Sun 1-25-2009 The Meaning of Life

Sun 1-25-2009 The Meaning of Life

Many people seem to be confused by this concept. Without realizing it, they may have already learned part of it when they were kids, from a cartoon animal no less. Smokey the Bear told us that “only you can prevent forest fires”. He also said that we should leave the forest “better off than we found it” by picking up litter, cans, etc. Think of life and the world as a forest and you have a major part of the meaning of life already ingrained in your consciousness.

Another salient point is that unlike animals, we don’t have to operate from instinct alone. We have the ability to make choices and changes in our lives in an attempt to be happy. Our Founding Fathers thought it was pretty important to mention the fact that as human beings, we have a right to the “pursuit of happiness.”
If you can do both of these at the same time you’re most of the way there to the embodiment of the meaning of life. Pursue activities and relationships that you believe will make you happy and do what you can to leave the world a little better than it was when you came into it.

Another ideal you might follow is found in the Hypocratic Oath that professionals take when they become doctors. They promise to “first, do no harm” then to try and help. If you can manage to be happy and helpful while doing no harm, you’re well down the trail while other people will still be puzzling over the map and checking their pockets for a compass.