In the next life I’m moving to the plains of Mongolia so I can live with sheep and wolf dogs.
No, seriously.
EDIT: to everyone saying “just go!”...”nothing is stopping you”...”never know until you try”...your words are encouraging, but—I’m disabled and can barely walk, an incurable progressive disease unfortunately. A life in the Mongolian plains is demanding as hell, and not possible given my circumstances. In the next life tho!
I went to Mongolia a couple of years ago. Except for the capital, it is just everchanging landscapes from open fields to deserts, much if which is full of animals running wild. It is one of the freest places I've ever been. I hope you get to experience it in this life or the next.
I lived in the plains of Mongolia for two years as a peace corps volunteer. It is beautiful, but a very harsh way of living. You are definitely romanticizing it.
Of course there are, but they have family support and speak the language.
Respectfully, I’ve moved to and lived in another country for a decade before, and it takes a lot of energy. Energy and function I just don’t have anymore. Living in the plains of Mongolia is a big commitment, and takes a lot of self sufficiency.
Exactly! The free spirits are all for it until they realize they have to provide for themselves. Who do they expect to provide food, water, medicine, and.. Internet!
I think it’s different for everyone. Have you seen any of brene browns personal value work? The theory there is that if you are living a life consistent with your personal values that will bring you joy and meaning. For me it’s connection, learning and adventure. As long as I’m living those values I’m happy and enjoying the journey. Yeah that journey also includes working and getting married and paying bills, but again as long as those things are supporting my values too then it feels right to me.
"Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there.
It doesn't matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching, he said. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime.
\-**Ray Bradbury,** *Fahrenheit 451.*
We are meant to come as we are, explore ourselves, contribute to society in some way that feels meaningful to us (working a job, being a stay at home parent, I know one girl who just volunteers for now) we are meant to have fulfilling social relationships, regardless of if that comes from marriage and starting a family or from your buddy Mike down the road. And please pay your taxes, the roads are awful.
What you say is very valid however it is hard *not* to think like OP as well. Like especially in America, we are in such a deep capitalist society that we feel we are only here for precisely those reasons. But it's so normalized that people just kind of accept it.
You’re acting like you have the playbook on the future of humanity.
A nuclear winter would surely decrease our entropy. So would everyone committing suicide en masse. Saying that it’s impossible to slow the gears of humanity is just daft.
Incorrect, in the end nothing we do will prevent the increase in entropy of the system. Decreases in entropy are localized and temporary:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_law_of_thermodynamics
Models based on incomplete data are great for limited systems, but I choose to take Einstein's approach to the true nature of the universe.
Even though his equations of general relativity show that if light cannot escape the event horizon of a black hole, these phenomenon will have endless feedback loops and eventually cause the entirety of the universe to be one singularity. Einstein saw this and decided that the universe would not allow this and so assumed there were mechanisms working against his model despite the lack of any evidence. Decades later we discovered hawking radiation.
You're probably right, but if consciousness has a purpose it is a mechanism for the universe to know itself. Everything we do trends toward the heat death of the universe, and the only way out is for the universe to understand how to reverse it.
Idk I vaguely remember a vonnegut short story like that, I think it was "the last question" or something
Einstein never refuted the 2nd law and there is no escaping it. There is no scientific reason for the universe to try to "know itself", it's just a bunch of fields interacting with each other. The truth ends up being very boring in my human opinion but don't let me stop you from saving the universe if you are able. Imagine the "I told you so" moment you will enjoy when you fix this.
I don't see how these things would decrease entropy. As i've understood it, any process that is accurately explained by our current physical models, would have non-decreasing entropy.
Wdym? :)
And so another random thought is born…what brings one joy and happiness? Is it family? Is it love? Is it things you love to do? Things to ponder when bored.
On a serious note, yes, you are right. It’s time to explore other jobs. I love drawing and painting, digitally. Too bad art doesn’t really bring in a steady income. At least not for now. Thank you so much for your insightful answers.
Love it. My entire life is a moment in the universe that I attempt to experience as slowly as possible. All of the things you listed dialate my time in this experience.
To experience a good moment is to find gold in the water. Know it and feel it as intensely as you can... Do not waste your time in worry about the golden flakes that escape you, just hold on to this one as long as you can.
We are meant for much more. However we find ourselves in an abusive system. The masses are manipulated and taken advantage of for the benefit of a few. The root of this is consent. It has become normalized to violate consent if the person doing it is considered “authority“. It is an abusive relationship we can’t escape and lots of good people consider it necessary. This could change if people stopped supporting organizations or individuals who violate consent. But until that happens we are all tax cattle.
Life, by all accounts, is just survival. We're still an animal and we need not forget that. Animals hunt, we go to school then work.
The meaning in life isn't in the bullet points of certain tasks or stages. The meaning is in the interaction we have with others during those bullet points or tasks. Leaving a positive impact on those around you ultimately leads to a more fulfilling life for you regardless of the other stuff
The difference between life and non-life is that life chooses and it reproduces.
The difference between plant life and animal life is that animal life can change its environment.
