What in the heck are we doing here, individually and collectively? What is the point of it all, the living, loving, the joys, sorrows, sturm und drang of it all? Do you ever wonder? I do, definitely.
I used to think that it would be great to have a very clear, singular life purpose, something obvious. In that way, all efforts and energy could be directed towards fulfilling it. But when I learned about the lives of people like Abraham Lincoln, Anne Frank, Ghandi, Clara Barton (just to name a few), I changed my mind. All of them did such great work for us. Because of them, as a society we are kinder (maybe), more compassionate, more human. But for them? I think for them, having a clear life purpose was perhaps a bigger burden than anything else, drowning out the possibility that they could pursue a few selfish personal desires.
For most of us, one decidedly obvious life purpose is not our destiny. Instead we follow threads, we come to many fateful intersections in which we have to make a decision - go this way or that way? As there is not (yet anyway) a google maps program for locating life's destinies, we have to think, feel, pray, and wonder when we come to these intersections. I'm not saying the people I mentioned above didn't have to pray, think, feel and wonder just like you and me, but it must have been different for them. I imagine that, in some way or another, each of them was able to keep their eyes on the prize of their life's purpose whereas many of us don't have a clue where we're headed. All we know to do is put one foot in front of the other, try to pay attention, and hope the decisions we make will take us towards the best possible destiny. Maybe I'm wrong about this, you tell me.
I have a lot to say about this, but for now I will cease and desist. The heat wave broke yesterday; it's clear and dry and sparking outside. Some small part of my life's purpose is calling me out to walk and breathe and appreciate the turn in the weather before I have to go to work. Or maybe that's just an excuse, who knows?
What I'll be wondering about as I wander today is the difference between the roles we play, i.e. mother, father, teacher, healer, lover, etc. and our life's purpose(s), i.e. to bring the ancestors back into manifestation as our children, to pass on wisdom, etc.
Do you know what the difference is? Is there a difference or at least a distinction? I'm not sure.
Happy Monday.
*Not really. I think blogging was born to suit the needs of new millenium essayists, such as myself, so in other words, just the other way around.
25 comments:
Life purpose? Hard to define in any way other than striving to be the best "mother, father, teacher, healer, lover, etc" that we can be...
Though personally, I find a Natal Astrology Chart an invaluable tool for working out the best possible route to follow through our life's travelling.
Hi Reya,
I try to live a purposeful life nd don't question myself too much about my life's purpose. (You're a strong person to tackle that one.)It's great to just keep writing! Your poor little wilted flowers want out of the sun! (or a bit of water!) Have a lovely week!
Life purpose? I wonder about that. I thought at one time I knew what mine was, why I was drawn so strongly to one man, put through so much misery because of him. I thought, after, that I was supposed to save his life and I guess I did. Does that mean my life purpose is done? And what of the rest. I also feel that because of this man I've been held back somewhat. But maybe that's just an excuse.
Saving a life is no small thing, Ellen. Wow. No doubt you and he have a big karmic agreement that you're fulfilling. Why did I say "no doubt"? I'm just guessing.
Your work with glass seems to me to be a big part of your life purpose, though I don't have any way to articulate it. It's a gut feeling.
Love the idea of a purposeful life without having to define life purpose. Very cool, Cynthia.
One piece of my life purpose has to do with working with soldiers, dead and alive, active and retired. It's so weird because I grew up in an anti-war, anti-military family and have always been a total pacifist.
Sometimes the paradox of truth is just funny.
My greatest fear is insignificance. You always give us so much to think about, Reya.
(on a lighter note, my hydrangeas are blooming for the first time in seven years!)
Willow, seriously? I already think of you as incredibly significant - as a writer, poet, photographer, cook and bon vivant. As a blogger you are legendary.
I, too, think of legacy, what do we leave behind. All interesting to think about.
I think there is a point in life when some people do find a clarity of purpose and this defines them. For the rest of us it is less obvious, a forest for the trees kind of thing. We all have a purpose.
I sometimes think my life's purpose is to just stay alive.
Although I think that it is a mystery for most of us and some day it will just show up and tell us that this is your purpose. Or maybe we have many purposes. Raising children into being productive adults can be a very big purpose.
Most of us probably only find out what our purpose was just before we die. Only a few can do great wonderful things that make us famous. Or for some infamous.
God bless.
Life purpose, dear Reya?
that's BIG HUGE one for a Monday.........
I do try to be kind.
