Permanence

In Gilgamesh, when Gilgamesh finally speaks to Utnapishtim about immortality, Utnapishtim replies, "There is no permanence" (106). This means that everything in the world, may it be ideas, structures, or people, will not last forever. Ideas change, structures break down and rot, and people die.
As civilizations grow and develop, they develop new ideas and new social norms. For example, in ancient cultures, homosexuality was accepted and cherished. In modern society, homosexuality is often seen as "wrong" or "offensive". The concept of homosexuality being acceptable has changed over time. Also, as time goes by, old houses need repairs, technology needs upgrades, old generations die out, and new generations are born. Ultimately, everything changes at some point or another.
When Utnapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, he was specifically speaking of the impermanence of life. Utnapishtim was telling Gilgamesh that every living thing will eventually die and that death needed to happen. In the modern world, this concept often pushes people to live their lives to the fullest, rather than to live unhappy with the knowledge that they are going to die. When one realizes that he has limited time on earth, he often wishes to make the best of it. In Tim McGraw's song, "Live Like You Were Dying", he tells a story about how he had cancer and spent the next portion of his life doing things that he had always meant to do. McGraw sings:
"I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named fumanchu
And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
And he said someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying".
In this song, McGraw shows the importance of enjoying the life that you have. Therefore, McGraw is ultimately sending the message that the meaning of life is to do things that make you happy and not to focus on the things that make you upset. Whether it is listening to music, skydiving, eating food, having sex, or spending time with your family, you should do things that you enjoy and live life to the fullest.
Without happiness, life may not even be worthwhile. This can explain Ishtar's actions when Ishullanu refused her. Ishtar did not want Ishullanu to be happy and therefore "changed [him] to a blind mole deep in the earth, one whose desire is always beyond his reach" (87). Ishtar took away the happiness (and overall the meaningfulness) of Ishullanu's life. At that point, Ishullanu would have been better off dead.
When Utnapishtim speaks to Gilgamesh, he is trying to help him realize that death is natural and that if death did not take place, life would not be as special. Utnapishtim does not have the chance to enjoy life as much as a mortal would because his life can never be taken away. Perhaps if Utnapishtim were mortal, he would be motivated to find more enjoyment in life. Utnapishtim wants Gilgamesh to understand the importance of impermanence, especially the impermanence of life.
Although the impermanence of life makes life special, it also causes a sense of instability for many people. In order to control this instability, people like to make structure and organization in their lives. To do this, many find a secure job, start a family, and live according to a schedule. Order and organization make people feel better and more relaxed. To make structure that continues after one passes away, many people set up scholarships, specified programs, or even restaurants. They feel good because they have made an impact on the world around them by providing others with a structured community. This is why it is common for older generations to work very hard to make the lives of younger generations easier. People like to help each other to live the best lives possible. They can help each other by making organization in a community (which includes anything from government and shops to financial aid systems). This community then serves as the foundation of many people’s lives.
If there was not impermanence, people, like Utnapishtim, would be less inclined to do the things that they wish to do. Impermanence is important because it gives life importance. If one does not work to give his life structure and to attain satisfaction, then his life is missing significance.