What is your purpose in life?

[Zguy28]

Wouldn't you rather that they fought for their own ideals? I know I would rather have my son think for himself and stand up for his own ideals rather than my own. I refuse to spread the herd mentality.

That's fine with me. I wouldn't want a herd of you running around.

Seriously, that's how my wife and some of her college friends were brought up and they ended up confused and constantly doubting themselves.

If your ideals mean anything to you, you should instill them in your children. But if you decide not to, its ok. People like me will influence them instead.

[Burgold]

There's a difference between guiding a person to a path and forcing them to march the one you're on. I think that's what Mufumonk was driving at. At least that's where I'm at. If I ever have kids I would want to teach them and instill in them my set of values and ideals or at least rights and wrongs, but if they come to me one day and say... I heard you, but I've discovered this and this is right for me for these reasons... I would hope that I would be happy in the road they decided to journey down (assuming it's not some crazy harmful or destructive path that they discovered. Then, I'm putting my foot down )

[gbear]

Back in high-school, I had a Latin teacher who told me that I was smart enough and athletic enough to be good at most any thing on almost any level, but probably not smart enough or athletic enough to be exceptional at the highest of levels. At those levels, I would forever be a "B" student. I suppose that might be discouraging to some, but I took it as a message that I needed to find something exceptional at which to be good at. There are things at which just being good is such a rarity. I spent most of the next decade looking for something with meaning to be good at, something that would matter to some one. Some of the things were kind of treading water goodness like giving platelets or volunteering with meals on wheels or trying to teach kindergarten students after school. They were enough to get me up in the morning with a purpose. They were and are things needed, but they aren't my purpose..

Then I had my first date with my wife, she mentioned one day wanting to foster sick children. After talking with her and thinking about it, I realized this could be a purpose of which to be proud even if I am "merely" a good father for these kids who start off getting a bum hand but are forced to play it out. I want them to shoot the moon, go for broke, and win. If I can give them the tools to live a happy fulfilling life, then I've done well. Doing well at a job most wouldn't be bothered with or capable of makes it feel like I haven't wasted what time I've been given. I guess at this point, I see that as my purpose. It may be that I am merely enabling my wife to live her dream and I'm taking it as my own. I never felt a need to come up with my own dream. I just felt a need to pick a worthwhile dream to make real.

[Midnight Judges]

I have always believed that my purpose in life and everybodies was to make it a little better. I believe the purpose of we living is to recreate Eden or paradice on Earth. We had it. We blew it. We were given free will to figure out how to recreate it.

I think that we need to add something to the world via our innovation, sweat, altruism, or efforts to create a ripple that makes the place a wee bit better. I don't think it is possible to reach the goal of perfection (being defined in this case as a place of absolute benevolence) within my lifetime or even within myself, but I think that it is worth striving towards. Frankly, I don't know that humans will ever evolve to a point where they can look beyond their own needs and hates... but, that's my ultimate idealistic aspiration.

I completely agree with this sans the Eden part. I'm more of an evolution guy.

[Burgold]

I am too, but Earth is a paradice minus our vices. Think about it in terms of beauty and abundance. Many of the problems or imperfections of the world are attributable to our actions, inactions, or irrascable point of view. Think about it, how often do you hear the world stinks on a perfect, beautiful, sunny day. People create much of their own unhappiness and imperfection.

Disclaimer: The following is a stretched analogy. Any person attempting to take the following reasoning literally shallow be laughed at and pummelled with hardened pasta.

[Mufumonk]

There's a difference between guiding a person to a path and forcing them to march the one you're on. I think that's what Mufumonk was driving at. At least that's where I'm at. If I ever have kids I would want to teach them and instill in them my set of values and ideals or at least rights and wrongs, but if they come to me one day and say... I heard you, but I've discovered this and this is right for me for these reasons... I would hope that I would be happy in the road they decided to journey down (assuming it's not some crazy harmful or destructive path that they discovered. Then, I'm putting my foot down )

Bingo. Take religion for instance. My wife and I were both raised Roman Catholic. We had a Catholic wedding. Our son was baptised in the Catholic church. But I haven't been a practicing Catholic for quite some time as I've come to denounce all religion. My wife on the other hand still attends church and I've agreed to let her take our son. But the second that he starts to question religion and it's place in the world that will be the end of it. I want my son to think for himself and come to his own conclusions. This is the same approach that my parents took with my brother and I and I'm grateful for it.

[Mufumonk]

I am too, but Earth is a paradice minus our vices. Think about it in terms of beauty and abundance. Many of the problems or imperfections of the world are attributable to our actions, inactions, or irrascable point of view. Think about it, how often do you hear the world stinks on a perfect, beautiful, sunny day. People create much of their own unhappiness and imperfection.

Disclaimer: The following is a stretched analogy. Any person attempting to take the following reasoning literally shallow be laughed at and pummelled with hardened pasta.

Not so much of a stretch as you think. People spend their entire lives looking ahead to something that they already have. Why waste your life trying to get into heaven when it's right before your eyes? (No that wasn't directed at you Burgold).

[Rocky21]

My purpose in life is for ZGuy28 to not be so judgmental toward people who enjoy pornography responsible.

[Zguy28]

My purpose in life is for ZGuy28 to not be so judgmental toward people who enjoy pornography responsible.

You don't have to worry about me judging you. There is only one judge.

[Henry]

You don't have to worry about me judging you. There is only one judge.

But fortunately you know what he'll say, so you can tell us.

Not that YOU'RE judging or anything.

[Burgold]

You don't have to worry about me judging you. There is only one judge.

Judy?

[Rocky21]

But fortunately you know what he'll say, so you can tell us.

Not that YOU'RE judging or anything.

So true.