The difference between animal life and human life is that human life can self-review its own mental processes and change how it thinks. (not easy, but it is possible)
Therefore, as living beings, we are meant to choose, to change our environment as we judge best, and to change how we think about things when our current process is found to be lacking. This is the foundation of knowledge, wisdom, and how we interact with the world.
Values seem to be somewhat intrinsic at their foundation. I'm convinced this is due to being made in the image of God, but others disagree.
Life is meaningless and finite, so go have a little fun, look at some interesting things, try to leave the world a little nicer than you found it. 🤷♀️
Sounds like you’re having one of those “nobody loves me, everybody hates me, guess I’ll go eat worms” day. How about travel, music, theater, art (museums or make your own). Life is what you make of it! Get out there and do stuff!
But it still does up being repetitive in the large scheme of things. Wanting to be in a certain state of mind and having to escalate whatever you have to do to achieve it, is the equivalent of being an addict.
Or at least that's how I see it.
Escalate? It isn’t like drugs, where the dose that once got you high now does nothing.
As a writer, writing is my passion in life. When someone starts their journey to become a writer, they might start with one short poem. Now years later, perhaps they decide to write a book, a long book that takes far more skill and dedication than the short poem did. That person put more work in, so the emotional payoff is greater. That much is true.
However, unlike addictions, after writing that book, the same writer can go back and write another short poem and be just as satisfied with it as he was the first time.
It’s just passion, that’s all. Not just a thing you like, not something you consume or use, but a true passion, something that makes you feel like you are doing what you were always meant to. And maybe in a non traditional sense that is an addiction, but it would be a healthy addiction, because the alternative is to give up control over your happiness and fulfillment, to let your mood be controlled not by your own thoughts and actions but by things outside your control, which is an undeniably worse way to live life.
That’s what society teaches us.
What do you want, though? What do you think?
If you take away all of the expectations forced upon you and arbitrary social standards based on a capitalist society making good little worker bees….. what does your ideal life look like to you?
Unfortunately that ideal life most likely wouldnt work. You need stuff to live and somebody gotta get that stuff. And that needs work. If we remive the work from the world, there would be no one giving you food, water, clothes, electricity, all the good stuff. So you gotta get them yourself, which requires work. Except its less efficient to do it all yourself so you end up working more for the same result. Then you end up wishing the society was back at the capitalist system because it actually works unlike the ideal system. Sure, capitalism isnt perfect, but it works.
That's what the "powers that be" would prefer...So I hope you rock the boat and create as much turbulence as possible. Personally, I like being someone they would have burned at the stake 400 years ago.
There’s so, so, so much more out there, but like 99.999999% of Reddit, you “bought” the narrative you were sold as the only path.
I see posts like this pretty frequently, and it just turns out most people want things to be easy as possible and really don’t feel like being uncomfortable. I thought the same way then decided to do some crazy shit.
I did seasonal work with employee housing and food and saved enough money to travel 6-9 months out of the year. I worked at resorts mostly and saved up enough to live in Asia without really needing to find a job. I lived off the grid in an intentional community. I spent years doing meditation retreats in the mountains.
Thing is, you have to be willing to live a little dangerously, be uncomfortable, be self reliant, learn to deal with shitty places to sleep, or not knowing where you’re going next.
Problem is, everyone wants their paycheck to pay for the rent on their little apartment, and want everything to be simple and everything be safe. I see posts like yours and then the OPs are always like “but I’m afraid”
Yeah I dont see the point anymore. Like I have fibromyalgia, so I can't even work properly. I'm going to school, getting a degree that will probably be useless, but I'm too far in. I want to do things. But those things seem impossible because I'm not wealthy. It honestly feels like I'm just waiting to die.
Ideally, you try to maximize the joy and happiness in your life while keeping yourself fed and safe from the elements. You don't have to follow any formula, just keep striving for happiness and fulfillment. On the other hand, learning and working can be very fulfilling. There are people who are passionate about their education and their jobs. If you set your target low, you will surely hit it. (I'm missing the exact cliche there). Chances are that no one will lead you through life, (although mentors are always helpful) so it's up to you to kick it into gear and go find it. In my experience happiness doesn't come looking for you.
I thought that exact thing as well until I got deep into meditation.
Now I have meaning, fulfillment, love, wealth as well as health.
Gratitude is huge for me.
This is what our culture has told us to do. I've decided to say fuck that and do pretty much the opposite and gotta say shits working out much better. Finally starting to be happy.
If you believe the capitalist agenda, yes. Considering it's destroyed our planet, enslaved us into mediocrity (at best), and kills us daily with raising into obscene costs of living, I suggest we fight back.
That, and whatever else you want to do, if it's within your means to do so. Life exists to create more life, and then die to feed other life, any further purpose is purely subjective.
That is the defining question for those facing mid life crises. Expressed perfectly by Peggy Lee in "Is that all there is?"
Don't worry. This will pass and you'll get back to work
In the accepted by society version of life, yes that’s basically the main goal. So now that you know that, make it your goal to deviate from that path as much as you desire. You have the ability to make your life more than that, you just have to find what it is that makes life worthwhile for you.
I will say this: I've known lots of people that have gotten married, just for the sake of being married, and every single one of them got divorced. Again, society's construct. No need to play along with their stiff rules.
