When was the last time you thought about that? About what you want? Maybe it was yesterday or only a few hours ago, but maybe you can't truly or honestly answer that question. Maybe you just don't know.
It's a scary thing, asking yourself what you want out of life and what you want for yourself. Too often we become bombarded with routine and the mundane, the general requirements of life: pay bills, feed yourself or your family, get to soccer practice or work. All of these are legitimate reasons to forgo answering the question - or so you let yourself believe - but too often we allow ourselves to fall out of focus, becoming the viewers of our lives as it passes as opposed to the principal actors of it. Sometimes it's easier to never look yourself in the mirror and ask those two really important questions "Who am I? and What do I want out of life?" because just maybe the truth is, we never got to where we wanted to go.
Ask a child or a high schooler what he wants to do with his life and he'll probably give you an answer void of reason or understanding of the everyday world. He'll give you an answer (we'll assume here it's a serious answer and not a joking response) driven by desire and curiosity - a combination of what he loves, what he wants to learn more about, and what will make him feel like a success. Now just take a minute to think about your situation. Are you the adult version your teenage self had envisioned? If you are, congratulations, you are the minority. If you're not, know you're not alone. But maybe it's time you re-evaluated who you are, where you are, and what you want out of life. I'm not saying drop everything and move to Bora-Bora, but maybe you make minor changes: eat home a few nights a week to save for that trip you've always wanted. Maybe you start writing or taking photographs because it's what you used to love doing and it gives you a sense of joy and fulfillment. Maybe you find a club or local team to become a part of.
Regardless, take the time to reconnect with yourself. It may be a hard road to uncover, but you may just find yourself smiling a little more as a result, walking lighter on your feet, or feeling more fulfilled and happy. At the very least, you took the time to remind yourself of the importance of You, and that is never a bad investment.
There is no answer. Philosophers have come to the conclusion that the ultimate purpose of life is "happiness", but that is yet to be properly defined. Right now, hedonism is drawing dangerously close to the conception of happiness. Of course, it varies for every individual. Ayn Rand defines happiness as achievement. Bertrand Russell defines it as moderation and delectation of simple pleasures. Epictetus claims that it is achieved after self-sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteI, ever since my senior year in high school, have been struggling to answer the question and have not yet succeeded.
I agree that "happiness" is a wide term open to a plethora of interpretations, depending upon the one doing the interpreting. The information about Ayn Rand and Bertrand Russell is fascinating, I take it you studied philosophy? I give you credit for taking a serious look at what this answer means to you, especially since life after senior year is....well...real life more often than not. I don't know if it's ever a question you'll answer, or one where the answer in you 20s is the same as the answer you find in your 40s/ 50s etc. Best of luck to you on your journey. i hope it takes you to wonderful places
ReplyDeleteThanks. I hope I get somewhere...
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