Life's progression from birth to death is not a mere succession of moments. Real life refers to life in the real world. "Real life" can be a controversial term, as it can serve as value judgement to describe "productive" activities, like work and the support of one's family, in contrast to "unproductive" leisure activities.
Personal life (or everyday life or human existence) is the course of an individuals life. Personal values evolve from circumstances that can change over time and are implicitly related to choice. Today, many people have come to think of their personal lives as separate from their work. Work and recreation are distinct. One is either at work working or not, and the transition is abrupt. Employees have certain hours they are bound to work, and work during recreational time is rare. This may be related to work choices, regulations and the demand for increased efficiency, both at work and at home. The common phrase "Work hard, play hard" illustrates this mindset. There is a growing trend, however, toward living more holistically and minimizing such rigid distinctions between work and play. The accumulation of knowledge and "Webucation" lends itself to this growing trend and need for change.
A person with experience in "real life" or "the real world" has experience and an identifiable purpose. Purpose is the cognitive awareness in cause and effect linking for achieving a goal in a given system. Purpose is central to a good human life. Pursuing a career, raising a family, creative vocation and seeking financial stability to have a soft place to fall during tough and trying times. These are all long terms of purpose for some and just dealing with everyday living for others.
