“Soul Food”
“Apathy is a sort of living oblivion.”
Horace Greeley
“When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly love life.”
Greg Anderson
One of the primary questions one must answer in life, right after, “Who am I?” is “Why am I here?” It is a question that crops up repeatedly across the lifespan, beginning in adolescence. At every turning of the wheel, we must redefine ourselves and our purpose. At certain life stages, that’s pretty easy. When I had young children, I knew my purpose was to mother. As the years go along, it seems to get less clear, but no less important. I know people in the last third of life, who feel they no longer have a purpose except as an unpaid babysitter of grandchildren. Now, if you love caring for grandchildren, that’s terrific, but if it’s life-by-default, it’s not so great.
During the years that I taught college, some of my students were fired up about their chosen professions; they asked questions, wanted extra attention, studied on their own. And some of my students came into the classroom like zombies—sleepwalkers, putting one foot in front of the other and not knowing or caring where they ended up. They had already given up on life. They had no idea they were here for a reason only they could fulfill. I knew which ones would succeed. Apathy is a killer of soul.
Nothing is more important to health at any age than having a sense of purpose. Waking up in the morning excited about what the day holds gets the juices flowing like nothing else. We are ‘enlivened’ by goals that have deep meaning for us; by involvement in something we truly love. Our bodies and our minds are strengthened and sustained by love of life, engaging in life, exuberance for life. So I ask you, what is your purpose?
In the spirit,
Jane
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