The Truth Is In The Journey

I've wanted to write about tons of stuff all day. Seems like the ideas rush at me when I don't have paper or a keyboard anywhere near me. I think what was really hitting me between the eyes today, though, was that we all lead lives of distraction. We distract ourselves from finding our purpose in this life. Allow me to attempt to explain...

Ok, we all learn from a very early age, what our plan is. Our plan is, most likely supposed to be different than our purpose. Plans change from society to society and region to region. I'm fairly certain though, that if you are sitting in front of your computer, that your plan is similar to mine. We are meant to acquire, consume, spend. From an early age we are taught the concept of ownership. We have our desires for our favorite toys, candies, books, movies, music, beverages, bicycles, sporting goods, automobiles, apartments, vacations and villas. We are supposed to acquire what we can, as early as we can.

This interesting idea was posited to me over the Christmas break by my own young niece, Caitlin. I had loaded up my three nieces in my car to take them to the movies. Caitlin makes a joking comment about my car. Its not a bad car, but she is seeing the example of her parents who have a new car every couple of years (indeed their Volvo....very yuppie, indeed, was a lease). They are most definitely keeping up with the Joneses. However, I think my sister and her husband may actually be the Joneses. Though Caitlin is only 12, she has lived in three houses since her birth, each one purchased as mom and dad moved higher up the socio-economic ladder. Anyway, Caitlin talks about how my car has "hesitation", lingo grabbed from her father in his most recent bout of car shopping, no doubt. I informed her that this car with hesitation was transporting her to the movies and that she should be a little more thankful and a little less critical. She tried to toss in another sly comment. I knew that I couldn't be upset with her because she was simply being molded to fit her plan.

While we are following our plan, we manage to lose any sight of a purpose for ourselves, for others and for humanity, in general. Making sure the search for purpose is buried is a whole host of delusions and distractions. We pay for the upgraded cable or satellite package, we paintball, we work hours at our jobs, we buy new toys and gadgets that we have to put time and effort to in order to understand them, we buy into the latest faux news story (Jack-o is in the hospital with the flu, Scott Peterson is found guilty, Kobe is acquitted, Iran is not on our agenda, Iran is near nuclear capability, Iran will bomb us in 6 months, Gay Marriage), among many other things.

So what is the purpose? I wish I could tell you. See, while the plan is the same for everyone, the purpose is based on the individual. I don't know what my purpose is. But I have decided to cut through all the B.S. to try and find it. And a thought occured to me today. What if my purpose is to search for my purpose? What if that will make others around me realize they should look for something more? I really feel like my entire life has been the pursuit of something other than what I currently have. Will I know when I finally find it? Will I keep searching, perhaps in vain?

The one consolation that I have is that through all the searching, I allow myself to have fun in the present, wherever I might be. I allow people to impact me and I hope I have some impact on them. So, purpose seemed to be the order of the day, today. And perhaps the addage that I once read is true: The Truth Is In The Journey

Until Next Time!