A lot of big, tragic and important things have happened to this wonderful country of ours since April 2014. None of which I have covered. I was too busy writing about hungover parenting, ancient philosophy and my dog Colin.
Out of the 536 columns I have written, 27 were about that guy. Far too few. He is such a good boy, he deserves an article a week.
Today is the end of an era for me, and whenever these final events pop up in our lives, we can’t help but think about the ultimate end.
Everything we do, we will one day do for the last time. That’s why you have to enjoy things while they are around. It’s not just big events like leaving a job, house or loved one either. Whatever moment you happen to be in now, you will never get it back, and you don’t know how many more you have.
Everything we do in life, from eating pizza to spending time with the people we love, to driving, writing, drinking or breathing, we will one day experience for the final time. It might happen tomorrow. This can be either a depressing or an inspiring thought, depending on how you look at it.
A few years back in this column, I interviewed professor of philosophy William B Irvine, of Wright State University, Ohio, on this very topic. He put it this way on a Zoom call: “Recognition of the impermanence of everything in life can invest the things we do with a significance and intensity that would otherwise be absent. The only way we can be truly alive is if we make it our business periodically to entertain thoughts of the end.”
Today’s column is very meaningful to me because it is my last. Like the last night with a lover before she goes overseas. And just like a lover, there have been some half-arsed efforts put in from me over the years. Last week, for example, I spent 750 words moaning about how bad my cricket team is. But the truth is that any of my columns could have been the final. If I had reminded myself every week for the past 10 years that the end is inevitable, I may have been more grateful for having a column and appreciated writing them all as much as I am this one.
While everything we do could have more meaning with a focus on finitude, some things are inherently more worthwhile than others. There is no doubt my column “The pros and cons of wearing Speedos” from November 2022 was less meaningful than most things in this world. That was a waste of everyone’s time. So, if we only have so much time, how do we pick the best things to do?
Well, Oliver Burkeman, the author of Four Thousand Weeks – Time Management For Mortals, suggested this to me in a 2022 column: “Ask yourself, does this choice enlarge me? You usually know on some unspoken level if it does. That’s a good way to distinguish between options.”
With that in mind, I don’t feel great about my 2018 article on “New Zealand’s best hole”. That didn’t enlarge anyone.
There will be people reading this column right now who have loved my writing in the Herald and are sad to see it end. Others will have hated it and are glad to see me go. Many won’t have any opinion at all. But for those in the first camp, I have good news. I have a book coming out on May 28 called A Life Less Punishing – 13 Ways To Love The Life You Got (Allen and Unwin Book Publishers). It’s a deep dive into the history, philosophy and science of not wasting our time lost in anger, loneliness, humiliation, stress, fear, boredom and all the other ways we find to not enjoy perfectly good lives. It’s available for pre-order right now (google it if you’re interested).
A Life Less Punishing took me two years to write and is equivalent in words to 100 of these columns. Which would be a complete nightmare for those in the hate camp, but as I say, great news for those who want more.
Anyway, thanks to the Herald for having me, thanks to the lovely people who make an effort to say nice things to me about my column nearly every day and thanks to the universe for every single second we get.
Bless!
Brain Teaser for Your IQ Test: Can you spot the mistake in this family’s dining table picture in 11 seconds?
The error in this family’s dining room photo can only be seen by those with a high IQ in 11 seconds! Take a test on your ability to observe today!
In just 11 seconds, identify the error in this family’s dining room photo!
Brain teasers are puzzles or tasks that require you to think critically and engage your mind in an enjoyable way. They are similar to mini-games that put your creativity, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities to the test.
Brain teasers are popular because they act as mental exercises. They keep you intelligent and incisive by forcing you to think creatively.
In these brainteasers, the player must identify the error in a picture.
All ages may solve these problems. These puzzles are enjoyable to all.
We have therefore presented you with a difficult brainteaser.
Brain Teaser: Identify the error!
A family is seated at the dining table in the image above. On the dinner table are spoons, plates, and a bird. Thus, you have eleven seconds to locate the error in this image!
Tip: Pay close attention to every area of this image.
These puzzles are enjoyable and difficult.
Thus, the time to find the error has begun!
Need to Try:
Did you see the error?
These kinds of puzzles test your vision and are difficult for the individual.
For these puzzles to work at their best, you must identify the error without viewing the answer.
Have you identified the error?
Move quickly! There are only 11 seconds remaining.
Time is of the essence!
TICK
TONIGHT…
TICK
The time is up!
Best wishes! Thanks those who have identified the error.
If you are still unable to see it, scroll up once more, examine the image closely, and locate the error without using a timer.
Are you anticipating this puzzle’s solution?
So, here is how this puzzle gets solved.
Solution:
The two sides of the glasses are not the same. There is an oval shape on one side and a rectangular shape on the other.
Wishful! You seemed to like this brainteaser.
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