What’s something you believe everyone should know.
—That life isn’t about pursuing what makes US happy—
Or living for ourselves for today.
(Screw anyone who gets in the way).
Unfortunately, I get that response almost every time I ask someone what life is all about— why we are here.
I even hear it from those who ought to know better.
Each and every one of us has a purpose in life, and guess what? Our purpose is not ourselves.
It is our children.
It is our struggling neighbor.
It is the homeless man standing on the side of the street.
It is the young woman whose card isn’t working in the grocery line because she’s given every penny she’s got to her medical bills.
Our purpose in life is not us. What a shallow, hateful, and unfulfilling thought.
Our purpose is everyone else.
Period.
No matter what your beliefs, comfort zone, or personal preferences, there are no excuses, no differences, no shades of skin, preferred pronouns, or countries of origin that should ever get in the way of us loving and helping someone in need, or just being there in whatever ways we can.
I guess what I would say in response to this prompt is this—
You will never find fulfillment living for yourself.
Because that’s not what “purpose” means.
Excuse me while I nerd out for a moment…
Look at the etymology (Root Meaning) of the word “Purpose.”
The word comes from the Latin “Propositum” the past participle of “Proponere” = “to set forth, to put before.” Pro = before. Ponere = to place or put.
Love other people. Put them before.
There should be no room for anything else.
That is all.
We will adapt. 