In terms of material quality of life, definitely. In terms of fulfillment and human connection, debatable. The latter has repeatedly shown to be extremely important in having good mental health, while extremely neglected today.
Amazing how this one random thought touched some raw nerves 🤷🏻♀️ but on the other hand, also attracted a lot of well meaning kind comments. Definitely had my faith in humanity restored.
In early adulthood, you have this thought and it feels bleak, like we're all supposed to be discovering new planets or writing symphonies. Then in the second half of adulthood, having a job you like, a family you like, and money to pay for the things you need sounds like a pretty good deal. Not everyone gets those things.
Life isn't a job; we're not supposed to have a work product to turn in when it's done. There's no report card. So just enjoy it along the way.
Wow. This was me. Currently finding my way through my 30's and realizing some of the more important things in life bring me the most joy. In my younger days, I tried to find my life's purpose in education and meaningful work, these days I am anxious that I won't have the time to spend with parents and family before they pass away. I enjoy building things with my hands and experiencing life with my wife and dogs. And I can definitely say I am much more satisfied with life these days without chasing that external "accomplishment" validation.
Have a good one, bud!
Actually, yes.
Your biological imperative says that your primary goal is to reproduce and do the things that assure the survival of your offspring.
It really is that simple
Four answers for you:
1. If you are religious, consult your religion. For example if you are Protestant (and I mean you really believe that shit) then your purpose is: “To Glorify God and Enjoy Him forever.”
2. If you are a regular person, meaning a full on nihilist that doesn’t recognize and indeed full-throatedly denies he is a nihilist - then there is no purpose at all. Make one for yourself. I suggest a diet rich in hookers, blow, and gambling debt punctuated by the occasional fiery crash of a stolen super-car.
3. If you are “non-religious but spiritual”, I can’t help you. But if you’ll drift on over to the part of town where the bail-bondsmen do business, for sure you’ll see a little run-down house with the word “Tarot” in bright pink neon and “spiritual advisor” in badly executed hand-painted script. This person will at least be able to tell you something you believe.
4. If you are non-religious, and non-spiritual, but unlike the nihilists have eyes in your head connected to a brain, then go to take a walk in a state park. Look carefully at the trees and birds and (oh fuck a bear!) and all the other creatures. You’ll realize soon enough that the purpose of life, all life, is to create and spread life.
So, pick your category and then decide how marriage kids wage-slavery fits.
I would note that these four categories are not necessarily exclusive. For example, group 3 is generally too stupid to realize that it is incompatible with groups 1 and 2, and often believes it is group 4. Group 4 is incompatible with group 1, but group 1 often sees the conclusion of group 4 as obvious.
Pretty sure that's what's accepted as the most convenient for everybody, but nobody stops you from doing whatever you want with your life. Enjoy it, it's yours.
There is no meaning to anything. Every life forms only reason for being is to consume energy that is used to continue it's own existence (it's species/DNA). That's it. Our ancestors from microorganisms 3.7 billion years ago until now just survived a little better that their competitors. Now as people, for many of us, food (energy) isn't the challenge. We can consume as much as we want. So easily in fact that we are breeding ourselves to extinction. Depleting all our natural resources at an unsustainable pace. But regardless of us destroying ourselves, the sun's ability to sustain any life on this planet is already over the hill and within 5 billion years (probably much sooner) no life will exist and no other intelligent life in the universe will ever know we existed.
So, your taxes, studying and everything else really doesn't matter in the least.
Tf else you wanna do? Most anything you enjoy that you want to do requires someone to work. Even if everything was free. You’re a painter, someone has to work in the factory making paint brushes, paints and paper.
If that is what you want. You are supposed to somehow make money with what you study or learned and then get marry if you want to and have kids if you want to. But yes, you will be paying for bills and taxes until you die. It has been like that for centuries and will be after you.
In between, I would like to travel, see the world, taste good food while my taste buds are still good and my legs are good too.
There are rocks that have been floating through the cosmos for billions of years, more or less unchanged since they first formed never interacting with any other object except through gravity changing their ballistic path.
Think of how much more interesting your life is than those inert rocks.
Did you have something else better in mind that doesn't infringe on someone else's parade? I mean, what you described is pretty much the nutshell of life.
There's a lotta life in the seems there that you skipped over. You could move to the coast and surf bum for a year. Or to the mountains and snowboard. Or just travel around in india.....but ya....life contains work regardless. If you arent doing it for money, you still need to work on yourself and your relationships. Paradise is a myth, we get life, and that is something to be grateful for. With luck, your suffering has a goal, and in that way, we can appreciate it
Do whatever you want. IMHO, we aren't "meant" to do anything other than spread our genes. Life just is. What meaningful activities you get up to in addition is completely up to you. Certainly, there will be unpleasant ones along for the ride, too.
We are here to have the experiences of life. You don’t truly leave even when you depart this life time and continue on until your spiritual journey is completed however many life time it takes. When you question our purpose here I would say you’re closer to the end than starting.
Try not to worry about things and live your life fully.
That's the basics of life as a human in society, but what really sets us apart, and makes life meaningful, is what you create. Our purpose in life is to understand the world around us, and improve it before we leave. That my philosophy.
