The other day I asked Siri what the meaning of life is. Her response was “I don’t think I’m qualified to answer that”…The other day I asked Siri what the meaning of life is. Her response was “I don’t think I’m qualified to answer that”. How fitting! Are any of us “qualified” to answer that age old question? It is a topic that most everyone has an opinion about. The answers, however, vary between individuals.
If you were to ask a twelve year old boy living in an Ethiopian village what the meaning of life is, I imagine he would list what is important to him. Perhaps he would answer with “love, family and safety”. If you ask the same question to a twenty year old privileged girl from Melbourne (who has just been granted access to her trust fund), what do you think her answer would be?
When I was sixteen, my opinion of the meaning of life was to live according to God’s plan. At eighteen, my opinion evolved and “reaching people and enjoying life” was added. When I was twenty-five the meaning of life was to care for my child, and help him along his journey. And now? I don’t believe there is a one-sentence answer. Nor do I believe that the answer will be the same for everyone.
I found my childhood journal the other day, which is what started me thinking along these lines. As a seven year old girl, I had wished and prayed in my journal to be wise. As a little child I believed that having a better understanding, or being “wise”, was the key to fulfilment, and the meaning of life. maybe I should start thinking from an innocent child’s perspective again? Thus, taking away the prejudices and preconceptions that I have picked up along my journey.
Think about yourself and what impacts your opinions… Your upbringing? Your religion? Your experiences? Many factors contribute to form your opinions. So what happens if we can take those factors out of the equation? Try and imagine yourself as an innocent child, without the learnt judgements about the world. Imagine that all of your choices and opinions are coming from a place of pure love. Pure love not only for yourself, but for every human being on this planet.
Is there someone in your life who you find that is “difficult” to be around? Perhaps it’s a girl at work, who is generally quite negative and can be nasty as well. Think of this person and see them from a place of pure love… What are your thoughts? Can you imagine that what she needs is for someone to be kind to her, and show her love (even when she is hard to handle)?
People who are hurting generally hurt other people. You never know what is going on in anothers life. Be kind, always. See how you can change a situation, just by showing love and compassion.
Maybe that is the start to knowing the meaning of life? Pure love.
-Hazel.
Hazel Moon 