So much to go wrong

There is too much that can go wrong in life. The sentence in itself is pessimistic, but it is one that is important to think about and periodically recollect. And the motive behind the exploration of this sentence is a realistic one, rather than a self-indulgent or a self-pitying one. There is so much that can go wrong in life. We depend upon many things to help us get through the day, ranging from our toothbrush that we use to brush our teeth, to the floor beneath our feet, to the interpersonal relationships that determine our social network.

If a connection or link becomes loose or broken, then there is a dysfunctional aspect of our life that is in need of mending, either by removing, replacing, or repairing the broken link. I think it’s human nature to treat the dependencies in our life as second nature, and to neglect thinking about the things which we rely upon.

And I think it’s fairly natural to be slightly inconsiderate for such things. After all, by the time I get to thanking my toothbrush for its 16th day for its continued functionality, the value and meaning held by the expression of gratitude has likely somewhat diminshed. So, perhaps it is through the recognition of a pattern amongst the links, as to which is strong and which is weak is a realization that enables us to be more prepared for such breakages to occur. It is why if our toothbrush unexpectedly breaks, we are not left heartbroken (for too long).

At the same time, if a strong link in our life gives way, such as by the death of a close family member, we are left distraught, perhaps because we had both learned to depend heavily on that connection, and that we had not expected that connection to give way in the same way it did.