What does it mean to be human


Quote of the day: 

Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for. -Socrates



According to Plato man is a being in search of meaning. The meaning of life is found in every moment and every event we experience. Asides our biological evolution and the science behind our existence, and characteristics, what does it really mean to be human? We have survived and evolved through the years through self-preservation. We can adapt to various life changes quickly. We have knowledge and the capacity to use our brains to solve complex problems. And the list goes on.

But what does it mean to be human, to be a person who has feelings even? No one can exist in a void or vacuum. To be human is to be alive and filled with energy, an internal fire that never burns out, it is freedom and the ability to determine your own path in life. It is the ability to embrace the light while acknowledging that darkness exist. It is separating fact from fiction, contentment from regret, strength from weakness, and logic from ignorance.

The way we function is not just mechanical -unthinking and unemotional, no we are emotional beings vying for attention and striving for wisdom, and no doubt most of the decisions we make in life get influenced by our emotions. To be human is to be unique, and different. And not being afraid to admit to the latter. As no two minds are the same. Everyone has a unique smell and fingerprint. Each person dreams and has the ability to make choices, to acquire knowledge and be accountable for their own actions while embracing a fundamental maxim-and frowning upon the maxim of others.

And then there's love which we never seem to give out as much as we'd like to. We take more than we give. To be human is to form relationships, to share connections and bond with others, to show compassion when none is expected, and to embrace the philosophy that how we treat others is in effect how we treat ourselves. Being human is being aware. Being noble. Being able to fall and stand up as many times as possible. Being human is doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way.


Peace. Love. Light* 



Current Listen: Johnny Mathis - Chances Are


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51 Comments

  1. Your philosophies are usually in agreement with mine. Some of us use our emotions too little when making choices, some too much. My high school biology teacher and I had a discussion in class one day. I was questioning the purpose of fruit flies. His response was to ask me what my purpose is. It took me many years to grasp what he was saying to me.

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    1. That's a powerful story and a great one to remind us all that everyone and everything have a purpose. Thanks for sharing and visiting.

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  2. “...to show compassion when none is expected”

    That’s a superpower right there.

    To be kind. What if our whole purpose is just that?

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    1. What if indeed, great thoughts and good perspective. Greetings.

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  3. To be kind, loving, thoughtful, caring is what so many of us aspire to do in our lives. And, then there are those for whom none of these words can apply.

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  4. "To be human is to be unique, and different."

    That's why there are billions of versions of normal.

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  5. You summed it up better than I could have.

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  6. Very inspiring words as always. Yes indeed human make their own path and how they will become at the end of their life.

    Much Love,
    Zarrah | The Bandwagon Chic

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  7. Something to think about as I start my week!

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  8. Hi Blogoratti - thoughtful post ... we really do need to step out of our bubbles and start thinking of others, beyond ourselves and out into the broader community - offering compassion and being the best we can ... cheers Hilary

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  9. Interesting. A thought provoking post. Thanks for sharing this thoughtful post.

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  10. There are so many lines I'd like to pull from this and emphasize. Excellent.

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  11. Very inspiring, and a powerful reminder that we are here to provide service and kindness to others. We see it more in times of trouble rather than as the norm. Love this so much! Hugs...RO

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  12. I love to read your posts, they are always so inspiring!
    Kisses, Paola.
    Expressyourself

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  13. "And then there's love which we never seem to give out as much as we'd like to. We take more than we give. To be human is to form relationships, to share connections and bond with others, to show compassion when none is expected, and to embrace the philosophy that how we treat others is in effect how we treat ourselves. Being human is being aware. Being noble. Being able to fall and stand up as many times as possible. Being human is doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way." This sums it up wonderfully because love conquers all (maybe not immediately, but in it's time).


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  14. Humans have so many things in common, and yet they are so different. They like to hurt each other; they are violent sometimes with no apparent reason.
    I remember Yuval Noah Harari saying (Sapiens: A brief history of humankind) that the lives lived by sapiens today may be worse overall than the lives they lived 15,000 years ago.
    He also wrote: "only a criminal buys a house … by handing over a suitcase of banknotes".
    Navigating the net I found a comment to this: “35% of all purchases at the high end of the London housing market are currently being paid in cash.”
    We are so self-absorbed in our own lives, we forget the person beside us in need of a nice word, a hug, a smile.

