Living a Good Life - a dilogue inspired by Plato

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My grandfather always reminded me a stature of an ancient Greek philosopher only without a long beard. His eyes are always sparkling with wisdom. It seems like he has his own theory to everything. I was always his audience even though sometimes it felt like he wouldn’t need one at all. Family and friends call him “The Philosopher”. Not only for his long drinking toasts, which usually would depart from the main point to cover a whole range of topics, but also for his stubborn believe in what he says which often no one else agrees to. Me: Grandpa you have lived a good life! Grandpa: What do you mean my son? Me: What I mean?! I mean your life; your past and your present. You were born in a little village in Georgia. You lived through two wars and two social regimes. You immigrated first to Russia and then to United States. You have a loving wife, children and grandchildren. You live in prosperity. You have so much experience behind your back, so much wisdom. You have lived a LIFE! Grandpa: Are you referring to a good life by means of a happy ending to it? Otherwise, I can hardly see how most of what you said can be defined as a good life. Me: I believe life is a journey, which is full of obstacles and opportunities. A man must go through life to become prosper and wealthy. I believe that if you are facing obstacles you are meant to overcome them just as you are meant to take advantage of opportunities life lays out for you. If you manage to complete the entire journey, you’ve lived a good life! Grandpa: So, you do mean that a good life is nothing more but a “happy ending” to it! Well, my son when you will be my age, and it will happen before you know, you will desire to continue your life just as much as you wish to continue it now. Or do you think that only dead people can judge their life and consider it good or bad? Answer me my son! As wise men say:

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