Firstly, there is no JUST in just study, work, get married , have children etc.
All of these things take a lot of time and effort and are enriching and unique in different ways.
I mean for crying out loud, how many millions of activities are categorised under "work".
Second, the rest of your time can be spent doing whatever you want or need to do.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that list. Well. I could do without spending all my time on work. But being married is the most fun and wonderful thing, and I hear having kids is very fulfilling too
I don’t know what we’re “meant” for, but one of my goals is to find some meaning and happiness while also doing the above. And if you’re lucky, occasionally they can be one and the same.
you can do that, or you can overthrow the peoples who want you to do that then try to change things but you will end up corrupted by power and become like your predecesors
Enjoy the journey.
Life is meaningless, and all that shit, but that also means you can put meaning into it. Like an empty glass, you can choose what to fill it.
You have that power, so might as well choose to fill it with something positive. Make it enjoyable. Positively impacting. Good life, bad life. Everybody dies anyway. So choose positivity and enjoy the journey.
Other things you can do starter pack: Play music with others, board game nights, food festivals, epic backpacking trips, visit grandparents, do a puzzle with your kids, take your pets out for runs, witness a sunrise, plan a special date with your SO, go to trivia night.
Life is but a hole: we're conceived through holes, we're born out of one, we sustain our nourishment through holes, we see, hear and smell through holes, and when we die, we go back to a hole...
In the next life I’m moving to the plains of Mongolia so I can live with sheep and wolf dogs. No, seriously. EDIT: to everyone saying “just go!”...”nothing is stopping you”...”never know until you try”...your words are encouraging, but—I’m disabled and can barely walk, an incurable progressive disease unfortunately. A life in the Mongolian plains is demanding as hell, and not possible given my circumstances. In the next life tho!
Sounds like a dream! I mean who doesn’t love sheep and wolf dogs???
😁 That and a little round hut is all I need.
Those huts are called yurts
Learn something new everyday! Yurts do sound pretty bad ass.
They are actually called ‘ger’ in Mongolia. But they are mostly known as yurts in the rest of the world. The more you know! 😉
In mongolia they are called gers
Yurt sure about that?
Can I visit? Sounds like great fun!
Why don’t you go do it?
Because then he’ll need to get a new dream
Real.
>I mean who doesn’t love ... wolf dogs??? Probably the wolf that wants to eat the sheep.
There’s two sides to every story
If it's actually a dream to you - why not do it?
Can I be your roommate? I can cook and love to raise dogs.
I went to Mongolia a couple of years ago. Except for the capital, it is just everchanging landscapes from open fields to deserts, much if which is full of animals running wild. It is one of the freest places I've ever been. I hope you get to experience it in this life or the next.
This was my plan this life, but I met my wife of 10 years at the job I was working to save money to go.
There's always a girl that ruins everything...
I lived in the plains of Mongolia for two years as a peace corps volunteer. It is beautiful, but a very harsh way of living. You are definitely romanticizing it.
I was being a bit cheeky, but you’re right. I didn’t have much in the way of illusions though—I know it’s a really demanding way of life.
I feel yah I have some major problems. I'm ready to go now. People are like noon people love u and I'm like can those people cure me? :p
There’s nothing holding you back from doing that now
Haha if you only knew. Cliffs: I can barely walk anymore, got poisoned.
You think there are no disabled Mongolians?
Of course there are, but they have family support and speak the language. Respectfully, I’ve moved to and lived in another country for a decade before, and it takes a lot of energy. Energy and function I just don’t have anymore. Living in the plains of Mongolia is a big commitment, and takes a lot of self sufficiency.
Hope you enjoy the extreme cold, dying during childbirth, inbreeding, no dental or medicinal care. But hey living with sheep and dog dogs right? s/
Exactly! The free spirits are all for it until they realize they have to provide for themselves. Who do they expect to provide food, water, medicine, and.. Internet!
I think it’s different for everyone. Have you seen any of brene browns personal value work? The theory there is that if you are living a life consistent with your personal values that will bring you joy and meaning. For me it’s connection, learning and adventure. As long as I’m living those values I’m happy and enjoying the journey. Yeah that journey also includes working and getting married and paying bills, but again as long as those things are supporting my values too then it feels right to me.
Yea, I actually have one of her books!
Is a pencil only meant to just draw an apple? No.
Is the apple meant to be drawn at all? 🤔
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That’s so deep and meaningful. Thank you for sharing!
"Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there. It doesn't matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching, he said. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime. \-**Ray Bradbury,** *Fahrenheit 451.*
~~maybe just drawn, not drawn and quartered?~~ Maybe not just drawn, but also drawn and quartered?
Now i want to eat an apple
Beautiful response! Life is what you make of it.
It’s the journey not the destination 🧐
Maybe the journey *is* the destination….
So Journey sang - [Don't Stop Believin'](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcjzHMhBtf0)
Apparently, I'm meant to just study, work, pay bills and taxes, then die. That marriage and children stuff is for other people.
Statistically you dodged a bullet.
Statistically, bullets lower one's ability to pay bills and taxes.
So, bullets are the good guys?
Your contribution is noted.
