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Is life worth living? Absolutely. Being alive is a truly wonderful gift, one that I am grateful to have.

Honesty forces me to admit however, that at one time in my life I would have answered that question in the negative. Back then it seemed that everything I touched was turning to garbage, my prospects of finding a job seemed slim to nonexistent, my finances were in a mess and my marriage was rocky to say the least. Nothing seemed to be changing and I thought that the best way to change the picture was to get me out of it.

There was a loaded handgun at the end of the hallway and I seriously considered using it on myself. By the grace of God I just couldn't bring myself to do it and leave the mess for someone else to clean up.

As it turned out, the mess to be cleaned up was me. I learned that all of the negative things I mentioned were existent but the judgment that they were insurmountable was entirely mine. I was taught that what I needed to do was change my mind about what was important and while the circumstances themselves might not dramatically improve, they didn't need to in order to make me feel better.

I don't mean to imply that I did this on my own. When I was at rock bottom I was put in touch with other people who had been at rock bottom in their own lives and found a way out. Gently they led me to a path that got my head straightened out. Gently they helped me get to the point where I could help others find a path to get their own heads straightened out.

That's been over twenty five years ago and I've never stopped talking to these people even though I no longer see life as a negative force. We remind each other that where we were was the result of our own actions and our own thinking. We also remind each other that if we thought that way once we can certainly slip back into thinking that way again.

Those twenty five years have not been problem free. Loved ones have sickened and died, friends have departed and the world still doesn't do things the way I think they should be done. I've had to learn that I am basically powerless over other people, that I am not the most important person on the planet and that a lot of people don't care what my opinions are.

The good news is that I am alive today. I woke up on the right side of the grass and I know people who actually enjoy being with me. Of course life is worth living. If I wasn't alive I would have missed the incredible adventure of life on earth and of associating with some great people. I'd have never found out that making me important is the least important thing I have to do.

In the long run, what the weather is doing or what the economy is like or who got elected just aren't all that important. Experiencing the wonder that is life is the greatest gift known to mankind and we all get to do that. How did we get so fortunate?

Learn more about this author, Bill Woffington.
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