Doing justice to the improbable gift of being alive
“…one wants to live in a way that at least begins to do justice to [existence]…”
—Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
A Call Beyond Gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful starting point, but Rebecca Goldstein pushes us further. She reminds us that awareness of life’s gift comes with a responsibility: to live in a way that honors it. Not perfectly. Not flawlessly. But earnestly. To live in such a way that we can say, I did not waste what I was given.
Too often, we slip into autopilot. We forget the rarity of existence. We let obligations, routines, or anxieties set the tone of our days. But Goldstein’s line urges a reframe: life is not just something to appreciate—it’s something to be lived with integrity, with vigor, with respect for its improbability.
What Does It Mean to Do Justice to Life?
It doesn’t mean achieving everything. It doesn’t mean racking up trophies or accolades. To do justice to existence is simpler and deeper. It might mean:
- Paying attention to beauty, even in small doses.
- Showing kindness when it costs you nothing.
- Choosing pursuits that spark fascination, not just obligation.
- Allowing yourself to create, to fail, to learn, and to keep going.
Doing justice isn’t about being spectacular. It’s about living awake—alive to your time, your chances, and your finite window.
Against Squandered Time
The alternative is to squander existence, to let days blur together under the anesthetic of familiarity. That is the true injustice to life: not failure, not imperfection, but numbness. Pretending time is infinite, when it is not.
To honor life is to resist numbness. To notice. To respond. To risk. To make choices that align, not with what others demand of you, but with what you know makes existence worth savoring.
A Daily Question
Each morning, ask: How can I live today in a way that does justice to existence? The answer will look different each day. Some days it may mean tackling hard work. Other days it may mean rest. But the question itself keeps you from drifting, keeps you awake to your improbable chance to be here at all.
Final Thought
Life’s brevity can feel like a curse. But when reframed, it’s an invitation. Goldstein’s words call us to live—not just gratefully, but responsibly. Not in fear, but in reverence.
To do justice to existence doesn’t mean to be perfect. It means to be present. To engage. To act with the awareness that this—this moment, this life—is not owed, but offered.
