A nihilist perspective pertaining to the philosophy of life.

[Mr Pink]

I never studied philosophy at school or university, although I do consider myself philosophical. When I consider the two very elements which brings us to this forum; life and dialysis, I conclude that the equation is very simple... Dialysis = life. It really is that simple. And if that is too hard to comprehend or accept, then there is this wonderful quote from arguably the finest film of all time; "Get busy living, or get busy dying." Andy Dufresne. Now that doesn't mean that we have to crawl through a mile of $hit to get living, but it does mean we have to saddle up to dialysis three times a week, which is a small price to pay when you consider the benefits we enjoy staying alive. Of course life would be much better if my damned football team could actually win a game once every while!

Peace.

[jjneyjr]

I'm getting the feeling that I am not the only one that is philosophical around here. 
Cheers,
 

[cariad]

I feel like any person's feelings are valid.  I've been in some pretty low places where I seriously considered just letting myself go.  I knew then that it was purely physical.  I have no doubt that it's possible for a person to be in a place where death is really the thing they are ready for.  Why did I hang on?  I've still got a few people in my life that I really don't want to leave, so I continue to hang on through the times when it would actually be easier for me to "let go". because the time i get to spend with them is worth the trouble.  But again, if they weren't here on this earth, and I found myself in another physically torturous situation, i would probably let go.  having said that, I hope I will always have a reason to keep trying, and I very much hope that every other person in my kind of situation will likewise find a reason to keep enduring the pain.  Because for me, regardless, life is generally better than death.  Yes, life is a terminal disease in that, once you are born, you will most certainly die.  In between, it's about good vs. evil: good being the pleasure of love between souls, and evil being disease.  I totally agree with the idea that love is the cure for the evil of death.  While you are in love, even the love of a loving God, then in a way, there is no death, only transformation. 

 jjneyjr, hope you can endure and that it gets better.  I am about your age, and it's been a long road too.  But here is one small voice saying: for me the world is better because someone like you, even though i don't know you, would try to hang on and would write something insightful about life.

This is nicely put, and helpful insight, at least for me.

Camus engaged in entirely too much navel gazing.  Perhaps he found something there of more value than just fluff.

I feel I need to (briefly) defend Camus. He was known as a fiercely disciplined author, his best known work (L'Etranger) was compact (thus we could handle it in French class) and, more importantly, fiction, he defined a philosophy in a single sentence that I've already quoted (I have yet to meet the person who can discuss that work without quoting the first line), he won the Nobel Prize and died at 46. Frankly I cannot imagine literature or my life without him. I also suspect he lacked the time for too much self-reflection. He claims (via Wikipedia) that his life was devoted to opposing nihilism. I did not know that until I skimmed his Wikipedia page, but it makes sense. Mark Twain opposed racism, but he had to write racist characters to do that effectively.

I could ask for a more encompassing explanation of the "cancer of life" metaphor, but I really don't think I want to know.  My daffodils are blooming and my raspberries are budding, and I choose not to see any malignancy.

It's hard to write one's feelings down and open them up to criticism, especially difficult when it involves the feeling that you'd rather not live. I think it's wise to look away if you suspect your own emotional state might be too fragile. Sometimes I make that choice, too. I am lucky right now in that I can discuss these subjects and leave the computer and still appreciate all that is worth living for. I trust that if I ever feel differently, IHD would be one outlet where I could discuss this openly.

[Riki]

I have a very simplistic view of the philosophy of life, as least how it pertains to me, because I like simplistic things.  They are far less complicated. *LOL*

I have six people that my world revolves around.  As long as they endure, so will I.  I do know that at some point, I may not have a choice in the matter, but as long as I do, I will not put these six people through the pain of losing me unnecessarily.

I'm not really sure if this is a philosophy, but it is why I continue to have a machine keep me alive

[jjneyjr]

Very astute RiKi!
Cheers,
 

[MooseMom]

I could ask for a more encompassing explanation of the "cancer of life" metaphor, but I really don't think I want to know.  My daffodils are blooming and my raspberries are budding, and I choose not to see any malignancy.

It's hard to write one's feelings down and open them up to criticism, especially difficult when it involves the feeling that you'd rather not live. I think it's wise to look away if you suspect your own emotional state might be too fragile. Sometimes I make that choice, too....  I trust that if I ever feel differently, IHD would be one outlet where I could discuss this openly.

As long as it is understood that looking away implies neither criticism nor disinterest but, rather, self-preservation.  I'm not sure I've ever been able to look away no matter the state of my emotions, but I don't claim to be particularly wise.

Many people have discussed this topic on IHD, and if I remember correctly, there has always been someone to criticize.  But the critics have been few.  IHD continues to be the best virtual sounding board.

[MooseMom]

I have a very simplistic view of the philosophy of life, as least how it pertains to me, because I like simplistic things.  They are far less complicated. *LOL*

I have six people that my world revolves around.  As long as they endure, so will I.  I do know that at some point, I may not have a choice in the matter, but as long as I do, I will not put these six people through the pain of losing me unnecessarily.

I'm not really sure if this is a philosophy, but it is why I continue to have a machine keep me alive

I'd call this "a philosphy".

[MooseMom]

Of course life would be much better if my damned football team could actually win a game once every while!

Now, THIS is "a philosphy" that really speaks to me.  LOL!

[amanda100wilson]

sometimes it is simpler and easier not to overthink.  I like Riki's philosophy.

[kitkatz]

Dialysis does not equal life.  Dialysis equals survival.  Dialysis sucks in all its ways.  It has allowed me to survive for many years, however being hooked up to a machine 3 days a week for hours on end is not life, it is survival.  I wish you luck and Godspeed on your journey.  I hope the time you spend on dialysis becomes more pleasant.