MEANING OF LIFE

                                                MEANING OF LIFE

Life Liberty and the pursuit of happiness, is a well-known phrase that is taken from the United States Declaration of Independence. These are three examples of our inalienable rights, which the declaration says, are granted to us by our creator and which our government is charged with protecting. I have often thought that instead of the pursuit of happiness, it should have read-- the pursuit of meaning in life.

Nothing gives us more purpose in life, than to have meaning in life. There is no way to make someone feel more worthless and useless then to take away all meaning in their lives and on the other hand, nothing inspires them more, then to give them meaning in life. It is the pursuit of meaning, not happiness, that drives us to be dignified, responsible and caring and out of that, to seek love, respect and integrity. Not only for ourselves but for others too.

To go to ones grave without having achieved, even one thing that you will be honored and remembered for by others, is to have lived a somewhat wasted life. I say that in the context that meaning does not lie in things. It lies in us. It is within the grasp of everyone to make a difference in this world and the world of others. For just one person to say “my life was made better”, because of him or her, has given that person, I speak of, that meaning. It may not have brought them happiness but it will have brought them meaning, even though they themselves may not be aware of it. Tony Robbins said,” It’s not what we get, but who we become and what we contribute that gives meaning to our lives.”

We come into this life unprogramed, virtually blank, with no identity and without meaning. But from day one, to the last day of our lives, we are fed a steady stream of what is important in life and what isn’t important and it is up to each of us, to pick and choose, what to keep and what to discard. These are the ingredients that in the end will define us and give us meaning and we must choose carefully. The pursuit of meaning is something that is unique to only human beings. People who have high meaning in their lives are more likely to share with others. Happiness on the other hand can be selfish and self-serving. Our quest for happiness can sometimes be our undoing, when we use or abuse others to achieve our goals, with no regard to their happiness.

Joseph Campbell said and I quote. “ Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question, when you are the answer.” We all want to be remembered after we are gone as someone who made a difference. But that end-- should not be the reward. The reward should be how we got there and the road we took to get there. Not the people we touched by dying but the people we touched along the way. We all want our lives to mean something.

I have heard a great saying that says, “The meaning of life, is life.” Everything you need is there if you look for it. It’s up to you to find it and it’s up to all of us to find meaning in our lives and help create and contribute to the meaning of life in ourselves and others.

THETHREE FOOT SNOW CONE

                                          THE THREE-FOOT SNOWCONE

Here in the northlands, far from the conveniences of modern utilities like city sewer, most of us have the dreaded septic systems. We have learned over the years that if you don’t take care of your septic systems, then you just might be joining the critters outside, while taking care of your business. This year for the first time my septic froze up and it’s no fun to be singing Danny Boy in the shower, in that rich Irish tenor voice so many have grown to love, and then the next minute to be ankle deep in some putrid smelling gruel that is bubbling up the drain. I soaked my feet in helix for forty-five minutes trying to kill that flesh-eating germ, I know for a fact lives in that cement container in the back yard. If you think you stink up the bathroom once in a while, just taking care of daily business, you ought to smell it after it has spent the summer stewing in that box in the back yard and now is being forced back into your house, up the shower drain. Enough about poop.

The other day I made a corn beef brisket with all the trimmings and it was delicious. I ended up with about eight inches of soupy, greasy, left over broth and knowing that isn’t good for my septic; I took it outside and poured it into a snow bank. Enter my dog Molly. She proceeded to eat the entire snow bank right down to the gravel. How did this affect her? I’m not sure because she likes to go to the woods with her B.M.’s and I prefer to respect her privacy, so I have no idea what took place back there. Let’s just say I prefer not to know. All I know is Molly loved her three-foot high corned beef snow cone and I got rid of another snow bank. Enough about Molly.

Next time I leave town for a while I have to remember to tell my neighbors. Someone had cut a rather large hole in the ice in front of my place, for fishing purposes and when my neighbors saw it and noticed my absence, they thought I had fallen in. You know how rumors get started. Returning home I found several burnt out candles and some beer cans around the spot on the ice and when I asked about the mess they told me they had a memorial service for me and they were sorry but some dog had run off with the wreath. They were glad to see me back.

Switching gears here-- thank heavens. Something happens in spring, that is a metamorphous of sorts and it is happening right now as I write. The sun turns up the heat and the snow and ice recede. Down by the garden the rhubarb sends out some pink shoots to tentatively test the air. The trees seem to be sighing with relief, after a long winter of being cold and naked and now they are leaking sap and sprouting buds. The lake has turned an angry gray color as the menacing ice cover gives up and turns back to its watery state. “Oh look there’s a robin building a nest and a wood duck swimming in a pond, waiting patiently for the mating ritual to began.” My emotions however are running hot and cold right now because as much as I yearn for summer, I know the calendar of my life has flipped over another page of my existence and each year the yet to be seen pages get skinnier and the ones that have been fulfilled get fatter. I think there is a reason why most old people enjoy spring over autumn and it all lies in that subliminal message.