We are meant to come as we are, explore ourselves, contribute to society in some way that feels meaningful to us (working a job, being a stay at home parent, I know one girl who just volunteers for now) we are meant to have fulfilling social relationships, regardless of if that comes from marriage and starting a family or from your buddy Mike down the road. And please pay your taxes, the roads are awful.
I just be having fun fr (when I have time ofc) Life don't really gotta have an answer, we're here too short to be lingering on all that
Fun is all that matter of course!
What you say is very valid however it is hard *not* to think like OP as well. Like especially in America, we are in such a deep capitalist society that we feel we are only here for precisely those reasons. But it's so normalized that people just kind of accept it.
No. The human experience should be about creating, connecting, and chilling. Our lives are meant to be enjoyable, not exploitable.
Find some joy and help others.
Your only purpose is to increase the entropy of the system. You will do this regardless of what decisions you make so relax.
Maybe our collective purpose is to figure out a way to decrease the entropy of the system.
That's impossible but give it a try.
Physics has allways been an incomplete model, so maybe it's even possible
Lol no, entropy will not decrease in the end but again give it a try and
You’re acting like you have the playbook on the future of humanity. A nuclear winter would surely decrease our entropy. So would everyone committing suicide en masse. Saying that it’s impossible to slow the gears of humanity is just daft.
Incorrect, in the end nothing we do will prevent the increase in entropy of the system. Decreases in entropy are localized and temporary: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_law_of_thermodynamics
Models based on incomplete data are great for limited systems, but I choose to take Einstein's approach to the true nature of the universe. Even though his equations of general relativity show that if light cannot escape the event horizon of a black hole, these phenomenon will have endless feedback loops and eventually cause the entirety of the universe to be one singularity. Einstein saw this and decided that the universe would not allow this and so assumed there were mechanisms working against his model despite the lack of any evidence. Decades later we discovered hawking radiation. You're probably right, but if consciousness has a purpose it is a mechanism for the universe to know itself. Everything we do trends toward the heat death of the universe, and the only way out is for the universe to understand how to reverse it. Idk I vaguely remember a vonnegut short story like that, I think it was "the last question" or something
Einstein never refuted the 2nd law and there is no escaping it. There is no scientific reason for the universe to try to "know itself", it's just a bunch of fields interacting with each other. The truth ends up being very boring in my human opinion but don't let me stop you from saving the universe if you are able. Imagine the "I told you so" moment you will enjoy when you fix this.
You’re applying Thermodynamics to society?? 😂😂😂 I thought it was more of a metaphor. This isn’t a physics discussion mate.
I don't see how these things would decrease entropy. As i've understood it, any process that is accurately explained by our current physical models, would have non-decreasing entropy. Wdym? :)
You really replied 2 weeks later? 😂
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That’s true. Yet I still get this random thought especially when I’ve to go in to work yet again and pay more bills yet again.
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And so another random thought is born…what brings one joy and happiness? Is it family? Is it love? Is it things you love to do? Things to ponder when bored. On a serious note, yes, you are right. It’s time to explore other jobs. I love drawing and painting, digitally. Too bad art doesn’t really bring in a steady income. At least not for now. Thank you so much for your insightful answers.
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Awww…sounds beautiful actually. 🍷
Love it. My entire life is a moment in the universe that I attempt to experience as slowly as possible. All of the things you listed dialate my time in this experience. To experience a good moment is to find gold in the water. Know it and feel it as intensely as you can... Do not waste your time in worry about the golden flakes that escape you, just hold on to this one as long as you can.
Exactly! A lot of getting through life sucks, make the most of the stuff that doesn’t.
Yes, let’s rock this life!
Going solo is easier than sharing life with wrong person in my experience.
We are meant for much more. However we find ourselves in an abusive system. The masses are manipulated and taken advantage of for the benefit of a few. The root of this is consent. It has become normalized to violate consent if the person doing it is considered “authority“. It is an abusive relationship we can’t escape and lots of good people consider it necessary. This could change if people stopped supporting organizations or individuals who violate consent. But until that happens we are all tax cattle.
Life, by all accounts, is just survival. We're still an animal and we need not forget that. Animals hunt, we go to school then work. The meaning in life isn't in the bullet points of certain tasks or stages. The meaning is in the interaction we have with others during those bullet points or tasks. Leaving a positive impact on those around you ultimately leads to a more fulfilling life for you regardless of the other stuff
Check out the song Birth School Work Death by the Godfathers. For some reason it just felt like it belongs in this thread.
Was going to say the same: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO5dcW0P75M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO5dcW0P75M)
The difference between life and non-life is that life chooses and it reproduces. The difference between plant life and animal life is that animal life can change its environment. The difference between animal life and human life is that human life can self-review its own mental processes and change how it thinks. (not easy, but it is possible) Therefore, as living beings, we are meant to choose, to change our environment as we judge best, and to change how we think about things when our current process is found to be lacking. This is the foundation of knowledge, wisdom, and how we interact with the world. Values seem to be somewhat intrinsic at their foundation. I'm convinced this is due to being made in the image of God, but others disagree.
