"We know how we were born, but know not how we will die"

Human existence holds a unique certainty and an inevitable ambiguity. At birth, the story of one’s life begins with a clarity anchored in universally shared rituals and biological processes. The start of life, in all its vulnerability and hope, is often recounted through family stories, medical documents, or cultural observation; it serves as a foundational point from which individuals and societies build identity and meaning. Birth is a moment often announced, anticipated, and recorded. It invites reflection on origins and roots, allowing people to confidently trace their beginning, whether it be through the tangible evidence given by memory, documents, or the experiences handed down by those present at the moment of arrival.

The prospect of death, in contrast, is shrouded in uncertainty. While its inevitability is universally acknowledged, the specifics remain out of reach, when, where, how, and under what circumstances life will end is an enigma veiled by the limits of human knowledge. Despite all advances in science, philosophy, and spirituality, the details surrounding one’s own departure remain an unresolved question, drawing a boundary around the extent of human understanding. This lack of knowledge can evoke fear, humility, or even acceptance, underscoring the mystery that frames the end of personal consciousness.

Such a contrast between the certainty of beginnings and the uncertainty of endings mirrors life itself: a journey mapped at its outset but undefined at its close. It invites contemplation on how to live meaningfully within these parameters, recognizing both the inevitability of mortality and the freedom within its uncertainty. The awareness that life’s conclusion is indeterminate can serve as both a source of existential anxiety and a catalyst for appreciating the fleeting, unpredictable nature of existence. It also suggests the possibility of embracing the present, valuing moments for their immediacy rather than postponing fulfillment with illusions of permanence. Birth provides a starting point; death brings a conclusion whose details are unfathomable, leaving every moment in between open to choice, wonder, and meaning.