While searching for the meaning of life, most of us
stumble upon phrases such as, “It is what it is;” Que
será será? (“What ever will be, will be”); or words
such as fate and destiny. However, none of
these seem to result in the answers. We know that
this can’t be all there is and that the “Hokey Pokey” is not what it’s
all about. We realize that we must be living for some reason and that it
is not just a stroke of luck that we were born. Yet, the more we look, read
and think, the more we tend to discard theory after theory. We recognize
that we must be part of some grand plan and that what we do really does
matter. We know this to be true; because if it isn’t, then our lives might
be considered to be inconsequential, and that would be a waste. Despite
these thoughts, I keep arriving at the same conclusion, “We are who we
are to be who we are,” with each of us choosing what part in the world
and history we will play. There are no auditions or competitions for any
of these roles. Rather, it is up to each of us to find our own way and to do
what we think should be done. For many, life is simply an adventure of
self survival. However, some people believe that they are destined to save
mankind or, at least, to make it more bearable or enjoyable for others.
I find myself to be somewhere in between those thoughts, as I believe my
first obligation is to myself; and that only once I am able to feel comfortable
in my own life, am I able to extend a hand to help others. The line between
the two is almost invisible, as it waves back and forth, modulating at high
frequency as the situation changes moment by moment.
Through all this, I have found that most of all, life is not theoretical
and that nobody knows how they will handle a given situation until they
are actually in it and must react to it. Some people have faced a so called
Sophie’s Choice during their lives, when they had to choose between
two options, both of which would have resulted in unhappy outcomes.
Fortunately, that is rarely the case. Most often, we are faced with doing
the right thing; leaving the further question of, “Right for whom?”. These
questions are the paths in life that we must each choose to travel. Where
we step will, at times, be immaterial; while under other circumstances, our
choice may become a crucial moment in our own or another person’s life.
The opportunity of choice is, in my opinion, best defined by the
Serenity Prayer, of being granted the power to change what can be
changed and accept that which cannot be changed, while forever trying to
discover through wisdom and experience which is which.
I struggle every day to do the right thing. Some answers are easier
than others. However, there is almost always a struggle, as I have never
quite been able to discover precisely why I am here. I hope you have had
success in your search for the meaning of life. I know I am not alone in
this pursuit.
I’m not myself today and everybody has noticed the improvement 59