“The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment.”
Ever wake up one morning and wonder why you exist, what your specific purpose or function in the universe boils down to. It’s a massive question far too many of us never allow into our psyche. Perhaps its fear of now knowing your purpose that muddies the water. Or you feel that destiny holds the reins and you’ll drift where you were meant to float. Or sadly you now your passion, purpose and potential but never act. I mean, do we even need a purpose? Isn’t existing enough?
It’s enough, but damn, what a waste. Purpose and passion fill our lives with rich experience, love, struggle, triumph and all the gray areas in between. Whether it’s slipping into point shoes to tear up the dance floor, backpacking through uncharted wilderness, or drawing anime we all have something that makes our hearts sing. Some of us, (I’ll raise my hand high!) have several passions, finding it hard to settle on just one. It might not even be a lifelong love. Perhaps your chronic addiction to kite surfing lasts a whole 4 months and never leads anywhere beyond recreation. No worries, it was fun while it lasted.
Happiness and fulfillment are the two things we seek beyond mere survival and popping out future generations. And it makes sense, because when you are happy and fulfilled you are that much more capable of surviving the day and getting it on.
For us lucky individuals in the states, we no longer need to worry about every day survival. In fact it’s quiet the opposite. Overabundance and wastefulness are now our largest issues. When we have everything we will ever need, the focus then shifts to fulfillment. Fulfillment for yourself and more importantly others. For when we do what we love, our passion and purpose spreads like the plague to others. Literally or figuratively.
The Challenge
The challenge for most young graduates these days is uncertainty. Grabbing a job in order to get on your feet coupled with the nagging voice in the back of your mind that tells you to follow your passion. It’s in times like these, and every moment actually, that we can’t lose sight of the bigger picture. That our purpose is to enjoy life. Every single waking second.
Happiness is something you can have every moment, not just when you are doing what you love. Though “doing” what you love will lead you in the direction of experiencing and “being” every moment to it’s fullest. If you narrow your life’s quest into this simple purpose; to savor, relish and live each moment to the max. Then you can’t help but follow your heart.
No matter what your current work/life situation looks like, what are you doing this moment, today, and tomorrow to live your passion? I challenge you to infuse more of your day with such blissful purpose and see what unravels.
I really like this whole idea, which is why I’m planning on some interesting trial-and-error type things for this year. 🙂
Currently, when I’m not at working or doing something school-related, I eat, sleep and breathe my passion. I’m still figuring out some way to make a living related to it, because I’m not so sure how I’ll go about doing it yet. I hope to figure it out someday, without getting stuck in something else for too long!
Yes yes…trial and error is the best way to learn. I’ve found that throwing myself into unknown, scary situations is how I gain the most experience and perspective. Fear is the only thing holding any of us down. You will figure it out. What are your passions? We can brainstorm together!
I am working right now as a supervisor at a bank and I am having a hard time with it. I work for the health insurance and 401k. My dream is to be able to find a new job by 2011!
Why wait till 2011? What’s holding you back?
oh girl…begin today, right now, this very instant. Get on craigslist or whatever and make it happen. You are the only one standing in your way. Great hearing from you!
I think she means that she is looking for it and hopes to find it by 2011.
This summer, I followed my heart and moved to the place of my childhood dreams, Colorado. After 6 months of looking for my dream job, or even something related to it, I’ve settled for the time being and got a job as a temp. But that doesn’t mean I’m not still looking for a way to turn my passion into paid bills!
Exactly Edward. I’ve had to do the same thing several times. You do what you have to do to move or set up the basis of your dream lifestyle and then get to work making your passions pay. Cheers for all your comments and thoughts.
Amber,
Great simple and to the point article…
It’s good to have you back, and congrats on the new Untemplater site!
Dan
Thanks for your support Dan. I am happy to be back and raring to do big things this year!
Hey Amber – great first post for Untemplater! Excellent way to start off.
I find fulfillment in helping people. Whether it is sitting with someone and writing their resume or teaching them some basic interview tips, or playing hockey with underprivileged children. It makes me happy, and sometimes it’s hard to find the time to do those things.
This year I’m hoping to not only do more, but hopefully start my own sock drive for the homeless. The project would complete towards the end of 2010 when it is bitter cold and folks actually need socks more than ever. It would be a wonderful way to end 2010, and I feel my ‘heart would sing’ more than ever if I can complete this.
Great work, look forward to more brilliance from you!
I agree! I wish I could do more volunteer work as well. I have been dying to join the urban forest association here in SF. Planting trees in concrete neighborhoods!
The sock drive sounds incredible and I hope it all goes to plan for you. Keep me updated on your progress. Thanks for your sweet comments as well 😀
My new year’s resolution was to volunteer. Now I’m an electronics tester for a Habitat for Humanity thrift store, and in just a few minutes, I’m going to meeting for a group that’s trying to block the development of a dam project on our town’s river.
The moral of my story and of what Untemplater seems to be about is just do it. Stop trying to figure out how to do it, and start doing. A few years and 2000 miles ago, a friend and I were going to hold an art auction to benefit charity, but we got bogged down in the details of how we were going to get the art, where we were going to hold the auction, etc. that we never actually did it.
So, Rick, just start telling everybody you know that you are starting a sock drive to benefit the needy. Figure out how the socks will be distributed along the way while you are already collecting the socks.
I think a lot of people may think that they have to choose between their passion and earning a living; either that or they get a job “temporarily” until they cam do what they really want to do, and then wake up years later realizing that they never got around to it. Maybe an approach of doing what you love every day and then doing “what’s necessary” would help more people realize their potential.
Jackie- There’s no doubt that most people feel they can’t make money doing what they love and thus get stuck in jobs that just get them by. A safe and secure route. And while some people are very happy being stable and taking the easy road, I challenge them to live passionately and build what they want on the side. We all have to feed ourselves, but can interject at least part of our day with our passions. Chipping away at a side business in that love is the first step to a full transition. When you do what you love the line blurs between work and play and life becomes that much more fulfilling. Thanks so much for your thoughts!