I believe it is man’s understanding of his mortality that spurs him to achieve. His own quest for immortality is what drives him to build a Taj Mahal, to climb Mount Everest and make a trip to Mars.

I was wondering why people do “death-defying” stunts. Again, the same quest for immortality? I do not know. Maybe all great achievements come forth to make up for man’s own weaknesses. An awareness that he’s here for a very short while. Even the simple, shy tortoise lives twice as long.

It’s this quest to leave something behind – that have spawned wars, empires, fortunes, palaces, revolutions, books, music, technological advancements, scientific inventions, Olympic gold medals, Nobel Prizes…in fact every great achievement you can think of.

A very selfish reason. Perhaps.

Isn’t that the little extra, the push, the last thrust, the finesse that differentiates great from good? This quest for immortality.

I believe it’s in the mind. That little voice telling you that you can do it. Urging you. And you just know.

I believe that makes the difference. While playing a match with an opponent who is your equal or better, you sometimes get the feeling that you are going to win. You just know it.

Especially when it’s a tie. And you are on the match-point that can clinch the game set and match, you just know that your serve is going to be so powerful that it will win the match for you. Not too surprisingly – the serve will be an ace.

The converse is also true. Sometimes you just know that you will lose. You just feel it. And it becomes true.

Who is the one who sits inside and keeps predicting what’s going to happen?

He power of the “subconscious” mind? Or is he the “God” we search for?

Or is it ones’ own knowledge of frailty and mortality that gives one that little extra power to shift gears – to move from good to great?

Is it the knowledge that there is an irreversible hourglass out there and the sands that keep trickling down will one day stop?