For anyone who works an office job like me, it can't be emphasized enough how great it feels to have a personal email pop up in your inbox during your work day. It's such a small thing but for some reason, I pounce on it when I see that beige envelope icon pop up in the corner of my screen. This is in stark contrast to the groan I let out whenever I get an email from someone in my office. It's really amazing how such a little thing can be such a bright point in your day. I'm sure there is some Jack Handey-esque deep thought to be explored about the importance of friendship and the grayness of corporate life but I'm going to bypass that gimme topic and go straight into something with a little more meat.
This journey of non-physical self exploration began on a typical work day, when I received an email from a friend of mine, who was equally as bored. As usual, I drop whatever I'm doing (unless it's lunch) and spring upon my latest personal correspondence. There was the usual banter with a deeper question thrown in to spark a conversation that would help pass the time: "What do you think the meaning of life is?"
Wow. But I was ready for it. I forwarded my phone to voice mail, threw the contents of my inbox into a drawer and minimized my spreadsheets as I flexed my fingers dove onto my keyboard and after I was done, the results were both frightening and eye opening. Here is my response verbatim:
"This brings us to your timeless question regarding the meaning of life. Honestly, I haven't found it. I've debated it with myself but I can't really reach a lasting conclusion. With that I mean I usually appease myself periodically by telling myself that the meaning of life is to live it to the fullest, be a good person, have fun, find somebody (or some bodies) to love, etc. But then I later think, 'You’re a fool, H. You were just feeling good because it was Friday and it was sunny.' Or something like that. The point is, I feed myself these lame clichés to avoid bringing myself down and to keep me from hanging myself with my necktie. (Actually, I'd probably do something a bit more shocking like going out Michael Hutchence style – hey sometimes you kick and sometimes you die from auto-erotic asphyxiation.) Anyway, my point is that while those stereotypical 'enjoy what you have, make the most of each day' arguments are nice ideals, the reality is, I sit in a windowless cubicle 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. I sit in traffic for a minimum of 1.5 hours a day, 5 days a week just to get to this carpeted rut and it's for the sole purpose of accumulating material possessions so that society will see me as a 'success' whatever the f that means. Sadly, what it [success] is defined by is your material possessions.
Article comments
1 - francisco68
Sad. I still regret not getting rich, not playing the normal day-to-day game that gets people the American dream of upper middle house, new car every few years, kids in prep school... All the stuff the dream is made of. But it also looks from the outside as a cage without excitement - positive and negative - without a lot of love and mostly without the freedom to do what you want most.
Do you really want to "sit in a windowless cubicle 9 hours a day and traffic 1.5 hours a day" etc.?
Do your social and CLUB obligations really mean anything to anyone?
It sounds as if you need to fill your time with things you like or love, drink some espresso and try to remember what you wanted when you were one of those 18-22's who could take any path.
I opted out early (different generation) and never settled for a "normal life" including quitting my state (secure) job to teach myself photography and make a living at it. Life still deals out jokers (a heart attack and a terrible accident my wife had recently) so living a soft life of rounded edges in suburbia has its good side; but, all in all, I prefer that I gave myself the chance to follow dreams, to end up in the tropics climbing Mayan temples until I no longer could and photographing the end of a rainbow today (even if I picked the wrong lens and blew it).
My life isn't for everybody but following some dreams and making the world a place of challenge and excitement is. It sounds as if you need to examine yours and look for the things that fill you with a lot more glee.
2 - Hannah Meydan
Wouldn't it be wonderful to feel and know the purpose of your life and the purpose of why you were created? The reasons for your experiences on this earth in the short time of on average seventy years?
Sometimes some few of us like you Hardy are lucky enough to ask that question inside-really deeply.
And for those of us who are disatisfied with philosophising an answer or running away from the question with answers like "Oh I can't complain, I haven't really got it that bad" or blaming society and the world for your lot. Those who have a true yearning to find the meaning of their lives use their egoistic nature which they were endowed with to find the answer. The truth is we are in the matrix and we are all asleep. Our egos are so big that we just run around the planet chasing desires but if we want to unplug ourselves and see true reality while still living and acting in this world we have to rip out our current software and add a new one.Then we would come to a state of actual joy where you would actually be happy getting e-mails from co-workers because you would know the truth and reason behind them.
If you seriously question the meaning of life check out www.kabbalah.info
3 - dietdoc
The meaning of life? WOW! Now that is a topic to discuss on BC or anywhere. I think much like Hardy. It's all about the journey. [Please, don't suggest I have been reading Wayne Dyer or Deepak Chopra and the self-awareness gurus; I haven't! I got this crazy all by my lonesome.]
We spend so much time like kittens chasing our tales we lose sight of - or subconsciously chose to ignore - what things really are important to us as individuals. The usual things come to mind (why do they sound so trite?): friendships, loves, expressing one's self - like Hardy's photography or writing, solitude, learning, and just thinking. Asking a lot of questions, like this one, are a good start.
When we stop fearing what we don't know (e.g. the ephemeral "future") and realize we will never know all the answers, we can start to live. We have to accept our failings and imperfections, and start liking ourselves, just as you did. Running against the wind is exhilarating.
Nice post, Hardy. I, also, have been thinking about these sort of things of late. I like it. While BC discusses "real issues," there is room for these discussions, as well.
It - the thoughts and questions I come up with - make me alive. That, I guess, is my meaning of life. Like you in the mountains, it's doing what makes you feel most alive.
Cheers,
Ron
4 - dietdoc
Addendum: I just realized francisco68 was the photographer...I got the replies and the post mixed up...not unusual at my age. Just clarification.
5 - JR
Wouldn't it be wonderful to feel and know the purpose of your life and the purpose of why you were created?
No. Having a purpose would take the fun out of life.
6 - Nancy
What if all this is just an illusion?
7 - HannahMeydan
JR:Having a purpose would take the fun out of life.
If life is 'fun' why did Hardy write a page to his friend about the meaning of his life? Why are most people around the globe suffering from depression and why are kids turning to drugs? They are disatisfied with the world as it stands right now because they reached a level where they want more than material stuff from this planet. They want answers-spirituality perhaps.
Without purpose you live in an illusion, without control, without answers. A purpose with an intention to attain the truth of this reality gives you a chance to hold the reins of your destiny.
www.kabbalah.info
8 - Natalie Davis
The meaning of life: to do good even at great cost to oneself, to suffer, and to die -- with any luck, as soon and, however unlikely, as painlessly as possible.
9 - fox
the meaning of live: enjoying the good times, responding to the hard times with the knowledge that this shall pass too, sometimes not soon enough, reaing how others struggle thru low periods. facing disappointments: take a deep cleansing breath and move on. ask what have I learned? life doesn't always happen as planned. that is a fact. Depressed? do something for another person or animal.