The meaning of life

Finding meaning in life can be one of it’s hardest challenges.  Something I struggle with a lot lately.  All my life I’ve gone thru “What’s the point?” phases.  But lately, now that I’m middle-aged and not actively working towards a significant milestone (marriage, career, buying a house), I feel myself searching for meaning more than ever.  I’d say it might be the single greatest repercussion of not having kids.  I’ve never in my life had a desire to be a parent.  The choice I made to not have children always felt very clear.  But I imagine that having kids brings with it a solid sense of meaning to your life.

But what if you don’t have kids?  How do you find meaning and purpose?  Just because I don’t have kids doesn’t mean I’m any less worthy of existing.  To exist, to be here on this planet, is the greatest gift of all time.  To live a rich and meaningful life, that is the greatest challenge we’ll ever face.  I don’t have answers.  In fact, anything but answers.  I have nothing but questions.  Many of which cannot be answered.

What if instead of carrying around the weight of the elusive and painful search for meaning, we surrendered to it.  We accept that in life, sometimes there is no rhyme or reason.  That there aren’t always answers or explanations.  Sometimes what it is, is just what it is.  For one reason or another, you and I are here, on this planet, at this moment in time.  We may never know why or for what BUT we’re still here.  So shouldn’t we make the most of it no matter what?  Just because the meaning hasn’t revealed itself doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy it.  It doesn’t mean we don’t deserve to find love or experience joy.

I think peace may lie beneath the surrender.  Relief from the pressure we’re creating in an effort to define life lies in accepting that it cannot be defined.  What if we let go and turned our focus to simply being grateful that we get to be here at all?

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By Michele

Michele

Hi, I'm Michele, a nomadic wedding photographer and lover of the great outdoors. I live on the road full-time and document my adventures daily. This is my personal blog where I share and record my thoughts on living simply and intentionally with less stress and more joy. Check out my wedding and portrait photography at http://www.oncwest.com

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