What is your definition of life?

Question

What characteristics are necessary for a thing to be alive? Can a non material soul be alive by your characteristics?

Answer 1

To live in life is already a gift.

What I know about my life is to live with what I know I want to be in this world.

Answer 2

All that can die.

Answer 3

Being conscious and self aware, although I'm sure many things aren't self aware and are considered alive.

I need a better definition.

Answer 4

I think only in death would we fully understand life. And since there is supposedly nothing after you die, this question shall never have a definite answer.

Answer 5

Erwin Schroedinger provided the authoritative scientific definition of life in 1946.  His answer is good enough for me.  

(Follow the link to see his criteria)