Life is absurd

Q As I get older and older, I find it increasingly difficult not to think that life is absurd. For example, I never asked to be born. I have no personal knowledge of my existence before I was born. But, then, I spent 25 years growing up and becoming a physician. I worked until I was sixty. Now, in retirement, while I enjoy campaigning on several different issues, I know that, in a few years’ time (I am presently 86), I am likely to be dead, and then I will return to the ‘existence’ of which I have no certain knowledge.

How do I explain this absurdity to my descendants? MI, Surrey A Don’t let on you’re baffled. Confuse the young by giving gnomic smiles and exuding a slightly unreal serenity, implying great wisdom. All too soon, they will discover for themselves that life is completely meaningless and that all we can do is totter on to the best of our ability until we drop. Why? Who knows.

Please email me your problems at problempage@theoldie.co.uk. I will answer every email that comes in – and let me know if you would like your dilemma to be confidential.