Oscar Wilde once said, “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
It’s a sad, perhaps cynical comment, but it’s also truer than we would like.
I’m not sure that I’m wise enough to be able to completely define the difference between living and existing, but let’s try:
Living is being able to find joy and humour in your surroundings, existing is going through the day with barely a smile.
Living is working with passion and enthusiasm, existing is turning up everyday and collecting a paycheck.
Living is having clear, meaningful goals to work towards, existing is wandering aimlessly through life.
Living is investing in others, helping to develop them to their full potential, existing is being self-absorbed and suspicious of others’ motives.
Living is leaving yourself vulnerable to love, with all of its highs and lows, existing is putting a wall around your heart that no-one can break through.
Living is understanding that we only get one shot at life, so we had better make the most of it, existing procrastinates, hesitates and squanders the opportunity to make a difference.
Personally, I believe in life after death, but I also believe in life before death!
So, do you live or exist?
Do you have any other examples of living versus existing that you would like to add to our list?
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7 comments
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March 1, 2011 at 9:23 am
Debbie
You covered everything so well . . .hmmm. Maybe something like living is listening to others, existing is only hearing what you want to hear? I’m not wise enough either, but I love thinking about this and checking places where I slip into existing instead of living! Thank you!
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March 1, 2011 at 3:59 pm
bendedspoon
Existing? Present!
Living? Outside! Planting seeds!
🙂
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August 23, 2013 at 3:03 am
Tiago Neves
To live is to be connected to that who is the source of all life, that is God, through faith in Jesus Christ.
The bible says that tall those who don’t believe in Jesus are DEAD. Why?
Because God is life, regarding both physical and spiritual existences, and death means to be separated from life, which is God!
“Jesus is the TRUE GOD and ETERNAL LIFE” (1 John 5.20)
Without God acting upon us we only exist, like rational animals, conscious but separated from God… dead as He states (Ephesians 2.1-10).
May He bless you all.
My e-mail in case any of you want to know better about the bible.
nevest2013@gmail.com
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August 23, 2013 at 4:38 pm
Darren Poke
Thanks for sharing Tiago
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February 20, 2014 at 4:51 am
Katharina
that is just great!
be blessed!! 🙂
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February 20, 2014 at 7:57 am
Darren Poke
Thanks Katharina
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March 22, 2016 at 10:16 am
Shima
Beautifully said .
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