Living is an uncertain condition, and no amount of self examination will produce an accurate prognosis. We can be confident of only one thing in life, and that is, it will never come again.
Whether it is long or short, happy or sad, empty or fulfilled can be determined by so many things, most of which are out of our control. The only thing we can be sure of is that this life will end. The absolute certainty of this is the truth of all truths.
Agatha Christie wrote, “I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable and racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing”.
Once you embrace this philosophy you can use it as a creed to live your life by, whenever adversity enters your life, and you are consumed with doubt, you will take strength from knowing that once this time has passed, life will be worth living again. You will know for certain that more good days are ahead of you, that looking back to this experience and feeling sad will not stop you looking forward to what your life still holds for you.
So shallow breathe for a while until it passes and soon you will feel the need to, take in great gulps of air, life affirming air that bubbles back up and makes you break into mindless laughter. When that happens you will know life is grand again.
"That it will never come again is what makes life sweet". Emily Dickinson