[cutchin]

This story has stuck with me for years. Any time I've over-promised what I could deliver or stand to miss a deadline or am otherwise stressed out by situations of my own creation it comes back to me.

This website often focuses on ambition and furiously chasing one's dreams, but it's nice to have reminders that in the end, it's the small comforts and relationships we've built that really matter.

[perfect_kiss]

What's fun enough, Tolstoy has another story, "What Men Live By", which was usually published alongside "How Much Land",

and says just the same things about comforts, relationships, and generally love, which really matter:

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/6157/6157-h/6157-h.htm#link2...

[abyssin]

Thanks for sharing this story! I just finished reading it and it's a good reminder that we live together and depend on each other's help and support.

[newnewpdro]

> in the end, it's the small comforts and relationships we've built that really matter.

Or maybe none of that matters at all, since we all die alone one way or another, it's the journey and not the destination. Life is to be lived, experienced, and one could argue dying abruptly in aggressive pursuit of your dreams is ideal.

[awb]

Not sure why you're being downvoted. It's a very valid point.

There's a common saying that you can't take your stuff with you when you die, but you can't take your memories or relationships either.

There's plenty of reasons to cultivate relationships in the present moment without justifying it by anticipating regret on your deathbed if you don't.

And there's plenty of reasons to spend this life enjoying time with yourself.

There are lessons you can learn only in deep relationships and lessons you can learn only through extended time by yourself.

I wouldn't be prepared to call a life lived in isolation and in harmony with nature a regretful life at all.

[throwno]

>There's a common saying that you can't take your stuff with you when you die, but you can't take your memories or relationships either.

The only thing of value we leave behind is our artistic creations. Whatever Javascript adware or trendy C replacement you're hacking on will be obsolete before you finish decomposing. All your "experiential purchases" like travel, relationships, etc. will be gone in a flash. The only thing left will be the art you created. The art you created is of course not entirely your own, it's essentially a restatement of the world cultural traditions, but through the lens of your life experience in a way that only you could create.

[nsxwolf]

And all that art will eventually be gone and forgotten too, so it is ultimately as meaningless as the other things, even if it manages to last a trillion years longer.

[osswid]

Why is it important to leave something behind?

[brianwawok]

You forgot the children you raised. Hopefully they will do good stuff and maybe have their own children.

[ycombinete]

how do you know that they're being downvoted? I see this comment all the time on HN, but there is no visible karma on comments, and only a flag option, no downvotes?

[throwaway8941]

https://github.com/minimaxir/hacker-news-undocumented#downvo...

[grzm]

Downvotes are available to members with 500+ karma.

[ycombinete]

ah, thanks!

[projektir]

Sounds a lot like optimistic nihilism. Not my philosophy of choice but certainly not the worst one, either. :)