Live like a Mayfly, like an Ant or like a Human?

 

I was eating my brunch this morning on the balcony, overlooking the lawn with its old mossy trees shedding leaves in autumn, with a harp playing in the background. Life is beautiful indeed!

Then it hit me, one of those ideas, of sudden realization. That advert from Vodafone about the common mayfly just came to my mind: If you live like a mayfly, then your life has a value (or duration) like that of a mayfly. Or is it the other way around: If you’re life has a value (or duration) like a mayfly, then you’ll live life like a mayfly.

 

 

I re-listened to the advert: “The common mayfly has a life expectancy of “just” 1 day, but not miserable about it. Not one bit. He fills his days with the things he loves, he soars, he sweeps, he savors every moment.”  Although we know that life is short and we never know when it is our time, I think there is one thing that few people realize why mayflies can afford to have that kind of lifestyle. Since their life expectancy is from 30 minutes to one day, there is no need to think of tomorrow, beyond living for the moment, the now. There is no need to think of the consequences of their actions, they could be dead in 30 minutes.

If humans live like this, life would be unbearable past day 1. Imagine spending all your time for fun. The following day, how are you going to eat? You didn’t work, you didn’t save, you have no stored food, you have to eat out of what you’ll find in nature, if you you can find anything as there are other people who are doing the same, or there’s a storm. Where are you going to sleep? out in the cold, wet ground where you’ll be bitten? That is why a life devoted to pure pleasure is not admirable. It’s self indulgent, like life devoted to drugs, alcohol and food. It’s short sighted. Somehow you have to think about the future.

The mayfly lifestyle is basically that of the grasshopper. During the season of plenty, it devotes its time cheerfully jumping around, chirping, singing. The ant meanwhile saves for the rainy day.

 

 

Ok, so you are going to divide your time between enjoying the moment and saving for the future, so when the rainy days or winter come, you’re safe. But is that good enough? Well, you just made your life valuable like that of ants, which live for 45-60 days.

Is life devoted to pure enjoyment and its continuation good? I thought it is “just” good, viewed solely on its own. It’s pure pleasure, as any person who lives it can attest. But is there a life better than this? Is there another life better than pure enjoyment? Human life is not just to extend the owner’s life.

People are sometimes troubled by admiration, respect and honour bestowed by other people. But that is not even in my mind. You don’t crave for it nor avoid it. If you avoid it, then you’re work will be constrained.
Yes, humans should enjoy life, save for the future, AND give to others by making a difference in someone else’s life. Touching another man’s life is especially important, be it a family, a relative, a friend, or a complete stranger.

 

Here is a poem inspired by these thoughts.

 

Tuŋaw Taŋa Taho

1

Kuŋ nabubuhay ka sana

Ŋa чaŋ inaчatupag gabos pasiram

Kabaчiŋ sa tuŋaw чaŋ halaga kaŋ siчmoŋ buhay

Kuŋ nabubuhay ka sana

Para sa pagsusuripot sa maчarabot ŋa чaldaw

Siriŋ sa taŋa чan halaga kan siчmoŋ buhay

2

Kuŋ taho ka, mabubuhay ka

Ŋa labaw sa nahihimo kaŋ kahayupan

Чaчatupagon чaŋ  maŋa bagay

Ŋa чaŋ kagabsan чaŋ makikinabaŋ

Daŋan makakapabaчgo sa saroŋ buhay

Advertisement