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  15. These words are very true. We (or most of us) share these traits. I think it comes from being in a society where pressures of pure existence are somewhat relieved. I think animals like dogs and cats who are well cared for also start to show some "human" responses like gratefulness and sometimes even saving their owners lives. Loved reading this piece and how it made me think this grey morning in my world. :) Erika

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  16. It's good when one person's cycle of need and giving matches another's in such a way that when one needs, the other is ready to give, and vice versa. Hasn't happened many times in my life but once in a while

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  17. Your comments wake up my thinking this morning. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  18. Excellent post (as always)!Thank you very much :)

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  19. Nice. Have you read Victor Frankel's "Man Search for Meaning"?

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  20. my first thoughts when I read this is it depends on where and what situation the humans are in. it takes different human traits for different situations. as in where we live. are we human where all the creature comforts are gone or where they are all we need, is someone beating us or loving us, it is hard to be human when things are bad. hardship can bring out the best in some and the worst in others. one thing we all share is we are born and then we die and it is up to us what comes between MOST of the time. that right can be taken from us in a flash... most humans I know are not searching for meaning at all, just living and praying and hoping. we should be looking for meaning but we do not.

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  21. Beautiful and inspiring post, as always!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  22. Thanks a lot for the interesting post! Have a nice day)

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  23. This made me delve more deeply into inquiries/ponderings...things I'm grappling with. Gratitude for that. Our internal light never fades. How awesome that is!

    Be well, Blogoratti.

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  24. Having friends! But I wrote a blog about this recently x

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  25. You have well contributed to this conversation that is the oldest, and only one that really matter

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  26. To sum it up, humans are complex creatures that need to nurture their mind, body and spirit to feel fully alive.

    and yes, we need to love a little more as that positive energy vibrates outward into the world and universe creating a sense of light and inner peace.

    Peace, love and light...

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    1. A pretty nice summary and I agree completely with. Nurturing the mind, body and spirit is everything. Thanks for that and nice of you to drop by.

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  27. Very inspiiring. How about we are spiritual beings having a human experience? Virtually yours.

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  28. I'm never sure what it means to be human. I like John's answer that friendship differentiates us from the animals

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  29. I enjoyed your very thought provoking post. Thank you!

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  30. We take in more love than we give out? Not me.

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  31. I think I go with Liz A... Giving makes both parties happy.

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  32. Hi Blogoratti :) I think the concept of being human is very subjective. I personally don't see humanity in the same way. For me, being human is really to feel. I strive to feel love and positivity and gratitude, but I also feel the negative stuff as we all do. I don't think being human is reaching out to others and forming relationships necessarily. I think it's, as you say, having the freedom to choose your own path. My path doesn't include anyone other than my soul mate and my fur family. I used to think it necessary to be part of society and to have friends and a social circle. That only made me feel less of a human, so I switched it up and I've never been happier.

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    1. That's a great understanding, being able to come to point where you know what path to take, and what works for you, separating reality from fiction and great that you worked it all out. Greetings!

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  33. This is a very inspiring post~ Thanks for share
    I am glad to be human
    xx

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  34. I feel related to all LIVING BEINGS on this planet .
    I fell being human is blessing!

    For which gratitude is most important to pay back,

    to express my gratitude i feel responsible for all around me , not only people who are my family or friends but all i find around me in this whole world .
    when i pick up my hands to PRAY ,unconsciously come to my mind all those whom i have never seen before and will not see ever though , may be they exist on other planets ,still i feel related to them ,feel responsible for them.
    i pray God to make my coming generations humble and harmless for humanity .
    make them to be nice and helpful with others and live like TRUE MEN OF GOD

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  35. Beautifully written and really interesting too! - Tasha

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  36. As usual amazing post! Thanks a lot for sharing)

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  37. Hello Blogoratti, Your blog is one of a very few I’ve found that is full of wisdom and your posts leave me feeling encouraged as a human. I send you sincere thanks for that and also for your kind comments on my blog.

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  38. Afraid that we may have chosen "writings" from the "wrong" people to Learn from...
    Seems that we have a headful of Someone who's Dreadful...

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  39. Thought provoking post indeed, Mr B ... g=Guess you are not married to any him/ her ... so this all is easy to say ... Anyway ... Love, cat.

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  40. I really enjoyed reading this.
    To be human is to be able to feel, to love, to be compassionate, to strive, to seek,
    to fall, to rise after the fall, to ......I could go on and on. You totally nailed this post with the xtics of being human.

    Well done!

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