Thinking about the meaning of life and what constitutes a good life is always fascinating.
Though for me the word "great" has some negative connotations, something like "superior" to others. I know, that's not what you mean.
A good life, the way I see it, is one that isn't just lived for oneself. It's a life of giving and receiving, a life of learning and teaching, a life lived between memories (the past), action (the present) and hope (the future), a life in tune with oneself and with those around...
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To me, great simply means, something of strong proportion, or magnitude. I see it as neither good nor bad; it is to me, a unit of measurement.
I agree with what you've said. Thanks for participating in the discussion!
I believe that we can all live a great life if we choose to appreciate the blessings around us and give back what we have amassed.
To me, it is living in harmony with the universe and interacting with life in a way that gives value to our beingness.
I agree with your last statement.
But if greatness is just a neutral measurement, is it actual desirable to achieve it? What about a "great leader" who leads his people into war after war?
What about a "great hedge-fund manager" who amasses enormous wealth for himself and his investors by naked short-selling of stocks and currencies destroying viable companies and whole the economies of whole country's in the process?
Those individuals are living most certainly memorable and influential lives, while a nurse aid in a nursing home (like me) is practically invisible. But should I aspire to their "greatness", sourly regretting my own choices in life?
In my humble opinion, when all is said and done, being decent is better than being remarkable and "good" better than "great".
Or maybe that's just sour grapes, I might have been a really "great dictator"....
I think "greatness" is anything that can be defined as "great". Surely one can be 'great' or do great things in either a positive or negative context.
I think greatness can be found in even the smallest of actions - anything that makes something "considerably above the normal or average".
For example, 'giving' somebody a smile, hug, or flower can be considered deeds of greatness as they have greatly changed the situation (whatever that may have been) into one of appretiation of love.