I look up to Rick because he refuses to delude himself into seeing the dystopia our species has made for itself with rose colored glasses. I respect those that prefer the unvarnished truth over happiness, as it is an exceedingly rare quality. He even openly hates himself on the merits of who he is.

I also appreciate his coping mechanism: Nihilism, because it’s based on objective fact. The sun will eventually continue to heat until all life is extinguished, the universe will suffer heat death, and billions of years before that, humanity will destroy itself, and if we somehow, beyond astronomical odds don’t, we will recklessnessly use our technology to alter ourselves in every conceivable way for every conceivable reason to the point that humanity will no longer apply.

I find peace in recognizing the futility of what everyone finds so important. That doesn’t mean I don’t or can’t enjoy the temporary beauty of it. As Rick said to his daughter trying to save a universe that didn’t want to be saved from an Evil empire that would just be replaced by another, “don’t forget to have fun.”