I believe that if you don't derive a deep sense of purpose from

The words of Srikumar Rao strike like a clarion call to the weary soul: “I believe that if you don’t derive a deep sense of purpose from what you do, if you don’t come radiantly alive several times a day, if you don’t feel deeply grateful at the tremendous good fortune that has been bestowed on you, then you are wasting your life. And life is too short to waste.” Here we are reminded that existence is not measured merely by years, nor by tasks accomplished, but by the fire of meaning that animates the heart. To live without purpose, without gratitude, without joy, is to breathe but not to truly live.

The ancients knew this truth well. They taught that man must not wander aimlessly, like a shadow blown by the wind, but must anchor himself in purpose. The Stoics spoke of aligning one’s life with virtue, of laboring not for fleeting pleasures but for the good of the soul. The prophets spoke of life as a stewardship, a sacred trust too brief to squander. Rao echoes their voices across centuries, reminding us that each day is a gift, and to live it without meaning is to commit a silent betrayal against ourselves and against the Source of life.

To be radiantly alive is not to seek constant amusement or endless novelty. It is to awaken, even in small moments, to the wonder of being alive. The laughter of a child, the fragrance of rain, the satisfaction of work done well—these are the sparks that light the soul. Without them, life becomes gray and mechanical, a cycle of tasks devoid of spirit. Rao calls us to awaken often, to let gratitude turn the ordinary into sacred fire, to let joy pierce through the monotony like the sun through clouds.

Consider the life of Viktor Frankl, survivor of the Holocaust. Surrounded by suffering and death, he discovered that man can endure almost anything if he clings to purpose. In the camps, those who found meaning—even in pain, even in hope for a better tomorrow—were the ones who endured. Frankl emerged from the ashes to teach that life is never void of meaning, that even in the harshest circumstances, one can choose to be grateful for a breath, for a memory, for a chance to serve. His life embodied Rao’s teaching: that without purpose and gratitude, life collapses; with them, even despair becomes fertile ground for hope.

The warning is clear: life is too short to waste. Our days are numbered, and no man knows when his last dawn will rise. To drift through them without passion, without thanksgiving, without recognition of the good that surrounds us, is to squander treasures beyond price. Many chase wealth, power, or acclaim, but these, without gratitude and meaning, become ashes in the mouth. Better a humble life lived with purpose and joy than a grand throne built on emptiness.

What, then, is the lesson for us? It is to live intentionally. To seek work and labor that aligns with the deepest callings of our soul. To awaken each day with the question: What gives my life meaning today? To look often around us, and not with eyes clouded by complaint, but with hearts ready to see good fortune even in the simplest gifts. And above all, to give thanks—not once a year, not once a week, but continually, until gratitude itself becomes the air we breathe.

Practically, let each one of us adopt a rhythm of reflection. Begin the morning by naming aloud your purpose for the day. At midday, pause to notice moments that made you radiantly alive. In the evening, write down three blessings for which you are grateful. And ask yourself often: Am I wasting this brief and precious life? Or am I filling it with meaning, joy, and thanksgiving? By such practices, we learn not merely to exist, but to live fully.

Thus, Rao’s wisdom stands as a torch for the generations: to live with purpose, to awaken with gratitude, to rejoice in good fortune, and to remember always that life is too short to waste. Embrace this path, and your days will not slip away unnoticed, but will burn with light, leaving a trail of meaning that endures beyond your years.