What’s life after all? People may wonder about its myriad answers. They may even get puzzled if they start asking the same question of every individual they come across. If we refer to the dictionary, it will come up with its literal meaning — the manner of living or period from birth to death or vitality or conscious existence etc., etc.

However, a friend of mine comes up with an interesting explanation. According to him, life is a cigarette, which begins with flashes and ends with ashes. But this definition is not enough. If you feel and observe life carefully then you will be surprised to find that it has various shapes and forms. I would say that life is a boon, which we should accept gracefully.

In the long run we may define it as a drama that we are supposed to enact. It’s a mystery; we have to step forward to unfold it. It is even a tragedy, which we are unable to accept. More often, it seems to be a joy that we must spread all around. It is a fact, try digesting it.

Still, for some people life may be full of sorrows, which they have to overcome. For some it may seem to be like the beauty of a rose while to others it may be like the prickly thorn of the same rose. But for me life is an opportunity, so we must utilise it properly. In fact, it is a cycle which one is compelled to ride.

It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that life is a beautiful combination of contentment and sorrow. One has to come across many ups and downs in life.

Never mind, it can be overcome with calm and determination.

Life is like a roller coaster ride, which is very exciting at the beginning, but at

the end, just as the roller coaster stops, life too ceases forever. That’s the heart-breaking part of life and the bitter truth.

So many of these definitions and views on life are of course not meant to disturb your mental balance. Do realise and keep in mind that life is an adventure — just dare it!

The person who is happy through thick and thin has, in fact, understood the meaning of life in its totality and can be considered to be living a hundred per cent life. The main principle of life is: “Live and let live.” Life is indeed a combination of ‘l-love, i-imagine, f-forgive, and e-exercise’.