Life?

What is the purpose of Life? A question that has plagued mankind since, well the beginning of mankind. Whether you believe that beginning was in Creation or through the slow process of Evolution, it matters not. Why are we here? I have reflected upon this subject time and again throughout my own life and have never really come up with a satisfying answer. I may in all likelihood never come up with an answer. I do believe that I can brush against an idea that may in some way be an inkling of the true answer. That is the case this morning. My life has been tumultuous of late. New beginnings, the ending of some and the rekindling of others. Life long worries come to fruition, and new obstacles to overcome. Whatever seems to come my way, only adds to the question of why, what does it mean, and is there even a reason to keep up the good struggle of achieving happiness? I look back on last night and I believe I see part of this answer. I have spent a large, probably too large of an amount of time pondering my life, where it has been, and if I have wasted opportunities in my life. I think that I have wasted more opportunities than I would like to admit. There are so many times in life when you are faced with a simple decision. To forsake responsibility and logic to do something amazing and memorable, or to follow logic and "Act like an adult" to keep life on track for the goal of being a success. I believe that I have followed logic far too often in my life, and consequently slowly drained all of the fun and excitement from my everyday living. Do you ever wake up looking forward to the day and all that it could bring? When is the last time that you did? For myself, it has been so long I don't remember the last time it happened, most likely sometime when I was much younger and with less to worry about. I haven't stopped to smell the roses since I was a child, in so long I wonder if I remember what the roses even smell like. It is these thoughts that bring me to a, while most likely partial, answer to the original question. What is the purpose of Life? Well, maybe not even a partial answer to that question, but a similar one. What makes Life worth living? That is the important question. I think it is a combination of two things. Experiences and Connections. Your life is custom made to fulfill all of the experiences you have ever dreamed of, it is only up to you to decide to go out and do them. Have you ever met someone and started a conversation, and in that conversation you realize that this person has done so many things you wish you would have or have always wanted to do? What makes them so much better than you that they get to do those things and you don't? Oh you have too much responsibility, too many bills, not enough money, no free time? It was a conversation similar to this that made me realize, I have missed so much. Another question, (I know I pose quite a few of those), do you have a person in your life right now, that has constantly asked you time and again to get out and take part in an activity? That person who can at any given time come up with something to do, there is always a way to have fun or a game to play or a place to visit? I have one of those in my life. It has been part of this realization that saddens me. I HAVE had the opportunity to do all of those things I want, I HAVE had the chance to take full advantage of life, and I just said no to them. I have always said no, I have always had a logically justified and financially sound reason to not take part. Looking back on these past years, I now see so clearly that those years are empty, a barren wasteland of forgotten opportunity, locked doors in a never ending hallway, that, at one time were open to me, but I had only one chance to take them, and I didn't. It is realizing that, once in a lifetime chances happen, every single day, because every day is once in a lifetime, every second should be used to create, to explore, to do something beautiful with your life, or your life will have passed by and you will not even remember what it is like to have lived. This was a two part answer though. The second part, Connections. Not business connections, or LAN connections, or connections like the hook ups you get for knowing the guy at your local bar. The connections you share with the people in your life whether friend, family or foe. Yes experiences are great, but what are they without someone to share them with, someone to motivate you, or even antagonize you. One person alone is a life, but it is not what Life is. You must reach out and touch somebody (not physically, I take no responsibility for anyone who get charged with sexual harrasment). I leave it to you, to make a new friend, or a new enemy, to bring emotion into your life, and to take every chance life gives you to create your own memory, live your own dream, and... have a life worth living. I know that I begin that struggle today.