Meaning of life Options

[*mipadi*]

Lately I've felt myself in a nihilistic quandary, a Nietzchean void of chaos and uncertainty, if you will. I feel like this insecurity is due to the fact that my life seems almost complete devoid of meaning. I wake up most mornings around 7 AM. I take a shower. I have a cup of yogurt or a bow of Cracklin' Oat Bran for breakfast. I go to class at 8 AM. I have calculus most mornings, except Thursday, which is a comp sci lab. I diligently take notes in calculus. I come back to my room by 9 AM. I dally around on the computer for a while. Then I go to more class. Then I come back and waste more time on the computer, or napping. I go to my final class. Then I go to work, where I hammer out a few dozen lines of code, fix some bugs, whatever. Go back to my room, mess around on the computer, not really producing anything worthwhile. Maybe I play a video game. Maybe I nap. Probably I nap. Maybe I study later in the evening. I might even eat somewhere in there. Then I scramble to finish up some homework, and head to bed for another day of the same.

And little of what I do during the day seems to have any meaning whatsoever. Everything I do seems to be an attempt to expend the least amount of effort possible, as though I am so completely sapped of energy that the slightest effort is impossible.

I feel like I used to spend much more time giving my life meaning. I used to write extensively, which forced me to really think about the world around me, and my experiences. I used to interact with people more regularly. I used to at least read and synthesize information.

This is disappointing, because I strongly feel in making each day worthwhile. I am a strong atheist. My atheism has led me to realize that it is important to make everyday count, because we only get one shot at life. Yet, I feel that I rarely make everyday count. I make very few days count, in fact.

But this post is not about me. The above anecdote was just a lead-in to the real question: Do you make each day count? Do you live so as to give your life meaning? If so, how? How do you feel that your life, or any person's life, can be given meaning? In short, what do you do to make living worthwhile, to use your mental and physical faculties in the most productive way? I'm not asking what the general meaning of life is; I don't intend for the usual answers. I'm interesting in seeing what you as an individual does to give your life meaning each day.

[KrunkMuzik]

Damn, nice writitng. I'll edit this later.

[*salcha*]

Well, isn't this thought provoking.

*puts down my books and thinks*

[EddieV]

This just made my head hurt. NOT BEFORE I GO TO CLASS!

[doom_diver]

Well i will prolly get flamed but who cares:

to mipadi: well to be honest i used to be like you, thinking what is the meaning of life and stuff. Because of that, i get depressed thinking bout how crap my life is and how crap this world is.

It was a friend who got me out of that and all he sed was this:

Dude, by thinking about all that crap, you are wasting time which you can make your life meaningful. Cut the crap and you'll realize how good your life is!

Just a simple sentence, but one of the most truthful ones i ever heard. Hes right, by thinking about the meaning of life, your life has no meaning. Dont force yourself to make your life meaningful, cuz by doing that you are wasting your life trying to make life meaningful, and you will fail. Just live your life and do things you want to do. Live with no regrets, and thats life.


Probably totally off topic but who cares, caring is wasting time :)

[*mipadi*]

It's certainly not off-topic. In fact, you make a wonderful point--I believe life is all about doing that which brings you joy. If joy is playing guitar in a band, or watching cartoons every morning, or ready trashy romance novels, then by all means go for it. Like I said, you only get one shot at life--might as well make the most of it while it lasts. However, my anecdote was meant to show that I'm not really spending my time doing what I'd like to do; my life is mostly a dull monotony that I am feeling, more and more, is wasted.

Not that I think my life is bad, of course; it's just boring. I have the opportunity to make it more interesting, but I haven't been doing that as of late.

Which brings me round to my earlier point of questioning everyone else on what they do to bring meaning to their lives.

[doom_diver]

Well, thx for not flaming me for my post:

Mipadi: Well, why are you not spending your time on what you like to do? You know you only have 1 life, and why are u still not enjoying the fullest of it?

For me, I just try to be as nice as I can to make my life meaningful. Sounds funny but it works for me. Besides, its pretty nice when you think about the meaning of life and you get this answer 'At least you arent the bad guy and you make the world a better place for everyone else'

[*mipadi*]

Well, thx for not flaming me for my post:

Mipadi: Well, why are you not spending your time on what you like to do? You know you only have 1 life, and why are u still not enjoying the fullest of it?

That's a really good question; the crux of the catalyst for this post. I guess it's just...general laziness, or perhaps apathy towards life. I know life is important, yet...well, doing the same thing, day in and day out, brings an ennui, a monotony, to life that can be hard to break out of. When one starts doing the same thing every day, one falls into a pattern that might be hard to break out of. I would say that is my personal issue.

I think a good way to bring meaning to life is trying to do at least one thing, every day, that is different from what you did the day before. One thing that makes you learn and grow as a person, or at least experience life in a different way. One thing to break up the monotony.

For me, I just try to be as nice as I can to make my life meaningful. Sounds funny but it works for me. Besides, its pretty nice when you think about the meaning of life and you get this answer 'At least you arent the bad guy and you make the world a better place for everyone else'

I think this is another excellent point. An important facet of life is not only enjoying one's own, but making sure that the people one cares about are taken care of, too.

