QUESTION #11-- October 22, 2008
Well, we're back, just in time to don our Sarah Palin costumes and enjoy the last of our pumpkin carving parties.
The other inspiration for reviving our questions and queries is an amazing documentary I saw last night called "What About Me?"--a superb multi-media artpiece melding some of the globe's most beloved musicians with people of all cultures speaking to life's big questions. I HIGHLY recommend it.
So here's a nice light one to get us back on track that's eaten up a good part of my headspace on more than one occasion....
QUESTION #11--WHAT IS YOUR LIFE PURPOSE, AND HOW MUCH -- IF AT ALL -- DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
The other inspiration for reviving our questions and queries is an amazing documentary I saw last night called "What About Me?"--a superb multi-media artpiece melding some of the globe's most beloved musicians with people of all cultures speaking to life's big questions. I HIGHLY recommend it.
So here's a nice light one to get us back on track that's eaten up a good part of my headspace on more than one occasion....
QUESTION #11--WHAT IS YOUR LIFE PURPOSE, AND HOW MUCH -- IF AT ALL -- DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
My life's purpose...now that is a wonderful question. I am sure whatever idea's I have are far from my actual purpose but I do have a few thoughts on it. I feel like I act as a connector for people. I have brought many people in my world together and not just in the romantic sense. I am constantly playing chess with people in my life and moving them over to one end of the board or the other and introducing them to other pieces in my life. I also think I was put here to bail out many people in my life both emotionally and financially. I by no means have a lot of money but whatever I save I usually put to good use. I lend money through www.kiva.org (which is an amazing program) and I never take the money I put into the program out...I keep the lending cycle going. With my friends when I see they are in a bad spot I usually make some calls and pay off a bill or two within my means and never let them know the wiser...to this day many of them talk about a time when the electric company or their car loan lender made a huge mistake in their favor and said they had paid a bill they didn't and had no means at the time to. Emotionally for many of my friends I am a power source...constantly letting people plug into me to recharge or to get rid of what they are holding onto. So I am a lender and a connector and a powersourse. Ultimately I feel like I am here to serve...in so many ways.
"The Shack" by William Young...AMAZING read and if you haven't heard of it or read it, I challange you to. It really shines light on our purpose here and our connections with the divine!
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at the moment my purpose is to build a table for a charity auction and a fence for a playground but i'm avoiding my purpose.
when i think beyond the limit of my work day it is impossible to overlook the obvious, to survive and pass along my genetic code. but i don't find it terribly rewarding to reduce myself to the same level as a microbe. so i will throw in some others like:
-to know thyself
-to love the Lord my God (and all the other variables on that commandment)
-avoid coming back to earth to do this crap all over again
-don't screw it up for the next guy
-finish fixing my second bedroom and going to ruins of Leptis Magna in Libya
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To take the gift I was given -- communication -- and apply it to the areas of the world where I can make some small difference, and do it with passion, impact and meaning to others in need of change. I think about every single day of my life.
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I don't think of it often because I know it will all make sense and come together throughout the journey. I also believe it's impossible to have just one purpose and think it changes as we change. But overall the constant thread, is continuous transformation, discovery, understanding, compassion, depth of soul...Creating meaning by sharing these qualities to touch others.
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Well, after reading the other commentsm I'm sure mine will come up very shallow. I have to be honest, I haven't really thought of it except quite a bit after 9/11. I know that I have brought joy to people as a performer and teacher, but the big picture is still very obscure. partly because I haven't totally come to terms with myself to get beyond myself. maybe I'll figure this out when I grow up.
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Apologies for not responding earlier, however life sometimes gets busy!!
Now to answer the question at hand...life purpose, do I have one? and do I think about it? I would like to think that my life purpose is what I do for my career...in fact I am in the process of moving out of management and back into working one on one with those that are less fortunate. Gandhi has this quote that I absolutely love "We must be the change we wish to see in the world". I think at this moment in my life I am trying to be that change and give more to the world...whether it be a little bit more added to a tip, or donation especially during our tough economic times, my being a bit greener than I have been...just the little things. Life purpose...being the best I can be with my family, friends, significant other, career, clients etc. That's about it...
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Reproduce so that someone else can think about these things. Otherwise a maximize happiness while minimizing unhappiness towards others.
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