We as Humans

Forty Two.

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy says that the meaning of life is 42. When everyone one is upset with this answer they present the subsequent idea, what does the question, "what is the meaning of life?" really ask? Then the universe stumbles. We ask this question so often but we don't have a clear concept of what we're asking. "What is the meaning?" and "why are we here?" are two different questions. What exactly do we mean when we ask what the meaning of life is? Do we mean life as in from us to bacteria or life as in the memories and sentimental meaning of "life" we hold today? The meaning of life could very well be 42 since we're not aware of the question. Though my 42 year old mother disagrees. She says if this is the meaning than its not worth asking. And maybe it isn't. Maybe there just is no meaning. We weren't meant for anything and there is no deeper meaning to living. Maybe we just happened to exist and now here we are, questioning something that's pointless in the first place. I've come to the conclusion that somewhere in conscious thought we've just come to the assumption that there is purpose and after life and meaning and karma because it's hard to process the idea that there couldn't be. That we aren't guaranteed these things and they are just comfort mechanisms for our consciousness.  On good days I think that the energy of humans can't just disappear when we die and that the meaning of life is roses and earl grey and the sum of all the things that make you happy and I believe that everything you create can't just add up to zero. But I am cynical and on my bad days I think it's all a lie of emotion. There is no meaning to life-not so much as 42. That when you die you rot and this idea is so disturbing we created the afterlife as a way to escape it and religion as a way to support it and create law. I think that there is nothing and no one and the product of everything I am is still zero because I am a good math student and I know that no matter how high a factor is the product is still zero if one of the factors is zero. Maybe the meaning of life isn't 42. Maybe it's nothing. Maybe it's everything. Or maybe the meaning of life is just.....zero. Maybe we have the question wrong in the first place.

I strongly regret that this is sadly, not my forty second chapter.