth the effort, comparing to the suffering we have to endure)…