One Life To Live

I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
the sinners are much more fun ...
— Billy Joel (Only The Good Die Young)
It is often that one is struck by an impulse to do something, which they perceive is miles away from ordinary behavior - or so they imagine. I have noticed this particularly with those youth who feel stuck in a limbo between 'cool' and 'mature age'. It is that scary time of your life when you are hanging out with people who were born in a decade after yours. It is then when your mind starts wandering and towards the visions of your deathbed. At this ripe old age of late twenties, you coin the phrase, 'Screw it man, we have only one life.' By pulling a veil of illusion over your eyes, you try to make as much of the sorry existence which you have remaining.

It is then that you console your guilt of having that extra slice of pizza and missing that tennis session with your friends. The summer hours are more devoted to planning for the weekends rather than pending work and your arrival time in office is pushed back each day, till Friday comes and you try to make it in time for lunch. When the voice of conscience starts assuming 6.1 DTS capability in your mind, those simple 8 words throw you a lifeline. After all, you tell yourself that yours is a sorry tale, with each minute bringing you closer to judgment day. You of all people deserve some happiness in life. Why should it be reserved for that twit who is 5 years your junior and makes the same as you. So you say to yourself, its all right to buy that cool DVD player or those expensive sneakers. After all that's why credit cards were invented. This carefree attitude usually hits you once a month.

But then, guilt has a way of finally developing enough courage to launch another attack on your morals. This time it usually wins and drives you deeper into the never ending well of shame and misery. Just like the moon, your life enters a new phase where you start feeling sorry for neglecting all that work. The refrigerator is filled with fruits rather than cheese and you convince yourself that hunger is best way to lose all those extra pounds that you had gained. These insecurities usually culminate into a weekend of utter despondency where all you want to do is watch sad films and listen to blues.

But sure enough, as day follows night, things start looking better. Perhaps it is because the cricket team is winning or a movie that you were looking forward to is going to be released, but you are actually starting to appreciate life. The birds are chirping, sun is shining, work is producing results and ... and ... and that twit is driving a new BMW. Its just not fair. Now all the girls will flock near him. Maybe I should get that new plasma TV; after all we have only one life.