Suicide: Enhancing the Experience of Life

Imagine that you are a flabby teenager. You do not get out the house much, sitting all day watching TV, or playing games with your computer. Your mother is pretty upset and decides to take action. Surprise! You have been enrolled to play in an amateur soccer team! You resist, but this time your mother is not giving up...

You come to play. Other players are whizzing up and down the court, passing the ball and scoring goals. You, on the other hand, touch the ball only if it happens to come nearby, and then you kick it aimlessly. But most of the time you just watch.

No, this is not an essay about the game of soccer. I am talking about a different game: your life. You did not choose to play it, but here you are. Now ask yourself: are you playing the game or are you watching from the sidelines?

Your teammates are upset with you. They lose games because of you. "We understand you were forced to play. But while you are here, why not have fun, like us?". And they are right. However, there is a difference between the flabby teenager and his teammates. The difference is choice. And with choice comes responsibility.

The teammates have chosen to play soccer, and this is why they play with such enthusiasm. They have chosen to play on the team, and with that choice comes responsibility for their actions. They have chosen to play, and they want to play well. They understand that if they make mistakes they will have to offer explanations, not only to their teammates, but to themselves. They want to learn from their mistakes so as not to repeat them. Then they will play better.

The flabby teenager did not choose to play, so he does not feel he has to make an effort. "Why should I run up and down the playing field? I don't even want to play soccer...". If he makes a mistake he does not feel the need to explain himself beyond the well known fact that he does not want to play. He is not even interested in fixing his own mistakes. He is not responsible for his actions.

The game of life is full of flabby teenagers. Most people are not living life to the fullest. Rather, they are watching from the sidelines, just surviving from day to day. We are thrust into the game of life without being asked if we want to. This does not mean that most people want to exit the game, however, I believe that they are not playing the game as hard as they could.

Most people see the option of exiting only in the context of its affect on people who choose to do so. However, the option need not be taken in order to have a great impact. Even people who have never really given much thought to exiting, may find that the mere existence of the option enhances the experience of life, simply by providing choice, and a renewed sense of responsibility for ones own life.

Note that I am not talking about suicide in theoretical terms. I am talking about a future where it may be a realistic, tangible option. Only a real option will allow real choice. A choice which means that not a moment of your life will be forced upon you. Every second of your life will be your choice, and thus, your responsibility. Being responsible for your participation in the game of life means that you are not just going to watch your life go by.

You are going to play it.