So this time is not going to be a post about the usual BlackBerry or development, it's going to be a little bit more personal. Weeks ago I talked to a friend, she is living abroad so as always we caught up with what is happening in our lives and at some point we ended up talking about what do we live for. After we finish talking, that question got me thinking because I wanted to answer it in a serious and thoughtful way.
To give you an idea, I've been writing this post since March 8. Not because I didn't know what do I live for, but because I didn't know how to fully express it. When you think about it, the purpose of life is a subject that has appealed to writers, poets, musicians, philosophers, among others for a long time.So it seems only natural that I take my time to answer the question in a way that I find satisfactory.
If I had to quote someone on the matter would be Viktor Frankl, a neurologist and psychiatrist, who said "Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you had acted wrongly the first time". And Eleanor Roosevelt with “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” . I heard them a while ago and I always try to keep them in mind.
But to quote someone else to answer something so important is not enough. So while life went on as usual, I kept thinking about it until recent events gave me the words I was looking for. So what do I live for? The answer is simple and even sounds cheesy and cliche, I live to be better. It took me a while to acknowledge this on a conscious level, I think this is what we call grow up or at least that's what I heard.
Now, I will elaborate on this as a friend will ask me if I were talking to him. The last 7 years of my life have been determining not only professionally but personally. I've met wonderful people, I've been in unbelievable places, I've had beyond wonderful experiences and have tried learn a lot. And also like everyone, I've had to deal with difficult situations, I've made mistakes, I've been disappointed, sad, angry and so on.
Both good and bad moments have somehow brought a lesson, a reflection, a kind of learning. I try the best I can to learn and grow from them and thus be better next time. Do not get me wrong, I do not regret anything or as Sinatra would sing "Regrets, I've had a few. But then again, too few to mention". With "to be better next time" I mean to be better every day, trying to improve things that will enrich my body, mind and soul.
This is much easier said than done. Trying to be better every day means constantly having small, medium and big goals to achieve and this requires commitment, perseverance, will and work. And so sometimes either by our mood, situation or any other reason we think it's easier to do things "the easy way", the problem is that there is nothing meaningful in them. Because the joy, happiness and fulfillment you get on doing the things the best you can and achieving the goals you set is simply priceless.
At first, talking to my friend my answers were like "to be happy", "for the people I love", "to achieve my goals". Today I can confidently say that I live to be better for me, because it makes me happy, and for those I love, because the best I can offer them is the best version of me.
And you? What do you live for?