[full:O:beans]

Someday's seem to go by with nothing changing...but other days I feel more like I've acheived something. And I'm not including big tests and stuff in that.

The days I feel like I've lived the day is when I have a conversation with someone I've wanted to know better...but never got around to it. The days I make new friends, become better friends with my old ones or get to know the ones I havn't seen for a while.

Also those days where I make my family laugh, or do something to help them, or go on a big trip with them.

When I'm on vacation, something out of my normal routine, or days where I visit my cousins and aunts and uncles.

And then there's those days where I actually learn something new and remember either form school or at home...those are worthwhile too, although they're harder to pick out from my memory, because at the time I didn't know I was actually learning something.

All other days are wasted pretty much. If I forgot something I'll edit.

P.S. your speech was really well written (unlike mine) thought provoking

[*Programmer*]

school is an illusion ....don't let it fool you...my friend...the...real meaning of life is what you make of it....you have a choice..... Either you can a Dreamer or Realistic.....the choice is up to you.....

[*Blow_Don't_SUCK*]

Well everyday, is like a play for me. The main lead (which is me, in my life) wakes up to her well-waited mornings, greeting her family with much love, and simply doing what the script told her to do. Whereas, the audience, predicts the unexpected based on what they have seen and heard through and from the play.

My life is exactly like that. I act as if everyday is new, as if everyday is a beautiful day (either that or an annoying day). I do everything my script has put down for me and follow a road (full of surprises) and concludes to a predictable ending.

Honestly, I am very bored of life. I wish there were more to it than this "play" I live through. I try to make some action come up once in awhile, but everything ended up being the same.

When I feel sad or melancholic, I try my best to express it in order for me not to be so pent up like I used to be. I take the good with the bad and the bad with the good. Everything I do is written out for me by an anonymous playwright who seems to be amused by my unexcitement.

However, after befriending a person diagnosed with cancer, I felt that it's wrong to take my life for granted like this. This person, kind and unhealthy person, enjoys life despite its short length and she never feared death. I suddenly thought, "Why am I not enjoying this "play"... this life? When the audience seems to enjoy it so..." I was so confused, unaware of everything. Like I said, each day I live a boring life and yet I try to make an effort to make it worthwhile. After meeting that person, I learned that maybe you can enjoy life despite its boredom. You don't have to have everything or exciting things to make life be worthwhile. All you need to learn is that sometimes we just have to make the best of the "script" we are given, that we have to "act" our best despite all of this.

From then on, I never "tried" to make my day exciting or worthwhile. Instead, I cherish every moment of it, no matter how pointless and worthless it has become. Every smile, every frown, I take with me. I made a promise to my friend shortly after she passed away, that I'll remember and treasure every fleeting moment of the 365 days we are given every year. Life is short and always unpredictable. I cannot promise myself to make life "happy" but instead to be happy of what I can make of life.

[*Libertie*]

How do I make it seem like my life has meaning? I don't. I can't convince myself that anything I do has any meaning, so I don't try. But there are things that keep my mind off of it - going to college, working towards getting married.. I don't want to spend my life being afraid of death, because when it finally happens, I wont care - I won't have the ability or capacity to care. I'll just go, and it's not like I'll be sitting there thinking "Man, this sucks, I'm dead." Dead is dead (to me). So if I spend my time thinking about something that won't even matter when it happens, the time spent actually being alive will have been a total waste.

I have been thinking about this a lot since the recent death of someone very close to me, and it sucks thinking that maybe I won't achieve some of my goals before I die - hell, I might not even get married before then. But I've figured out that wishing my dad was still alive doesn't help, and worrying about how I will die someday is even worse. Don't try to give your life meaning, and don't try to focus on the end when you can't see it coming.

[Tribal J_Rome]

I think a good way to bring meaning to life is trying to do at least one thing, every day, that is different from what you did the day before. One thing that makes you learn and grow as a person, or at least experience life in a different way. One thing to break up the monotony.

I think this is another excellent point. An important facet of life is not only enjoying one's own, but making sure that the people one cares about are taken care of, too.

I think that's part of what I live for also. I love makin others happy and helping out, it always seems like that was always something I was supposed to accomplish. As for myself, I feel like I'm also at a dead end. My dad made me drop my classes at the junior college I was going to cuz the school I was gonna transfer to doesn't require G.E., or so I was told. I don't have a job or a license, and I'm "trying" to find a job, but when my dad made me drop those classes, I felt so discouraged and that my life had no meaning either. I was so eager and excited to go and learn something I know im gonna have fun with, but now that I have nothing I feel like I almost have no drive in life. I already kinda planned that I'm gonna get my license and job and save up for school and move sometime this year. I guess it's really just time that matters, gotta be patient I guess...

[*mipadi*]

I think a lot of good points have been raised, regarding the value of life. I guess the only thing that bothers me, from time to time, is the fact that I never really seem to be that productive—I tend to waste a lot of time, time that I don't really have. It's fine to take some time to kick back, relax, and do nothing, but I often neglect to do things I want to do, simply because I am too lazy to expend the effort necessary to do them.

