When I think about the question “What is life?” my immediate answer is that it is a chance given to each one of us to distinguish our worth on this planet by our deeds and actions.

To me, life means the pursuit of finding happiness for myself and a way to make others happy by doing things I am passionate about. To me, my life also means a possible source of comfort and solace for other beings that life may not have been fair to. An important meaning of life for me is learning to live in the present and have fun with the people I love, for example my family, as the future is very uncertain and unknown, therefore, the current time should be enjoyed to its fullest. These meanings of life became apparent to me when the whole world was struck by Covid-19.

Everyone had to self-isolate themselves from the outside world for months on end, businesses had to close down, leaving millions unemployed and, with the increasing number of people getting infected, the situation was devastating. Although everything seemed dreary, many inspirational people worked day and night, helping the people affected by this pandemic in whatever way possible.

The whole situation highlighted the need for people to become helpful to those in need, whether it be in kind or cash. A few kind words may help someone who may be feeling depressed or lonely. It also highlighted the need to spend quality time with our families, as, for the first time, whole families had to stay at home, thus allowing us to focus on each other rather than other activities. And, as many people lost their loved ones to the virus, we felt quite grateful to be able to be with our family.

This experience invoked in me a need to invigorate and cherish my own life and all life on earth. To do so, I want to do things that make me feel content and tranquil, whether it be something as simple as reading a good book in a placid corner of the room or something more thrilling such as exploring a new area.

To make the life of other inhabitants of the world better, we can start with small steps, such as helping out our friends and family who may be going through a tough time, and then proceed to help local people who may be facing privation with the help of friends and family. And, over time, we can expand this help to not only people of different areas, but also animals that are not in good conditions and are abused or left to fend for themselves.

I believe that our purpose in life should be to spread positivity and eradicate negativity as this will not only allow us to live a peaceful life, but it will also make the life of those around us much more trouble-free, ultimately leading to a harmonious world.

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 4TH, 2023