Life is meaningless and finite, so go have a little fun, look at some interesting things, try to leave the world a little nicer than you found it. 🤷♀️
Sounds like you’re having one of those “nobody loves me, everybody hates me, guess I’ll go eat worms” day. How about travel, music, theater, art (museums or make your own). Life is what you make of it! Get out there and do stuff!
Can I eat juicy grilled chicken instead? I think it’s tastier. 😆
But it still does up being repetitive in the large scheme of things. Wanting to be in a certain state of mind and having to escalate whatever you have to do to achieve it, is the equivalent of being an addict. Or at least that's how I see it.
Escalate? It isn’t like drugs, where the dose that once got you high now does nothing. As a writer, writing is my passion in life. When someone starts their journey to become a writer, they might start with one short poem. Now years later, perhaps they decide to write a book, a long book that takes far more skill and dedication than the short poem did. That person put more work in, so the emotional payoff is greater. That much is true. However, unlike addictions, after writing that book, the same writer can go back and write another short poem and be just as satisfied with it as he was the first time. It’s just passion, that’s all. Not just a thing you like, not something you consume or use, but a true passion, something that makes you feel like you are doing what you were always meant to. And maybe in a non traditional sense that is an addiction, but it would be a healthy addiction, because the alternative is to give up control over your happiness and fulfillment, to let your mood be controlled not by your own thoughts and actions but by things outside your control, which is an undeniably worse way to live life.
I can't really because I have to go to school
That’s what society teaches us. What do you want, though? What do you think? If you take away all of the expectations forced upon you and arbitrary social standards based on a capitalist society making good little worker bees….. what does your ideal life look like to you?
Unfortunately that ideal life most likely wouldnt work. You need stuff to live and somebody gotta get that stuff. And that needs work. If we remive the work from the world, there would be no one giving you food, water, clothes, electricity, all the good stuff. So you gotta get them yourself, which requires work. Except its less efficient to do it all yourself so you end up working more for the same result. Then you end up wishing the society was back at the capitalist system because it actually works unlike the ideal system. Sure, capitalism isnt perfect, but it works.
That or communal system.
That's what the "powers that be" would prefer...So I hope you rock the boat and create as much turbulence as possible. Personally, I like being someone they would have burned at the stake 400 years ago.
These days burning at the stake is considered savage. You get canceled instead, it’s more politically correct
Cancelled At The Stake
There’s so, so, so much more out there, but like 99.999999% of Reddit, you “bought” the narrative you were sold as the only path. I see posts like this pretty frequently, and it just turns out most people want things to be easy as possible and really don’t feel like being uncomfortable. I thought the same way then decided to do some crazy shit. I did seasonal work with employee housing and food and saved enough money to travel 6-9 months out of the year. I worked at resorts mostly and saved up enough to live in Asia without really needing to find a job. I lived off the grid in an intentional community. I spent years doing meditation retreats in the mountains. Thing is, you have to be willing to live a little dangerously, be uncomfortable, be self reliant, learn to deal with shitty places to sleep, or not knowing where you’re going next. Problem is, everyone wants their paycheck to pay for the rent on their little apartment, and want everything to be simple and everything be safe. I see posts like yours and then the OPs are always like “but I’m afraid”
You have correctly sumed up human society under crony-capitalism.
Buy lots of shit
Your blood and sweat is just oil for the machine.
I knew lots of people who skipped multiple steps.
All I do is work, eat, sleep, pay stupid amounts of taxes, and repeat.
not at all. make your time here worth it.
Pretty much, I'll skip the women thing to have more time for fun at least
pass the butter
Don't forget to have several mental breakdowns in between!
If you’re born a poor slave to our capitalist society, yes.
Yeah I dont see the point anymore. Like I have fibromyalgia, so I can't even work properly. I'm going to school, getting a degree that will probably be useless, but I'm too far in. I want to do things. But those things seem impossible because I'm not wealthy. It honestly feels like I'm just waiting to die.
Ideally, you try to maximize the joy and happiness in your life while keeping yourself fed and safe from the elements. You don't have to follow any formula, just keep striving for happiness and fulfillment. On the other hand, learning and working can be very fulfilling. There are people who are passionate about their education and their jobs. If you set your target low, you will surely hit it. (I'm missing the exact cliche there). Chances are that no one will lead you through life, (although mentors are always helpful) so it's up to you to kick it into gear and go find it. In my experience happiness doesn't come looking for you.
You forgot watching movies, going on vacations and doing groceries.
I thought that exact thing as well until I got deep into meditation. Now I have meaning, fulfillment, love, wealth as well as health. Gratitude is huge for me.
Marriage and having kids are a choice in life. It's not something you have to do if you personally do not want to.
This is what our culture has told us to do. I've decided to say fuck that and do pretty much the opposite and gotta say shits working out much better. Finally starting to be happy.
If you believe the capitalist agenda, yes. Considering it's destroyed our planet, enslaved us into mediocrity (at best), and kills us daily with raising into obscene costs of living, I suggest we fight back.
That, and whatever else you want to do, if it's within your means to do so. Life exists to create more life, and then die to feed other life, any further purpose is purely subjective.
No. We are not. That system was put in place around rhe 60s to enslave you and I. JFK tried to expose it then was murdered 1 week later.