Lately I've seemed to have developed any aversion to doing any work, whether it be mental of physical. I almost want to blame it on things like computers, with make many tasks so easily that expending any effort seems to be a waste of energy. But maybe the reliance of on-demand media access is just a symptom, not a cause, of the problem.

[EddieV]

All I can really say is...

As your days go by, do the best of your abilities to have fun, learn more, and just make your days worth it. Don't stress or think too hard. In that case all you're doing is wasting time. Just go with the flow.

[Tribal J_Rome]

^^Word Eddie

as the song goes, "Dont' worry be happy"

[Retrogressive]

I guess it all depends on what you see is meaningful. In the scheme of things, nothing will make life meaningful unless you enjoy it because it's meaningful to you when you enjoy it. Would meaningful mean enjoying a cup of coffee? Donating time to a shelter? Helping the greater good? It all depends on what you see the true meaning of this short time that we have on this tiny speck in the universe. It depends on how you feel about the people and places around you. It depends if you want to live on in memories, spirits, or live in the now.

[justdecent]

My new life motto- Do what feels right, as long as its in the realms of whhat is morally right. Then, you cant regret or deny what you did with your days because you know you were free to yourself every single step of the way.

[cLinT_wEStw0oD]

graduate. get a family, and a career. that'll make your life meaningful.


sorry...not alot of experience in this area, but its the most i can say.

[pshaa.shauna]

Hmph, my life used to have meaning, but as of late it feels as if I'm just going through the motions. I don't even think about what I do anymore because it's the same routine, and just the past few days I've realized this. I think it's the same as with you: laziness. I don't feel like doing anything, but I'm tired of doing the same old things. Granted, I've been making an effort to make it more interesting, but I can't. Maybe the boredom of the day exausts me.

Question: Is it winter where you live?

I've heard that 30% of people get affected by winter in this manner.

[Retrogressive]

Hmph, my life used to have meaning, but as of late it feels as if I'm just going through the motions. I don't even think about what I do anymore because it's the same routine, and just the past few days I've realized this. I think it's the same as with you: laziness. I don't feel like doing anything, but I'm tired of doing the same old things. Granted, I've been making an effort to make it more interesting, but I can't. Maybe the boredom of the day exausts me.

Question: Is it winter where you live?

I've heard that 30% of people get affected by winter in this manner.

Voldemort is my past. present. and future.


Not winter here in Texas.

[pshaa.shauna]

Surprisingly, Harry Potter puts a light on my day. As a joke, me and and 2 friends came to school in a Hogwarts uniform (Slytherin), and the place was busting up laughing (with me not at me).



Best. Day. Ever.



I guess me goofing off gives life meaning.

[*mipadi*]

graduate. get a family, and a career. that'll make your life meaningful.
sorry...not alot of experience in this area, but its the most i can say.

I'm not trying to say that one must get married, or cure cancer, or write the next great American novel to have a meaningful life. Not at all. I think as long as a person accomplishes what they want, be that painting a picture or just beating Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, that his life is meaningful. The point I am getting at is that for me personally, I often feel like I don't have the energy, or the motivation, to do things I want to do. I tell myself I want to do them, but I never actually do it.

[jennyjenny]

So I tried reading everyone's posts but it was all like a paragraph long and I get bored easily.

But I too, do the same thing everyday. I mean, I can't really "mix it up" when I go to school everyday and don't have a car.

I remember I saw this one ad for American Eagle and there was this contest. I clicked on it because I was pretty curious and it was like "how you live you life" and you could write an essay about how you live your life. Like doing charity or doing something that affects other people and not just yourself. Maybe that's what they mean by giving life a meaning? Just, not doing the same thing everyday and help yourself by helping other people.

I remember I was talking to this girl once around 2:00am and I was a bit buzzed. I was talking to this wicked serious girl and she is literally insane, so I've heard. I tried to get on her good side all day/night and she was having a cigarette in the shower talking about the meaning of life. I don't really remember much, but she said something about how she thinks life has no meaning, and then you just die and what is the point of it.

And I sort of agree. I mean, you're living and then you just die.

[*mipadi*]

Life itself is pointless. But that doesn't mean it has no meaning. The way to give life a point is to live it meaningfully.

[illumineering]

I was busting my ass to get into a PhD program at Pepperdine when I was diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly, I realized how much I loathed the life I was living and began dusting off many unrealized dreams. I literally gave away everything I owned that would not fit in my car and moved from LA to Arizona and spent the next three years living with the Havasupai and traveling throughout the southwest and Mexico checking off the "to do" list I made as a child.

Today, I present my journey of discovery to teachers through photography and lessons that stimulate creative thought and writing. As each day presents itself, I remember the second chance I've been given to live my life through the creation and realization of my dreams.

