Life, in particular the value of life, cannot be pinned down or defined—at least not with any sense of permanence. Everything we do and everything we experience will change us in some way, however subtle. Despite the futility of searching for objective truths or defining universal semantics through which such truths might be articulated, writing remains an opportunity to create change. Over time, I will attempt to convince myself that this change is the whole point of life—if not our purpose, then our prerogative. And it is incredibly easy to write, to influence, and to effect change in both ourselves and others. However, this does not mean that it is easy or even possible to control that change. Awareness of the futility in controlling the effects of our actions, despite their intent, is a key aspect of existentialist philosophy—something that has become a bit of an obsession in my own life. We may possess free will, but we must accept ambiguity and absurdity in order to make decisi...