That's about it..... but it's very IMPORTANT
Maybe mindful once in a while........
and as EM Forster so famously said
"ONLY CONNCT"
We are surrounded by hefty telescopes, View the night and day sky in 3-D , book shelves full of nay- saying skeptical inquirers. My husband's "reality" feeling like a biological accident, going no further than what the brain can prove..I , on the other hand, lack gravity, tend toward a deeper knowing, more soulful and heart felt. Your posts always remind me, support a more gracious perspective and I thank you every day! You give what everyone needs without even knowing how golden you are! That is so cool, Ms. Reya! Thanks you! Also I am taking son into Chinese medical center this afternoon- he will be seeing PING RICE, a name that makes me hungry....Thanks you for the suggestion. Much love!
Sharon Olds has a very good poem on reasons that there may have been intersections between people who outwardly should have had nothing to do with each other.
Frankly, when I wonder about the randomness of it all, I think about that.
Linda Sue, you are a doll! Thank you. Ping Rice? Oh god, that's sure to help your poor son!
Reya, like jinksy earlier today, I've found the absolute best guide in seeking to discover and pursue my life's mission has been and is the study of astrology.
The North Node in astrology pinpoints not only one's mission but also the best means of it's expression. There's no secret to it. I've worked with my astrologer for almost 20 years and am crystal clear that my life's mission is to create, to write and to share my spiritual philosophy—without imposing it on others.
Twenty years ago I resisted this mission, and now it is the source of the freedom and satisfaction in my life.
Thanks Julie and jinksy. My north node is just above the horizon in my seventh house of partnerships. Ah, never my best thing: partnerships.
I'm going to write more about this tomorrow. I'm being reminded again about the role I'm supposed to play in the healing of the troops, living and dead. So not really anything to do with the seventh house. Go figure!
I feel that, for Lincoln, Ghandi,Frank and Barton, whether it be called selfish or not, they followed their strongest desire. A deisre isn't always plesant.
And as your north node is on partnerships, entering into healing contracts with soldiers, living and dead, is a partnership agreement.
On the lighter side, my hydrangeas are awesome this year too!
reya - i love and appreciate the passion and the presence that goes into your posts here. really i do! life purpose for steven - well when i turned thirty three i realized in a year of letting go of an entire world - lucrative career, marriage, friends everything. bang wham. gone!! - that my life purpose is to be available to whatever is necessary. which isn't always nice but has miraculously turned out to be good and to bring more goodness to this world. so i'm letting it ride even though it seems to suck sometimes and is filled with giddy unreality at other times! the blogging allows me to articulate the dance. for dance it is. there's more but not now. steven
Reya--Elisabeth beat me to it--Only connect...that is what is missing in this fast paced life which challenges our ability to be connected to each other and the earth--you rail against this, hence you blog and therefore, I myself am thankful. We are btw in sync once again because I have been working on a post and look forward to reading your thoughts. It is all worth it just keep doing what you do.
We're here to take care of each other... help each other out, as it would be pretty lonely without each other and I'm including all living things in this statement of mine ;) --- that's a life purpose we all share.
best wishes for fun loving time
Robyn
Reya, I believe part of your life purpose is the connection you have to your readers who visit. The wisdom you impart to make us all deeper thinkers, and to find beauty around us...waiting there to be re-discovered.
Hell if I know, Reya. Just as soon as I think I have something figured out, Life surprises me yet again. I just continue to have faith that all will be revealed at the proper time.
I can say that as the mother of four, two of my children had that same "tunnel vision" you talked about, where they let nothing stand in the way of their percieved mission in life. The other two were more unsure, and explored many avenues while finding their way in life.
Each path carries with it its own set of virtues and vices. There is no 'right' way, but it's an interesting process to watch.
June 8, 2010 9:40 AM
Reya, the "North Node" on your astrological natal chart clearly defines and illuminates your life's purpose.I've studied astrology with Linda Brady (www.creativechoices.com) for almost 20 years.
You and I have talked. It's obvious my life's mission is to share my spiritual philosophy...without imposing it on others. When I do this, I am happy and fulfilled. When I don't, I find some way to suffer. Guess which one I choose!
Reya, one's life's mission is not something that comes easily. It is often where we are the most challenged. My life's mission is to write and share my spiritual philosophy. Before I got to fulfilling it, I had to spend a lot of time challenging traditional religious views and being unable to put together coherent paragraphs!
'All we know to do is put one foot in front of the other, try to pay attention, and hope the decisions we make will take us towards the best possible destiny.' I like that statement.
There is an element of immediacy and wonder, of taking in life step by step, breath by breath, and making good decisions...
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