[crazeegirl411]

I am unhappy with life because I dwell in the past a lot. I am unhappy with life because my focus in life is not me. I focus on the one I love, yet what I get in return is lonliness. But I still do it, because I feel like I cannot control my life. I cannot control my emotions, when it is released, and I cannot control his happiness. Like I used to (wallowing in the past again).

I don't think I can enjoy life because of that. He seems to be enjoying life, he is focusing on himself and his friends more than me. And he doesn't seem much happier of a person than I am. He is just thankful for life.

And I cannot be thankful or grateful for life as much I know I should, because I can't be happy. I always think of all these complicated reasons to my sadness and the reasons why I have to hurt myself so much to love the one I love. But it's just simple. Focusing on myself is like focusing on him. If he is sad, I am sad. If he smiles, I cannot suppress my smile.

I can't control it.

Sometimes I think, maybe having so much effort to be with him and see him is what hurts me. But that is my meaning of life. My meaning of life is to make him happy, in order for me to be happy. In order for me to make my friends happy because I am well again.

[*mipadi*]

I'm beginning to think that the meaning of life, or part of it, is to use one's faculties in a focused manner. I think that's why I've felt a loss of meaning from my life lately--I haven't been using my faculties and talents in a focused way. I don't feel I need to do this every day, of course, but I haven't been using them much at all.

I think that's an important part of life--utilizing one's talents in a productive manner.

[krispy_kreme333]

This ia a very deep topic.

Anyways. I don't really do anything to make my life seem meaningful to me. I was thinking about this the other day. I mean, I am a very lazy person. There is so much that I want to do with my time, but I can never seem to motivate myself to do it. I want to enjoy my life to the fullest, and for a while I was. But now, I feel like everything I do is pointless. I'm not suicidal or anything but I just don't see the purpose or meaning of life. I don't really know what I believe as far as my faith is concerned, but i don't really know what is after life. I think that we just die and thats it. I am just really confused about a lot of things. I'm not really sure what I believe in or why I am even here. I want so much to enjoy what I have while I have it, but I can not seem to motivate myself. I wish I had more motivation and drive, because then i would probably feel more like my life has meaning. I just dont know how to do that.

[*mipadi*]

Anyways. I don't really do anything to make my life seem meaningful to me. I was thinking about this the other day. I mean, I am a very lazy person. There is so much that I want to do with my time, but I can never seem to motivate myself to do it. I want to enjoy my life to the fullest, and for a while I was. But now, I feel like everything I do is pointless. I'm not suicidal or anything but I just don't see the purpose or meaning of life. [...] I wish I had more motivation and drive, because then i would probably feel more like my life has meaning. I just dont know how to do that.

Yes, that's pretty much exactly what I mean! I'm certainly not depressed, either—sometimes I just feel that I could be doing so much more with my life if I actually applied myself.

[Mr. Slowjamz]

Today, I present my journey of discovery to teachers through photography and lessons that stimulate creative thought and writing.  As each day presents itself, I remember the second chance I've been given to live my life through the creation and realization of my dreams.

this is a GREAT meaning to view to look at life each day . you made me happy . flowrs to you

well as for me ....i`ve been having enough trouble as well .

as of right now , im looking at my life as a complete in mess in most things to be juggled in different directions to be exact .... ( btw im not trying to connect your life with mine im just trying to explain to you how to stimulate it while trying to get these words off my chest ).

i`ve always looked at life in an out aspect in an outer in context ...looking at peoples lives and cherishing there moments through me so that i can feel well . i`ve always thought of life as of complete optismism . considering that i am naturally talented and was born to sing really well . having to be little and having to have many older people say many positive comments about my voice .... i cherished it ... and i dreamed about being one that some day i will be a star .

now as years passed , life started to look a little more stressful and harmful each year ....and having to dwell on these cases because of my sensitivity life has been more hurtful and senseless through my teens . i`ve started to question on how do these guys get girls or how do these people do well and learn things . i guess i assumed they were lucky they had good lives and they had a loving and enriching family .As for me, having to have a family that lives in realism , i havent really reealized what they were trying to tell me , during my younger years which fueled with GREAT optimism too much optimism to be exact ..and blamed my closest to have a cynical and pessimisting approach on me and of well hurting me and not enriching my life as a full potential so i can be a great singer .

life started be a downfall . i was depressed . by my self-consciousness and optimism which in hand was selfishness .

maybe after an odd 1 1/2 years life started to turn a lot differently and more normal because of opening up of my true feelings and meeting alot of real friends . i`ve started to understand bit by bit what my parents and my closest have been trying to explain to me each of those days . these were just basic meanings that i shoudlve learned during my younger years . and not being to sensitive and too affective about there harsh rude ...not so anymore comments =) . my life was pretty dramatic


by looking at life much more dramatically i feel as though i consumed at looking at life too pessimistically and too realistically it too much and dwelled at it and kinda got depressed as well.

since last summer through last dec . life starts to even get more realistic through my ears and eyes . and in ways pessimism starts to come in play . how would i know my career pick would be good for me? how would i know that i would be able to cope up with my career living a life in music ? and being so, and having alot of people have continuous doubts and pessmistic life about my career and my major in music i took things negatively and i didnt do well taking enough info during my first sem .

