it's just a (game)

in my view, life is often like the video game "Astroids."

In both life and astroids, it is wise not to concern yourself with the large undertakings until you're sure you can handle the smaller responsibilities it will break up into. It is also adventagous to attack one boulder at a time, as not to get too overwhelmed with tiny rocks. Large astroids are easier to see and shoot than smaller ones... but that might just apply to the game.

Inevitably, right when you think you have everything under control, there's bound to be a UFO who comes along seemingly with the sole purpose of making your adventures more difficult. Yet UFO's hold high point values, and we are stronger after defeating them. These people (or aliens) seem to have no problem navigating through our troubles just to piss us off (while emitting the most annoying sound ever conceived).

Finally, it doesn't end until you die. The struggle of irritating UFO's and wavering death rocks continue throughout life. At no point do you "get there," or "beat the game." One can only hope to achieve a high score, which could be translated into living a good life, whatever that means for you. We're all better off once we accept that one day, we too will die. At least in "Astroids" you get a second (and third) chance.

now, for a more insightful and enlightening view on life and humanity: the late (and great) bill hicks

"The world is like a ride at an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it, you think it's real, because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round and it has thrills and chills and it's very brightly colored and it's very loud. And it's fun, for a while.

Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: 'Is this real? Or is this just a ride?' And other people have remembered, and they come back to us and they say 'Hey! Don't worry, don't be afraid - ever - because... this is just a ride.' And we kill those people.

'Shut him up! We have a lot invested in this ride! Shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry; look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real.'

It's just a ride. But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that - ever notice that? - and we let the demons run amok. But it doesn't matter, because... it's just a ride, and we can change it any time we want. It's only a choice. No effort. No worry. No job. No savings and money. Just a choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your door, buy bigger guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one.

Here's what we can do to change the world, right now, into a better ride. Take all that money we spend on weapons and defense each year and, instead, spend it feeding, clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would do many times over - not one human being excluded - and we can explore space together, both inner and outer, forever. In peace."