“How shall you live?” It’s a question that echoes through time, yet as Maria Popova wisely observes, “no one can give you a ready-made answer.” Not parents, teachers, scripture, or therapy. The answer, if there is one, emerges from life itself. As Nietzsche profoundly stated, “no one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you, must cross the river of life.”
The truth is, this isn’t a static answer. It evolves, shifts, and reforms from year to year, day to day, even moment to moment. Each choice we make, big or small, defines “how to live.” Since no one can dictate another’s path, we can only offer suggestions.
Consider the timeless wisdom of St. Paul. His “suggestions,” offered centuries ago, have enduring resonance. He urged us to live a life primarily guided by love. Whatever the circumstance, whatever the choice, he encouraged us to “choose love.”
Personally, I’ve learned that the most crucial choices about how to live are inherently my own. It’s about trusting that inner compass, that instinct pointing in the right direction. The beautiful part? It’s never too late to begin choosing that path.
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