as you can tell, im a perfectionist by heart and i take everything into consideration yet procrastination about learning things about looking in things and truly understanding a specific note key structure or chord makes me ponder , am i thinking correctly is this the way i look at things at well . do i need a drive to be successful ? how do all these sly young singers musicians turn to be succesful ? how do you live a postitive life ? how do you live in the right atitude ? . how can you act how can you act and how can you learn to be really good in singing musically as well ? damn alicia keys ....damn jammie foxx ....damn barry manilow , damn barbra streisand .


as of now i took my 2nd sem off . being so stressed about things and having to not cope up with specific situations and not understanding it in a clear view , i have time to relax and think . "take it slow. " i got too caught up in my questioning about living life . and life itself .

i try to live life now without fear , anxiety , despair and procrastination . im thinking that you gain information by living it . and in realistically you understand it . you truly live your life living your creed your parents taught you yet you live life postively by looking at those realistic facts postively for the better . by looking at life so clear and precise . you would have a better advantage at looking at life soo willingly and postively and anticipating on what the treasures come because you are sure about it . you gain your Lifes DRIVE .

to answer your question

life is the meaning . you make it meaningful and treasureable so that when you look back you have no regrets . "Hakuna Matata" have no worries . if at times you felt like you missed somethings and you wanted to understand something more and be more productive about it . then do it . just know and take your time and be yourself . i guess if you really want to have productiveness in life it helps being organized . so that your more focused during different set periods you dont have to dwell on the next thing over and over and over . if something happens something happens . and enjoy those mistakes and harsh moments .

honestly also helps alot too ....try to be totally honest that way you would have no doubts of wether your application went through well for a job or what someone might think of you . that way you know you feel good . be honest in life and to everyone . don`t be too honest now you could cheat a little .

i know that wasnt your answer either lol .

i also guess people believe they have a purpose in life depending on there faith and beliefs how to live it. starts to understand there drive in life . As for me God granted me the power to have a voice and to use it at full advantage .

i guess trying to answer your question

yes you do the everyday thing . i guess try to stimulate the things you wanted to do and try to connect your daily objectives to the things you`ve been wanting to do . i guess thats how you enrich your love of it . and your passion . and why you love it . set it in a different time then your daily routine . i guess thats how some successful people out there are multi talented . they dont learn everything at once . by consuming everything within a day they intensely focus on it in a specific period of the day and then swtich back to what you`ve always done . and hopefully if you want everything clearly and meaningfull. then try as much as possible to understand everything clear and possible .

it should seem as though you feel like a kid again when you played in those monkey bars swings and slides and made blocks to make a block building .yet with an adult like outlook . "hmm what happens if i swing on those bars upside down will i hit my head ? " hmm what happens if i took those wodden blocks and stack and KNOCK THEM WITH MY HANDS ? "

your life is the meaning.

try to be more creative on your extras ....try to go out of bounds if you like during that set periods . there you would be questioning yourself if you wanted to do more .

mipadi and yes i guess it was a good thing to read this thread because it truly shows how people live there lives and why it turns up so meaningful for them . it also kinda helped me alittle too . ooo WOW .......such a long reply wow .. this could be part of one of my philosophy essays .....sigh ..... i don`t regret it . sigh ... i hope this helped other people too ..

[Mr. Slowjamz]

hmm does someone want to gramatically help me and correct this .... i know its sloppy lol.

[illumineering]

this is a GREAT meaning to view to look at life each day . you made me happy . flowrs to you

Thanks for the kind words!

[demolished]

School made us lifeless, i think. We dont have the peace of mind to explore, discover, and relax anymore, usually. My living isnt so great, i made the choice to reduce my chances of making worthy efforts. Horrible things are consider worth it, going beyond limit, and beyond imagination.

[*wind&fire*]

42...


sorry couldnt help it...

[*not_your_average*]

School made us lifeless, i think. We dont have the peace of mind to explore, discover, and relax anymore, usually. My living isnt so great, i made the choice to reduce my chances of making worthy efforts. Horrible things are consider worth it, going beyond limit, and beyond imagination.

Indeed. We're being told what to think, not how to think. They tell us that such-and-such event happened, remember it for the next test. Even though that particular event won't have any sort of use in our lives, we're told to remember it and not why it's relevant to our lives.

I need to start living my life in a more productive way.

[EddieV]

Would everyone say that we all have the same purpose in life? or..

We all have different purposes?

[Anielka]

I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of Office Space after reading that. XD

Anyway, when I think about that, I just can't decide which way to go. I am a strong agnostic, and I pretty much accept anything, because in my opinion anyone could be right and anything could be wrong...

Anyway, no. I don't make every day count. Or do I? I dream, and in my dreams I have the most amazing experiences. That's how I get by happily. But I've been changing. It's seems like the girl inside me who loves and appreciates life with all her heart and soul is starting to overtake me, and I find myself dancing in the woods and jumping into streams far more often. That is me, and I couldn't be happier.

edit: Actually, I could, but that's another story.