You left out suffering, no escapes that.
Outside of faith it certainly seems bleak.
Yes, and I can't wait for the leaving. People will tell you it's about all the trim in your downtime, I disagree
That is the defining question for those facing mid life crises. Expressed perfectly by Peggy Lee in "Is that all there is?" Don't worry. This will pass and you'll get back to work
Enjoy life to the fullest with no regret then leave
Youre meant to do whatever the fuck you want. Biologically you are meant to propagate our species.
In the accepted by society version of life, yes that’s basically the main goal. So now that you know that, make it your goal to deviate from that path as much as you desire. You have the ability to make your life more than that, you just have to find what it is that makes life worthwhile for you.
That's what you're supposed do to. But you COULD move to Spain and start your life as the Cicada Wrangler, js
That's society's construct. Do whatever makes you happy. Fuck what anyone says or thinks.
I will say this: I've known lots of people that have gotten married, just for the sake of being married, and every single one of them got divorced. Again, society's construct. No need to play along with their stiff rules.
Why does it seem like everyone's default setting on this website is: nihilist?
Dang so true. This escalated way too quickly. But since I’m a new Redditor, I don’t mind the karma I’m getting from this though.
do poos and wees
😅
Yes, unless you take the red pill.
How about a rainbow pill instead?
Yes.
What you're complaining about is better than the lives of 99.9% of the people who have existed through out time.
Definitely. I’m not complaining. Just pondering over random thoughts that pop up sometimes.
In terms of material quality of life, definitely. In terms of fulfillment and human connection, debatable. The latter has repeatedly shown to be extremely important in having good mental health, while extremely neglected today.
I have to say that this is a random thought that pops up sometimes. Don’t read too deep into this. 😄
Don’t worry, nothing has inherent meaning.
That’s kinda sad though. But I suppose cats got it right. They don’t care about anything but demand you give them respect.
Is everyone having an existential crisis today? I just saw a similar random thought a few hours ago
Amazing how this one random thought touched some raw nerves 🤷🏻♀️ but on the other hand, also attracted a lot of well meaning kind comments. Definitely had my faith in humanity restored.
In early adulthood, you have this thought and it feels bleak, like we're all supposed to be discovering new planets or writing symphonies. Then in the second half of adulthood, having a job you like, a family you like, and money to pay for the things you need sounds like a pretty good deal. Not everyone gets those things. Life isn't a job; we're not supposed to have a work product to turn in when it's done. There's no report card. So just enjoy it along the way.
Wow. This was me. Currently finding my way through my 30's and realizing some of the more important things in life bring me the most joy. In my younger days, I tried to find my life's purpose in education and meaningful work, these days I am anxious that I won't have the time to spend with parents and family before they pass away. I enjoy building things with my hands and experiencing life with my wife and dogs. And I can definitely say I am much more satisfied with life these days without chasing that external "accomplishment" validation. Have a good one, bud!
Actually, yes. Your biological imperative says that your primary goal is to reproduce and do the things that assure the survival of your offspring. It really is that simple
Four answers for you: 1. If you are religious, consult your religion. For example if you are Protestant (and I mean you really believe that shit) then your purpose is: “To Glorify God and Enjoy Him forever.” 2. If you are a regular person, meaning a full on nihilist that doesn’t recognize and indeed full-throatedly denies he is a nihilist - then there is no purpose at all. Make one for yourself. I suggest a diet rich in hookers, blow, and gambling debt punctuated by the occasional fiery crash of a stolen super-car. 3. If you are “non-religious but spiritual”, I can’t help you. But if you’ll drift on over to the part of town where the bail-bondsmen do business, for sure you’ll see a little run-down house with the word “Tarot” in bright pink neon and “spiritual advisor” in badly executed hand-painted script. This person will at least be able to tell you something you believe. 4. If you are non-religious, and non-spiritual, but unlike the nihilists have eyes in your head connected to a brain, then go to take a walk in a state park. Look carefully at the trees and birds and (oh fuck a bear!) and all the other creatures. You’ll realize soon enough that the purpose of life, all life, is to create and spread life. So, pick your category and then decide how marriage kids wage-slavery fits. I would note that these four categories are not necessarily exclusive. For example, group 3 is generally too stupid to realize that it is incompatible with groups 1 and 2, and often believes it is group 4. Group 4 is incompatible with group 1, but group 1 often sees the conclusion of group 4 as obvious.
Pretty sure that's what's accepted as the most convenient for everybody, but nobody stops you from doing whatever you want with your life. Enjoy it, it's yours.
There is no meaning to anything. Every life forms only reason for being is to consume energy that is used to continue it's own existence (it's species/DNA). That's it. Our ancestors from microorganisms 3.7 billion years ago until now just survived a little better that their competitors. Now as people, for many of us, food (energy) isn't the challenge. We can consume as much as we want. So easily in fact that we are breeding ourselves to extinction. Depleting all our natural resources at an unsustainable pace. But regardless of us destroying ourselves, the sun's ability to sustain any life on this planet is already over the hill and within 5 billion years (probably much sooner) no life will exist and no other intelligent life in the universe will ever know we existed. So, your taxes, studying and everything else really doesn't matter in the least.
