What are we? Everyone asks that question at some point in their lives. Today, I'm asking and I'm exploring this a bit.
We are many things.
Organically, we are a collection of interrelated cells, delicately balanced chemicals, organized and programmable electrical circuits.
Psychologically, we are emotional beings. We feel pain, warmth, cold, joy, and fear beyond our sense of touch. We cry, laugh, smile, and hurt.
Spiritually, we have consciousness. And this is fascinating: after decades of research, some neuropsychiatrist are now presenting evidence that suggests consciousness may persist and exist independent of brain activity. The understanding is that our brains, while we’re alive, are a consciousness filter and that after death our consciousness persists. This is, in common terms, science beginning to explore the afterlife. Let’s see where this leads.
Physically, we consume commodities, space, oxygen, and maybe even time itself.
Behaviorally, we do good. We do harm. We love. We hate.
We have some capacity and agency to choose from among all these things. Each of us differently, for reasons of our own, to satisfy our own individual motivations, instincts, and moods.
And the wonder of it all is that we are, each of us, unique. Not just finger prints, but in total. Every cell, every thought, every emotion, every action and reaction combined makes each of us patently unique. No two the same.
What are the odds? Should we even be here?
Science calculates that the existence of a specific individual is 1 in 10^2,685,000. For any event with odds greater than 1 in 10^110, only, science would consider it to be impossible. Yet we exist far beyond and in spite of that definition of impossible.
Math and science logically and convincingly conclude human life should not exist. But you’re here and I’m here, billions of us on the same equally impossible life-sustaining planet. We’re communicating. We have a shared understanding and experience.
Based on all this, the person in the mirror must be a miraculous being. We are all walking, talking, thinking, and moving miracles. Every second of every day we live impossible lives.
The next question is obvious.
What do we do with this unique, impossible life?
We hike and backpack, of course. Seems trivial and meaningless, doesn’t it?
But no matter what we choose or end up doing with this life, we should not squander it.
I spend hours and days hiking and backpacking, in part, because of the health benefits, to extend this impossible life that I live.
I also use hiking as a method of generating humility and gratefulness, which often results in kindness and presence, a greater appreciation for moments. It’s all very regenerative. This is what help give my impossible life great value and meaning. It’s not trivial. It's not meaningless.
There are so many things we can do with our impossible life. Most of my audience here is or wants to be a hiker or backpacker. But that’s just one thing that can make our time here have more meaning and purpose. It's not the only thing.
I have to ask: What are you doing with your impossible life?
I hope everyone reading this today does at least one thing to honor this gift of an impossible life. And tomorrow, the next day, and so on. Do good things.
I’m not trying to be preachy; I’m just offering some insight as to what’s on my impossible mind right now.
And right now is a great time to go live like you realize how impossible it is to be alive – like you actually want to be alive – like you want to live in full. That’s what I mean when I close out all these videos with “Go live like you want it”.
Until next time.
The Math Says Life Shouldn't Exist, But Somehow It Does - Science Daily
New Study Estimates the Odds of Live and Intelligence Emerging Beyond Our Planet - Columbia University
Probability and Order Versus Evolution - Henry M Morris Ph.D.
Life in the Universe: What are the Odds? NASA
Can Consciousness Exist Outside the Brain? - Psychology Today