[rainbowish]

Im sorry but if I wake up one day and thats my schedule I would prob. be really depressed and want to die. But thats just me.

I think the computer sucks. I hate it. Its boring. How can anyone spends hours on the computer at a time. But then again I have to go out everynight. Im a "Paris Hilton" party type of person. I think the meaning of life is to enjoy yourself and be happy. Not to worry what other people think. The meaning of life is to reproduce and be happy, and since I am DEF. NOT doing one of those I might as well have as much fun as I can.

[crazeegirl411]

I trying to find a purpose in life, but I don't think I should. The more I try to find it, the more I overthink. I think (haha) so many people overthink, like this whole thread.

Trying to find ways to make a good use of life...trying to do something new everyday. It's trying too hard. Do what you like, and if you don't do it anymore, then I don't think you like it too much. Unless you liked it until you were forced to do so.

My approach to life now...is to try to make things simple. And to solve things in a simple manner. That's a lot harder than one thinks.

[Mr. Slowjamz]

ohh schnucks ! i forgot to edit this , hah lol.

[*mipadi*]

Im sorry but if I wake up one day and thats my schedule I would prob. be really depressed and want to die. But thats just me.

Well, that's a little harsh. I wouldn't say such a boring life is worth dying over. But I get your point—it is kind of pathetic, eh? I really can't blame you for having such an opinion.

[rainbowish]

Well, that's a little harsh. I wouldn't say such a boring life is worth dying over. But I get your point—it is kind of pathetic, eh? I really can't blame you for having such an opinion.

I dont understand tho that you are in school trying to make yourself a life... so I guess its not soo bad.

[*mipadi*]

I dont understand tho that you are in school trying to make yourself a life... so I guess its not soo bad.

Oh, it wouldn't be so bad if I was actually applying myself and learning something new…

[innovation]

Which brings me round to my earlier point of questioning everyone else on what they do to bring meaning to their lives.

I influence, discuss, explore, think. On the weekends, I observe people on the Metro and eat those pretzels filled with cream cheese and collect quotes to post on my wall and browse Wikipedia. And then I go to Barnes and Noble with my friends, and we look through those huge books with pictures of different countries. We have coffee and talk about school, people, the world, the future.

Then, during the week, I have a full IB curriculum and major extracurricular projects. A lot of people keep telling me to take a break and relax a little because I'm stressing myself out over all this stuff that is causing adversity in my life. They tell me just what you said (paraphrased): "You only live once so take a breather and enjoy your life."

But I enjoy that adversity. It has personal significance. It has opened doors to more opportunity for exploration than I could've ever imagined. It makes my life dynamic. It seems as if life loses its meaning when adversity is gone. Naturally, people want to aspire after something, and when they are granted that something, they just keep on searching.

You know, I bet that I'm one of the few IB juniors at my school who can honestly say that I love my life, despite all the endless work. I'm learning, growing, changing. I can feel it.

[innovation]

edit: sorry, accidentally double-posted.

[Mr. Slowjamz]

I influence, discuss, explore, think. On the weekends, I observe people on the Metro and eat those pretzels filled with cream cheese and collect quotes to post on my wall and browse Wikipedia. And then I go to Barnes and Noble with my friends, and we look through those huge books with pictures of different countries. We have coffee and talk about school, people, the world, the future.

Then, during the week, I have a full IB curriculum and major extracurricular projects. A lot of people keep telling me to take a break and relax a little because I'm stressing myself out over all this stuff that is causing adversity in my life. They tell me just what you said (paraphrased): "You only live once so take a breather and enjoy your life."

But I enjoy that adversity. It has personal significance. It has opened doors to more opportunity for exploration than I could've ever imagined. It makes my life dynamic. It seems as if life loses its meaning when adversity is gone. Naturally, people want to aspire after something, and when they are granted that something, they just keep on searching.

You know, I bet that I'm one of the few IB juniors at my school who can honestly say that I love my life, despite all the endless work. I'm learning, growing, changing. I can feel it.

which proves my point .......people who are always productive doesn`t mean they can`t have fun in there lives .....of course they can ....they explore learn , and freaking PARTY the Hell out of there Lives ......i know people like that ..i live in NY soo .....its far more then just relaxing and taking a break . ...kudos too you too

[innovation]

Uhh well, by adversity, I didn't exactly mean "partying the hell out of my life." Just to clarify. :]

[Mr. Slowjamz]

Uhh well, by adversity, I didn't exactly mean "partying the hell out of my life." Just to clarify. :]

ooo yea i didnt imply that to your statement ........i meant that on fa.ggot`s statement . ...but yea ...sorry for the mass confusion.

[kissme]

May i stick my 2 cents in here?

We are all blessed with life. No matter what beliefs or what religion, we know theres something that gives us...well, life. I, myself, am a christian, but thats slightly diverting the subject. Anyway, as a christian, the meaning of life is to make sure others seeking christ find him, and those not seeking him, do. But, I do suppose I should put a less christian responce, just so that i don't bother others beliefs.

