I was talking to a group of secondary school students recently, in one of the more posh schools in Lagos. I began with a question: “How many of you would rather not be in school?”
Maybe half the class raised their hands. (If we’d had parents there, I’m guessing at least that many would have been shocked.)
I followed up with: “Imagine you’re given 2 pills, yeah? Like in The Matrix. Take pill #1 and you’re destined to a life path packed full of fun; take pill #2 and your life is guaranteed to be filled with meaning. You can take only one pill, and once you pick, you can’t change your mind – or your fate. Which would you pick?”
Most of the kids picked pill #2.
It was the reason for their choices, however, that I found really striking. One kid pointed out, “You get tired of fun.” I agreed with her, pointing out how I – and kids to this day, including them – get bored stiff halfway through holidays just mere weeks long.
Others had a worried look as they considered the two options. They evidently hadn’t thought of it that way before, and I imagined them thinking, “Do I really want to miss out on fun for life?” before finally settling for pill #2.
Some chose pill #1, of course. But not as many as I might have expected.
(I should mention that I pointed out at the end that the question was a bit of a trick one – as they might have observed, reality isn’t quite that simple. But sometimes you need to oversimplify reality to get its core. More on that in a future post.)
How about you? What pill would you take – and more importantly, why?
Be heard – leave a comment!
You just read Which Would You Pick: A Life of Meaning or a Life of Fun? on Tambaya! If you liked it, you can use the buttons below to share this post with your friends.
Plus, did you know you can have my posts delivered to your email inbox? Just click on the “Follow” tab on the bottom right of your screen. You can also subscribe via RSS, Twitter and Facebook (on NetworkedBlogs). You can even follow from Tambaya’s Facebook Page!
Tambaya! 
A life of meaning, meaning? A search for meaning or knowing the meaning? Fun sounds less complicated.
LikeLike
Meaning as in meaningful life, however you define that. Yes, fun would be easier, I agree. But would it be more satisfying? (Of course, it’s a trick question, but let’s just imagine that was the case.)
LikeLike
My definition of fun is actually those simple things in life that help me understand the meaning of life and give my life meaning. I think the most important thing [for me anyway] is to be perceptive enough to grasp what the Universe is communicating to us when we wake, bathe, laugh, walk in the rain, get that biz idea, eat, etc. Basically at all times. But if u were to put it as a or b then i will definitely pick a life of meaning. Great post!
LikeLike
So, for you, Seth, fun is synonymous with meaning. Smart. 🙂
LikeLike
Would have loved to break the pis into half&have a piece of both!..kiddin..but hey who says that a life with meaning doesn’t come with it s own share of fun. It definately with be all the time ,else it may become boring as said in ur post..but it sure does spicen things up
LikeLike
If you break the pills, remember to share, will you, lol! Meaning and fun probably do go together, though — like salt and pepper, perhaps? (To use your spice metaphor!)
LikeLike