When we hang our important diplomas on the wall, or buy fancy cars, or dress ourselves up in fine clothes and jewelry, we seek to show the world our status and communicate our high view of ourselves. But this view sits in defiance of reality: We are embodied creatures, intensely dependent on food and water, vulnerable to disease and injury, and fragile in the face of aging. Every aspect of our daily lives offers a screaming reminder: Without this gulp of air, this piece of bread, this sip of water, you are steps away from death and decomposition.
