Live to survive

"How are you doing?"

"Ag, i'm surviving!"

Surviving, there is that word again. Used so often to explain how someone is doing, without emotion or feeling, without real reason or need. Surviving. Is this not the problem with how we experience life these days? Has this become the modern humans' existence? To simply survive from day to day?

A very profound truth dawned upon me on a recent trip to Morocco - we, as modern humans, have started surviving instead of living out lives. Have we forgotten how to live and have simply returned to the basic animalistic trait of survival? Have we forgotten how to live? Surely living is a lot easier and more pleasurable than surviving?

As I was walking around the medina's and rummaging through the souks in the various cities in Morocco I saw people who have very little, yet live each day with dedication and commitment.

Allow me to elaborate on that comment:

A owner of a souk wakes up early in the morning, does the obligatory ablutions and heads of to work. Work is shopkeeping, their little shop, selling whatever wares catch their fancy. Each morning the entrance area to the shop is swept and washed as to ensure that passer by's will not be put of by uncleanliness. Now they wait. The whole day can pass without a single sale being made, perhaps 10 sales can be made? Yet outside the shop they sit on their chair, looking at all the tourists and locals passing by. A smile is seen on these shops owners faces. Never a frown. Never sadness or regret. Never a sense of wanting to give up. Because maybe, just maybe the next tourist will come and purchase an item? The day ends, the shop gets locked and life can be lived. Men and woman going to their favourite places to spend time with their friends or family, while enjoying the nightlife and street food or simply drinking a mint tea. They go to sleep and start the routine again. Day after day. Without fail. "Today I will get a sale".

These shop owners are living life. Not surviving it. They have very little to keep them going, however they are motivated and dedicated to their shop, to their business, to their source of income. The best is made out of every situation, whether there is a sale or not, life continues, and they live it.

In contrast to the life of the modern man, we work in office parks for established companies and earning a solid steady income every month. We work from 8 to 5 (on average). We drive. We have public transport. We get lunch breaks and holidays and weekends off. How much to we really have to survive? Should we not be rejoicing in the fact that we have so much? So many questions already answered? Why the frowns on our faces? Because our managers are not easy people? That the work is boring? That the coffee is cheap instant and not filter? The air conditioner is always set so cold? The canteen does not serve the best food?

How does working 7 days a week, from 7am to 9pm? Taking a lunchtime meaning you may miss out on potential income? No air conditioner? No coffee? No holidays? Does the person with this life not deserve to frown and be unhappy? Why then do they smile? Why then do they have passion and dedication?

Yes humanity of the modern age, we are spoiled. We have become so accustomed to the easy life that we have the nerve to complain when we have so much. Outside influence and societal disfunction has made us selfish, greedy and ungrateful people.

Perhaps, just perhaps it is time to step back? Do a true evaluation of the life we lead and ask the question: What are we unhappily trying to survive? Why are we not spending more energy happily living?

Keep it sunny side up people!

Ry