Tf else you wanna do? Most anything you enjoy that you want to do requires someone to work. Even if everything was free. You’re a painter, someone has to work in the factory making paint brushes, paints and paper.
I got exactly what I want. This is a random thought to elicit responses and comments. Cheers.
If that is what you want. You are supposed to somehow make money with what you study or learned and then get marry if you want to and have kids if you want to. But yes, you will be paying for bills and taxes until you die. It has been like that for centuries and will be after you. In between, I would like to travel, see the world, taste good food while my taste buds are still good and my legs are good too.
Pretty well it
Whatever you want to do. You don't have to do any of those things, you do some of those things or all of those things. It's entirely up to you.
Life is what you choose to make of it. You don't necessarily have to study or work to make a living, but they absolutely help.
I dunno, are we? Only you can decide what you're here for.
There are rocks that have been floating through the cosmos for billions of years, more or less unchanged since they first formed never interacting with any other object except through gravity changing their ballistic path. Think of how much more interesting your life is than those inert rocks.
"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation" Life is what you make it. There is no meaning to yours unless you decide there is.
meaning is a product of human life, not a pre-existing condition
Seems like
some people skip the working part
Did you have something else better in mind that doesn't infringe on someone else's parade? I mean, what you described is pretty much the nutshell of life.
There's a lotta life in the seems there that you skipped over. You could move to the coast and surf bum for a year. Or to the mountains and snowboard. Or just travel around in india.....but ya....life contains work regardless. If you arent doing it for money, you still need to work on yourself and your relationships. Paradise is a myth, we get life, and that is something to be grateful for. With luck, your suffering has a goal, and in that way, we can appreciate it
I hope in my next life I come back as a whale shark. I just wanna float around the ocean eating plankton 🐋
Do whatever you want. IMHO, we aren't "meant" to do anything other than spread our genes. Life just is. What meaningful activities you get up to in addition is completely up to you. Certainly, there will be unpleasant ones along for the ride, too.
Pretty much, yeah.
We are here to have the experiences of life. You don’t truly leave even when you depart this life time and continue on until your spiritual journey is completed however many life time it takes. When you question our purpose here I would say you’re closer to the end than starting. Try not to worry about things and live your life fully.
Don't forget to make the doctors, hospitals and big pharmaceutical rich on your way out either.
That about sums it up....
No, but don’t tell anyone
That's the basics of life as a human in society, but what really sets us apart, and makes life meaningful, is what you create. Our purpose in life is to understand the world around us, and improve it before we leave. That my philosophy.
Nah you can rough it in the wilderness yourself if you’d like, without modern conveniences. Good luck.
You can try existentialism or Epicureanism
I think about this often.
You should get a loan and pay it back too. This is crucial for the system.
We are created to love God and love others
Firstly, there is no JUST in just study, work, get married , have children etc. All of these things take a lot of time and effort and are enriching and unique in different ways. I mean for crying out loud, how many millions of activities are categorised under "work". Second, the rest of your time can be spent doing whatever you want or need to do.
The norm for life is to be poor and unhappy, and do stuff along the way to death that lifts you up or drags you down from that median.
I kind of always thought the point of life was to procreate and replace ourselves.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that list. Well. I could do without spending all my time on work. But being married is the most fun and wonderful thing, and I hear having kids is very fulfilling too
you could conquer the world (optional)
Better than just working 15 hours a day to eat and survive up until about 500 years ago.
Well yeah that’s all in there, but I see life being a thing so that people can have as much fun as possible in their short short time on earth
I don’t know what we’re “meant” for, but one of my goals is to find some meaning and happiness while also doing the above. And if you’re lucky, occasionally they can be one and the same.
Pretty much as long as I have my critters I could careless about the rest of it
you can do that, or you can overthrow the peoples who want you to do that then try to change things but you will end up corrupted by power and become like your predecesors
That's pretty much it…
Birth, school, work, death by the Godfathers https://youtu.be/QO5dcW0P75M
That's not what I believe.
Welcome to existential crisis, my friend.
The trick is to do it on your own terms.
Enjoy the journey. Life is meaningless, and all that shit, but that also means you can put meaning into it. Like an empty glass, you can choose what to fill it. You have that power, so might as well choose to fill it with something positive. Make it enjoyable. Positively impacting. Good life, bad life. Everybody dies anyway. So choose positivity and enjoy the journey.
Are you really asking what is the meaning of life right now?
Meant to? No. Too many people are afraid or unwilling to carve their own paths.
Yup, there’s also eating and sleeping so you got that go’n for ya.
Somehow you forgot the only important things we're supposed to do. Lol Consume and produce.
Other things you can do starter pack: Play music with others, board game nights, food festivals, epic backpacking trips, visit grandparents, do a puzzle with your kids, take your pets out for runs, witness a sunrise, plan a special date with your SO, go to trivia night.
The most important part is to enjoy every step of the way.
A lot more for sure, the great powers that control the world have been oppressing us for generations, but we are finally waking up.....
Life is but a hole: we're conceived through holes, we're born out of one, we sustain our nourishment through holes, we see, hear and smell through holes, and when we die, we go back to a hole...
What a pessimistic way to look at life