There comes a time in life when we must pause and ask ourselves: Are we truly living the life we want, or just the one we think we should live?
Yesterday, during a classroom discussion about what it means to live a “quality life,” one of my students curiously asked, “Sir, how can we know that we are living a quality life?” Before I could respond, another student confidently answered, “It’s simple! When we get rich and can buy everything we want, that means we’re living a quality life.” A third student immediately followed up, “So, does that mean being rich and having lots of money leads to a quality life?”
Their innocent but thought-provoking exchange left me reflecting deeply. If 12- and 13-year-olds are already anxious about what defines a good life, then as adults, do we ever stop to think about the same question? Have we limited our life goals to simply earning money and living comfortably? Or is there something beyond convenience, something that gives meaning to both our living and our dying?
The Story of Claire Wineland: A Life That Redefined Happiness
I was reminded of a young woman named Claire Lucia Wineland, who passed away on September 2, 2018, at just 21 years old — a week after a lung transplant. Claire was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that severely affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. She spent most of her life in hospitals, connected to machines that helped her breathe.
And yet, despite all this, Claire became an activist, author, TEDx speaker, and social media inspiration. In one of her TEDx talks in 2017, she beautifully said: “Life isn’t just about being happy… It’s about what you’re making of your life and whether you can find great pride in who you are and what you’ve given.”
Those words still echo in my mind. Claire’s message was simple yet powerful: Life is not measured by what we get, but by what we give.
What Claire’s Life Teaches Us
Claire’s journey reminds us that life’s value doesn’t depend on how long we live, but how deeply we live. Despite her physical struggles, she radiated joy, purpose, and love. Her story teaches us to stop waiting for the perfect moment, to start appreciating the one we have.
She once said, “Death is inevitable. Living a life we can be proud of is something we can control.” That statement is both humbling and empowering. It urges us to focus less on what we lack and more on what we can offer. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or student, we all have the power to shape our lives with meaning.
A Reflection for Parents and Families
As parents, we often find ourselves caught in the same trap we warn our children about. We push them to “do well,” “get good grades,” and “secure their future,” often equating success with comfort and financial security. While these goals are important, they should not come at the cost of curiosity, kindness, and personal fulfilment.
When children hear adults constantly measuring life through material success, they internalise those values. They begin to think that a “quality life” means a luxurious one. But when they see us helping others, expressing gratitude, or pursuing our passions with honesty, they learn that meaning matters more than money.
Maybe that’s what we all need to revisit — our own definition of a quality life. Is it about collecting things, or about creating moments that bring peace and pride?
Taking a Pause
Life moves fast, sometimes too fast for reflection. Between work, parenting, and everyday chaos, we rarely stop to ask:
- What kind of life am I really living?
- Is it one that brings me peace and fulfilment?
- If not, what small change can I make today?
These are not easy questions, but they are essential ones. Our lives, and the lives of those we love, can change in an instant. The real challenge is to live in a way that, even if tomorrow never comes, we can still say — I lived well.
A Thought to Leave You With
Take a few minutes today, maybe after dinner, during a quiet walk, or before you sleep, and ask yourself: What kind of life do I want to live?
Is it one that you’ll be proud to look back on? When my students asked that same question yesterday, their discussion didn’t end with answers; it ended with curiosity. And maybe that’s the point. To live a meaningful life, we don’t need all the answers; we just need to keep asking the right questions.
Because sometimes, the quality of our life depends on the quality of our questions.
Good luck — and may you find the kind of life that truly makes you proud. 🌿