Perhaps the meaning of life is to live it to the fullest. I find myself desiring to slap me in the face because I don't even follw my own advice. I am normally sad and don't care about the rest of the world. I am self-centered most of the time and couldn't care less about who thinks what. Maybe life, as complex and confusing as it is with all its twists and turns, means much more than just screwing in around. Life means adventure. Life means risks. Life means heartbreak. Maybe the very meaning of life is...well, unknown. Maybe the meaning of life is you find your meaning of life.

[*mipadi*]

Maybe the meaning of life is you find your meaning of life.

You make a very good point. Life itself is inherently pointless—until one injects his own meaning into his life, that is. Anytime a person gives his life meaning, he is giving it a point.

I have a question for you, though. Not to pick on you specifically, but I find this interesting: You say you're not following your own advice in regards to living life. Why not? (And I don't intend to be critical here—I think you raise a very interesting point that needs to be explored.)

[lKVNiiKINKYl]

Which brings me round to my earlier point of questioning everyone else on what they do to bring meaning to their lives.

For me, as corny as it may sound, is my sport - Crew (rowing). I loathe school and I have the type of parents who never let there kid out because they are freakishly over protective, but when I'm at practice, I always feel so much happier. Yes, there are days that I am like "OH MY GOSH WHY THE EFF AM I STILL DOING THIS", but as soon as my eyes catch a glimpse of the river and I see people who have become family to me, all of that goes away and I am happy. Although season is offically only from March - June, I am involved with all of the "Crew" related practices throughout the year and I always look forward to that. It is my second year doing it and we have practice 3 days a week during the summer (June - End of August), Tuesday and Thursday practices during fall conditioning (September - Winter Break), every day during pre-season (January & Febuary), and then we start the cycle again. It seems so repetitive, but I can honestly say that I love it and that is what brings meaning to my life.

[Mr. Slowjamz]

May i stick my 2 cents in here?

We are all blessed with life. No matter what beliefs or what religion, we know theres something that gives us...well, life. I, myself, am a christian, but thats slightly diverting the subject. [I]Anyway, as a christian, the meaning of life is to make sure others seeking christ find him, and those not seeking him, do.[/I] But, I do suppose I should put a less christian responce, just so that i don't bother others beliefs.

Perhaps the meaning of life is to live it to the fullest. I find myself desiring to slap me in the face because I don't even follw my own advice. I am normally sad and don't care about the rest of the world. I am self-centered most of the time and couldn't care less about who thinks what. Maybe life, as complex and confusing as it is with all its twists and turns, means much more than just screwing in around. Life means adventure. Life means risks. Life means heartbreak. Maybe the very meaning of life is...well, unknown. Maybe the meaning of life is you find your meaning of life.

true .

[*chaneun*]

bump

school is an illusion ....don't let it fool you...my friend...the...real meaning of life is what you make of it....you have a choice..... Either you can a Dreamer or Realistic.....the choice is up to you.....

If school was an illusion, why do we learn from it? You need highschool recommendations to get to a good college, and after graduated you get a good job. That would be realistic; or to some lazy people, dreamers.

I'm reading "Purpose Driven Life," and it's about finding a purpose in life, obviously.
It's kindof confusing, IMO.
But anyway, I think the meaning of life is to be content with everything, almost as if being in a state of "Nirvana," although I'm not a Buddhist.

[*salcha*]

I'm reading "Purpose Driven Life," and it's about finding a purpose in life, obviously.
It's kindof confusing, IMO.
But anyway, I think the meaning of life is to be content with everything, almost as if being in a state of "Nirvana," although I'm not a Buddhist.

Very good book, btw. It's actually written for Christians who will understand it a lot better than an ordinary person reading it.

[*ranniel*]

Very good book, btw. It's actually written for Christians who will understand it a lot better than an ordinary person reading it.

bleh.. what do you mean my ordinary people . im Christian btw, lol.

[Mr. Slowjamz]

bump
If school was an illusion, why do we learn from it? You need highschool recommendations to get to a good college, and after graduated you get a good job. That would be realistic; or to some lazy people, dreamers.

I'm reading "Purpose Driven Life," and it's about finding a purpose in life, obviously.
It's kindof confusing, IMO.
But anyway, I think the meaning of life is to be content with everything, almost as if being in a state of "Nirvana," although I'm not a Buddhist.

Wrong he did not mean it like that . of course you need school its what you learn . but why face school completely judging that everything is perfect and what your learning right now is the limit of yourself and what your capable of ?. Just because you see peers and classmates in school that are doing the same stuff does not mean you cant go further then you expected. its a matter of what you can do ...and how high you raise your standards and reach your potential....dont look at school school as if its taking the shape of you . ...."theres more that meets the eye ".....you have the power to shape it yourself....what you look at right now your school, your town , possibly region . there nuturing you like your mother . its really up to you . the real world is hard....matter of fact skip that the working world . Thats why you see alot people in New York City that are a-holes(sarcasm) because they are sooo passionate & take pride of what they are doing .NYC people are not bad people they are Just too positive. thats a good thing . its self-motivation to help you achieve sucess.

and that, my friend, is why school, is an illusion

[demolished]

Indeed. We're being told what to think, not how to think. They tell us that such-and-such event happened, remember it for the next test. Even though that particular event won't have any sort of use in our lives, we're told to remember it and not why it's relevant to our lives.

