TO LIVE OR TO EXIST

TO LIVE OR TO EXIST—THIS IS THE QUESTION THAT LOOMS OVER THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. LIVING IMPLIES MEANING, IMPACT, AND A CONTRIBUTION THAT LEAVES TRACES BEHIND. EXISTING, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS SIMPLY TO BE, PASSING THROUGH TIME WITHOUT LEAVING A MARK.

WHAT THEN IS THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU WERE HERE? IS IT THE TANGIBLE IMPACT YOU CREATE, THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU BUILD, OR THE IMPRINT YOU LEAVE ON THE WORLD THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS AND IDEAS? OR IS IT SIMPLY THE FACT THAT YOU EXPERIENCED LIFE, FELT ITS JOYS AND PAINS, AND BEING ITSELF WAS ENOUGH?