the Monday Musings column from that consultant bloke

As an atheist I believe that this is my one life, and that when it is over, that’s it. Lights out, gone, finito. I’m very comfortable with that.

Of course I may be wrong. If so it will be a nasty surprise to find myself in some form of afterlife. But then there is also the concept of reincarnation, that I might come back as someone, or something, else.

Does the essence of life get recycled? Over the years my, better than average, navigational skills have often drawn the thought that I might have been Vasco da Gama in a previous life. Perhaps, but I have no recollection of any such existence. If I do have to come back again I want no knowledge of this life I have now cluttering up my new stint.

I have had a decent run at living, and don’t want a second go. Yes, I could, possibly, avoid some of the stuff that I would rather not have done, but the reality is that things worked out in a way that I am fairly content with. I got to where I am because of the twists and turns along the way. Any one decision made differently would have changed the outcome. It might have been a better one, but it might not. I’m happy with the ending that I have, for half of my life has been spent with the woman that I love.

If one comes back do you know anything of your former existence? Jokes about da Gama aside, and he was lost most of the time, so any navigational skills I have didn’t come from him, I have no feeling of having been someone else. If it’s true, maybe I was an ant last time around, but my belief is that it’s a nonsense.

Coming back, and knowing that I was on a rerun of my life would be a form of purgatory. Perhaps I am wrong, and maybe that’s the hell that I deserve to go to? Time will tell, but I will not be around to let you know, or at least, I hope not,