I need to start living my life in a more productive way.

True. Very little things from school is relevant to our whole lives, very little. i guess ... what make our life a bit more worthy is interacting friends in a good way which can change our mood, thoughts, happiness, attitude, and whatever. To me, friends does the most impact and affection.

[*mipadi*]

That may (arguably) be true for high school, but college is a different ballgame—you actually learn things that are relevant in almost every class.

[*mipadi*]

The fact that summer is rapidly approaching, which means working full time at a job (an example of yet another daily routine present in my life), and staying at home (a place I don't especially like to be), brings new life to this issue. Somehow, I feel that I could be spending my time more productively…

[*mona lisa*]

Volunteer somewhere. It makes life a bit more worthwile to know that you're helping the community.

[lalalaLANUH]

I love you for posting this. This is how I feel right now.
I was just thinking, what if we were meant to walk around aimlessly our whole lives. Are we entitled to a purpose? Is out purpose in life to find out that there was no purpose to life? That nothing should've been sacred to us because it wouldn't matter anyway? I guess that's my low self esteem talking?
Giving meaning to your life may not be the same thing for everyone. Or maybe it is the same for everyone. Maybe there's one thing that gives meaning to us all?

I've just gotten myself confused...

[*mipadi*]

I had a "revelation" of sorts about this today—well, not just today, over the past week or so, but it all made more sense today. I think that the goal of any person's life, the driving motivation between anything they do, is to minimize the amount of time spent on obligations ("work") and maximize the time spent doing things they like to do ("fun"). Now, fun differs from person to person. One person may find playing videogames to be fun, while another might get more joy from helping out kids at a nursery school, or alerting others to the myriad problems of the world. But it all seems to come back to one thing: having fun and, by extension, enjoying (and getting the most out of) life.

[Mr. Slowjamz]

i think i get it . i`ve realized it . i thats why i dont go in here as while but this quote woke me up .

""Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"

and this


"Every sixty seconds you spend upset is a
minute of happiness you'll never get back"

well the first one is much more clearer .

[*Programmer*]

For the people who were regaurding my comment on the pages earlier. I meant in a high school aspect. Which was nicely discribed by xiMiJix. But also it never quite get's you ready to face college and the responsibility of being on your own. College on the other hand is something that does prepare you for life. i feel the only thing high school taught me was time management. It is what saved my butt being 1,000 miles form home. Because when your out there you are on your own. And if you can't get things done when your suppose to means there is something really wrong with your priorities.

[marzipan]

Life itself is pointless. But that doesn't mean it has no meaning. The way to give life a point is to live it meaningfully.

yep. but i don't think life is pointless. you have life so you can make the most of it and be all that you can be. that's what i aim for at life. i heard someone say "live every day as if you would die tomorrow" so every day i try and do my best in what i do.

[*mipadi*]

yep. but i don't think life is pointless. you have life so you can make the most of it and be all that you can be. that's what i aim for at life. i heard someone say "live every day as if you would die tomorrow" so every day i try and do my best in what i do.

What would you say is the "point" of life?

[Smoogrish]

What would you say is the "point" of life?

To experience things.

[marzipan]

What would you say is the "point" of life?

To experience things.

yes. and to accomplish things that you want to do.

[Smoogrish]

But the things you want to do are basically things you want to experience- for example, if you want to have a lot of money, basically you want to experience enormous wealth and being able to buy lots of things or donate to charities, if you get what I mean. Life is basically experiences.

[marzipan]

But the things you want to do are basically things you want to experience- for example, if you want to have a lot of money, basically you want to experience enormous wealth and being able to buy lots of things or donate to charities, if you get what I mean. Life is basically experiences.

right.

[*mipadi*]

I think "experiencing things" and "accomplishing goals" are both valid and notable things people do to give meaning to life, but I separate those out from some over-arching point, which I would ascribe more to an eventual goal or reason for the existence of humanity in general—which I don't think exists. Hence my claim that life can be meaningful, but overall it's pretty pointless.

[marzipan]

so why do you think humanity exists?

[*mipadi*]

so why do you think humanity exists?

No reason. It goes back to the formation of the universe. A bunch of chemicals came together to form planets and stars. There was leftover material, which eventually evolved into primitive forms of life. Those forms of life eventually evolved into more complex forms. Over time, humans developed. I don't think humanity really has a "point". I think it just exists.

Which is why I feel that the way to make something of life is to have the best time possible, doing whatever that may be. Living seems a better alternative to not living, and living meaningfully seems a better alternative to being bored all the time.

Really, I think humanity places too much emphasis on trying to explain why we're here and develop a point to life. I don't think there is a point. I think it just happened.

Then again, there is the good point that very few things in nature happen for no reason. No apparent reason, perhaps, but nature usually has a reason for most things. Maybe there is some sort of point to life…