RE: Purpose in Life
March 6, 2018 at 6:41 pm
(This post was last modified: March 6, 2018 at 6:43 pm by Brian37.)
(March 6, 2018 at 6:22 pm)Clueless Morgan Wrote: I'm struggling right now and one of the things that I'm struggling with is purpose in life. I'm not one who believes that there is an inherent purpose to our lives any more than there is an inherent purpose to the life of a worm or a tree or an antelope. That's never bothered me before but now I'm facing the chasm of my future and it feels so empty.
I know I'm posting this in the philosophy forum but I'm less interested in the philosophical question of meaning and purpose in life and more interested in what gives your life meaning and purpose and how I can find that for myself, post-cancer.
I am 51. I would never recommend anyone strive to be a poet if their goal is to have economic stability from it. You can be a poet, but odds are you wont become the next Poe or Plath. I have been writing poetry for over 30 years. I haven't made a dime off of it.
I am glad you understand that in cosmic time we don't matter. But if you are looking for what makes you happy now, while you are alive, that is not that hard. Don't chase what you think others think the script to life is. Be you, because that is all you can be. I think the most important thing to not feel empty, is be yourself.
You say you've had cancer, I have not, although my mom had her breasts removed herself. I will not pretend what that like to go through myself. My mom didn't even die from that.
There is always an end for all, no matter how well they do or how healthy they are, our bodies always break down. We all die no matter what.
It does not have to be fatalistic knowing that. I can't give you a utopia cure, other than to say that time is what you want it to be. I would say, no matter what, relationships matter the most, not paycheck, or fame, or class.
I would not look at life as a comparison to others to measure myself by, as much as I think it should be looked at "We are all human. Did I make others smile? Did I make others think?" Outside that, if you haven't ended up murdering others out of selfishness or greed. I am sure those you run into will remember, even if the cosmos wont, your empathy and compassion will be remembered.
