Time

There is nothing more precious than time in a mortal existence. Nothing.

The span of a life is ultimately not negotiable. It is finite. Extending human life has become the preoccupation of the medical establishment. This has improved the general human condition, as more functional and skilled people, especially in the sciences, are able to expand and  transmit their knowledge for longer periods. Luddite resentment of the cost of health research and care is counterproductive to the progress of the human species and the maintenance of the viable human environment on Earth.

Learning to appreciate the preciousness of time was key to my development as a humanist. Looking at every human being I meet through the lens of our shared mortality melts away the trappings of gender, age, race and culture. I do not believe that "We are one." I do believe we all share the essential insecurity and pain of living a mortal existence. I believe that education and exploration through science are the remedies for that universally shared  insecurity and pain. Focusing on helping one another to transcend that insecurity and pain could be the key to peace and joy on this planet.