The Meaning of Life

The Meaning of Life is the title of a movie directed by Terry Jones, who died recently at the age of 77. Terry was a founding member of the Monty Python group. The men who comprised the group were masters of the absurd. Their British humor while satirizing any and all situations (nothing was sacred to them) was to me both hilarious and occasionally thought provoking. To this day if I am asked what my all-time favorite move is, my reply is Monty Python's "The Holy Grail." 

Terry died of a rare form of dementia. If I had the power to eliminate one disease, that would be it. Cancer and heart disease kill, but dementia first robs you of your identity, your ability to reason, your memories, even the ability to recognize those you love, and then kills you. I can't think of a more insidious way to finish a life that should properly end in peace and reflection.

The meaning of life is also a philosophical subject that has been discussed and debated for probably thousands of years. The subject usually arises when the question is asked, "Why are we here?" In my view that is not a legitimate question because it presumes a collective purpose for life. How did we get here is a proper question. There is much known about the evolutionary process that led to homo sapiens, but we're still far from the answer of how life began. 

Other than that we all seem to desire happiness I don't think there is a collective purpose or meaning to life. It is my belief that each of us has the opportunity to determine our own reason for existence, and to live our lives according to that belief. I mentioned in an earlier post that I viewed life as having certain milestones, those being birth, education, getting a job, leaving home, getting married, having kids, retiring and then dying. We have choices, if we choose to make them as to how we prepare and deal with each of those milestones. 

Many people don't make choices, simply drifting to and through each marker, just sort of waiting to see each day what fate has in store for them. If they're happy, fine. We each have our own personal definition of meaning, purpose and happiness. And it doesn't take wealth or status to achieve them.

Some map out their lives, planning for each of the milestones. They want to control the course of their lives, not trusting to chance. These people tend to be confident, forward looking, imaginative and driven. They set goals early, develop action plans and stick to them. They usually succeed. 

Some folks might like a little more structure to their lives but are unsure how to get it. There was a time in my mid-twenties when I was undecided about what direction to go vocationally. I took advantage of a free service offered by the state of Wisconsin and met several times with an employment counselor. His name was Chuck and he was an impressive man. He helped me to lay out a plan that was really nothing I hadn't heard of, but coming from him it had substance and importance that I hadn't thought of before. 

His approach was to match interests with ability and then decide on the practically of the results. There are a wide range of interest and ability tests available, and he administered several of each to me. In most cases there will be several interests that rise to the top, and assuming you have the ability to match those interests you have to make a choice. Now here is where practicality enters the picture. 

There are the four basics of life that have to be considered; food, water, shelter and clothing. If the test results show that the thing that most interests you is picking up pretty stones on a beach, and the ability testing shows that you can handle it, you have to ask yourself if this vocation will pay for the basics. The point is that you have to settle on something realistic. Now maybe you can come up with a way to make a living picking up pretty stones. If so, go for it.    

Once you've settled on an interest you like that matches with your ability, and believe it will pay the rent, then you've got a goal and the next step is a plan get there. That plan will normally involve education and/or apprenticeship. It may involve some problem solving regarding time or finances, but there is always a way if you want it bad enough. And really, that's the point to the plan that Chuck helped me to develop. He could't execute it for me. I had to do that. I had to believe strongly enough in the plan and in myself  to take that first step and then stick with it. And to overcome the inevitable obstacles that are part of everyone's life.

Occasionally later in life I would think about Chuck's plan and how it not only applied to employment, but to many things, like choosing a university, a marriage partner, a hobby, and retirement. The planning portion is not hard. It's the execution that's difficult. What makes it easier is always keeping your goal in mind, and how it applies to your definition of meaning, purpose and happiness. And that only you can make it happen