I am not a math oriented person, but I was recently contemplating the nature of trigonometric curves when I realized how it could be applied to living one's life.
If you envision the decline and triumph of great societies as a sine curve, then you realize how pointless it is to mourn over being born at such an "unfortunate" point in history. Worry not at what point on the curve of time you were born, but rather strive to better yourself and society no matter the context. It can sometimes be disheartening to realize that we are possibly in the depths of a valley, but if this knowledge provokes nothing but inaction, then you become as useless as the people that have caused our problems. Pay it no heed and fight nobly, knowing that you may never see the next triumphant crest, but that others will continue the quest long after you are gone. Great deeds can exist in any age.