January 29, 2007

The Meaning of Life

Let's start off this blog with some light conversation: The Meaning of Life.

What is it? Well, Wikipedia has a convenient entry that explains it all. But in case that entry doesn't do it for ya, I have a few thoughts on the matter:

Everyday, and every moment, we create a new idea of the meaning of life. Sometimes, the meaning of life is the search for a cup of joe. Sometimes, the meaning of life is to make it to work on time. Sometimes, the meaning of life is to find a bathroom and enjoy a good pee.

Or, maybe the meaning of life is bigger and more grandiose than that. Perhaps, in the midst of finding a cup of coffee, speeding down the freeway or shifting our weight waiting in line for a toilet, the whole point of life is to be OK with the fact that we're gonna die.

All right, perhaps that's a bit morbid. And it doesn't all boil down to that. But there is something, some reason for being alive. We all have one. And whatever it is, it keeps us going, keeps us getting out of bed in the morning, only to turn around and get out of bed every morning after that.

What in the heck is the meaning of life? Is there really such a thing? And is it even worth looking for?

Either way, that's what I'm interested in. I'm insanely curious about why we endure so much pain and suffering just to be alive, and have more opportunity to endure even more pain and suffering. It fascinates me how hard we humans hold on to being right, to being the winner and to being around as long as possible.

So, that's what I'm here for, and why I started this blog. To talk about these things, and maybe, with your help, figure out a semblance of an answer.

Or, if we can't find an answer, to at least have a lot of fun talking about it.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Great debut post! How exciting to have found this blog in the beginning. I guess I'll share my working definition of the meaning of life. Here goes:

I think we're here to learn. I'm a big believer of "what doesn't kill me makes me stronger" (having been through a few experiences that REALLY could have gone either way), and I think that's the whole point. Learning to take the good FROM the bad, and leave the world a better place than you found it, whether you're just making a difference in the life of your family ("just"?) or are doing the Oprah thing and starting grand movements of positive change, to me, those are the two main points I try to focus on. Ask me again in a year, though, and I may think something totally different...

Elizabeth