What Gives Your Life Meaning?

Life Meaning

So, what gives your life meaning? What do you want to be when you grow up? And if you are now grown, what have you become?

Everyone wants to live a meaningful life. When the hustle and bustle of everyday tasks bombard us, it's sometimes impossible to nurture our core ideals to propel a worthy meaning to our lives. I know it was for me. And yet, I was one of the lucky ones. My parents pushed me to excel at everything I did, leaving little to chance. And with my musical talents, there was no question to my future.

So...was music a more worthy choice than, say, becoming a surgeon...a painter...a dancer...or a teacher? All those things interest me. But music chose me. That's what I became - a musician first.

And I excelled at what I did. But personally, I was mostly empty inside. I struggled as I wondered what my true purpose in life was. I was conflicted for a long time. I was much older before I had a clue what gave my life meaning. I think everyone faces this question sometime in their lives. Have you?

I know for me...my life's meaning has changed throughout the years. What gave my life meaning when I was younger was not the same as when I was older...and it's not the same now. But that doesn't mean any part of my life was not what it should have been.

But a musician wasn't all that I was. I went down many paths in my life. I was a composer, a poet, a daughter, a caregiver, a writer, a friend, a wife, a mother, an IT specialist, a teacher, a manager, a mentor...the list goes on. And I'm sure your list goes on, too.

If we aren't changing...we aren't growing closer to our ultimate potential.

The water shapes the rock which shapes the wind which shapes the sky which shapes the water, right? Interchange any of those things - water, rock, wind, and sky...and it all makes sense.

Each part of our lives influences and shapes the next part of our lives. And each part has its own and unique meaning.

Today, a lot of things give my life meaning. My family, my husband, my children, my friends...I could go on and on. But now...at this very moment, one of my worthy causes is something very personal - writing. Telling my story and sharing with anyone that's interested in listening - that's my purpose right now.

So what's your purpose...right now...today?

Life Is Not What You Make It

Yes...you read that right. Life is NOT what you make it. I think life is what others make it. It would be later in life that I would understand, that for my life to have meaning requires other people.

My greatest joy means nothing if I can't share it with someone. I can create the greatest work of art, or compose the greatest song...but if no one else sees or hears it, what meaning does it really have?

So, What Do You Want To Do?

I still ask myself what I want to do with my life. After all, I'm not dead...and tomorrow will be a new day.

Well, I have an answer to that question.

Today, my wish is? To comfort and help one other person. Just one.

To help someone realize that they are not alone in life, as I tell my story. I always thought I was alone...and I was, but only because of myself.

I learned that no matter what you've been through...what you're going through...you can always reach to others for help. And someone...will always be there.

So, what gives your life meaning? What do you want out of your life?

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