viscousmemories

If I had to sum up my life philosophy in a paragraph, it would look something like this:

I am eventually going to die. After I die, the fact that I ever existed will be irrelevant to me. Therefore, what I do while alive is unimportant except in whether or not it contributes to my current happiness.

The problem is that some things which make me happy immediately ultimately make me less happy. For example, I am happy that I am able to go to the bar and get drunk tonight, but I will in turn blow all my money. As a result, I will be unhappy tomorrow because I have blown all my money and therefore can't go to the bar and get drunk.

Any thoughts?

ZiprHead

You drink too much.

viscousmemories

Okay, I should've been more specific:

Any thoughts which aren't stating the obvious?

captainpabst

Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die, eh?

Sometimes I feel that way. I guess I place value on my relationships with other people. If one's life is lived well, maybe others will be moved. Maybe others will remember. Maybe it will matter to somebody. Sounds kind of grim in a way, but oh well.

Cheers!

Captn Kidd

To me, it seems that the word "current" in there is the source of the problem. It means you totally discount any consequences of current actions and any investment in the future. I would agree with the opening of your post except that I'd drop the word "current" and leave it as my decision. Is the benefit of deferred gratification worth the delay? Are the negative consequences of my actions worth the short-term gain?

GunnerJ

Hasta la vista.

admice

We all have to learn how to make good choices for ourselves and others.

It may become irrelevant to YOU, but could be meaningful and important to those you affect while you live. This is no small thing.

Since there is no god, isn't it wonderful and amazing what people have done and do on their own?

my 2 cents
Admice

Buddrow_Wilson

Its near impossible to live successfully with absolutely no regard to the future. But you could take it to an extreme to where you are constantly disregarding or devalueing your current emotional state in an attempt to create a buffer for your future self. Think of the stories we here about people dying in squalor only to discover a fortune they had all along.
In your case, you seem to only regret not being able to do today the exact same thing you did last night. In that instance you might as well be resigned to the fact that you are going to blow your money when you have it. Don't stress about partying last night, look forward to partying next week.
Indeed, when life is over, for us anyway, it becomes for nothing. But some take comfort in extending self to a part of society as a whole. Perhaps we leave a part of ourselves interwoven into the fabric.
Maybe another thing to consider: If one does live to reach an old age, what would be the sweetest recollections? Those nights blowing $2k on coke and women? For some, perhaps...

faustuz

So? Why should I care? What difference does it make if it’s a small thing or a big thing?

[note: devil’s advocate hat on]

Keith Russell

Greetings:

You need to set a long-term goal that will bring happiness, before you die, but far enough into the future that you won't achieve it too soon, and be bored thereafter.

If your short-term pleasures seem to conflict with your long-term happiness, you should choose the actions which contribute to the long-term.

Also, if your goal is open-ended, I think that's a good thing.

My goal is to continually improve...

Keith.