Why is life so great?

Food

We have entire cultural traditions and scientific practices dedicated to the sensory event that is shoving food into our mouths. Most people will go their entire lives knowing only a small subset of humanity's culinary expression.

Love

We are wired to grow unreasonably, irrationally, irretrievably attached to another person. And sometimes, when you're very lucky, the attachment is mutually felt, growing ever deeper and more meaningful. Love enriches so many moments, so many phases of life. It lays the foundations for...

Family

We can create entire human lives, and in doing so, create complex webs of love, support, encouragement and growth. From small families of three to large, sprawling, multigenerational dynasties, the family is such a special gift we can enjoy.

Sex

Speaking of gifts – we're all imbued with the capacity for sharing transcendent biological ecstasy with our fellow humans. Much like food, the kinds of joy here are uncountable, both in terms of the different sorts of partners one can find and in the varying activities to be tried.

Earth

We're blessed with a beautiful planet whose complete exploration is nearly impossible for any one human being. Earth bursts with life and beauties that are as numerous as they are diverse.

Space

Beyond our own world lies an entire universe whose secrets will take eons to fully plumb. And yet, each and every one of us is made from materials forged in a cosmic furnace. We are the universe waking up and asking itself questions.

The Mind

We're stocked with a peculiar, imperfect but altogether wonderful computer. For all its frailties and failings, the mind has created great works of beauty, inspired entire generations to demand justice, brought scourges of our biology to an end.