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Life: Why?
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Author:  Hopwin [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:44 am ]
Post subject:  Life: Why?
What is the point of life to you? Are you living simply because you were born? Are you hedonistic, seeking only pleasure? Live your life in service to God/others, etc. Why do you go to work every day, pay your bills, eat food, continue to breathe?
Author:  shuyung [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:50 am ]
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It's all part of my master plan to take over.
Author:  Lonedar [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:54 am ]
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Can't think of anything else better to do.
Author:  Timmit [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:10 am ]
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Why not?
Author:  TheRiov [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:12 am ]
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Food for the All Devourerer
Author:  Talya [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Life: Why?
Hopwin wrote:
What is the point of life to you?

Whatever I choose it to be. Nature had no "point." It simply is.

Quote:
Are you living simply because you were born?


Well, without being born, I wouldn't be alive. There are many other reasons I have remained living since then, however.

Quote:
Are you hedonistic, seeking only pleasure?


I am hedonistic, but it's only a part of my life.

Quote:
Live your life in service to God/others, etc. Why do you go to work every day, pay your bills, eat food, continue to breathe?


If God shows herself to me and convinces me why she needs my service, I'm not entirely closed to the idea. But I'm a mother. Of course I live somewhat in service to others. :)
Author:  Aizle [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Life: Why?
Hopwin wrote:
What is the point of life to you? Are you living simply because you were born? Are you hedonistic, seeking only pleasure? Live your life in service to God/others, etc. Why do you go to work every day, pay your bills, eat food, continue to breathe?


An interesting question.

Sadly for myself, because I am not religious, I don't believe that there is some divine or overarching purpose to life. I say that without any sarcasm. This may surprise folks, but there are times when I think it would be so much easier to be faithful and firmly believe there is some higher power that has a plan or design for me.

But since I'm left to my own devices, I have to create that purpose or point myself. Earlier in my life it was "success" in the usual work life/keeping up with the Jones' fashion. I worked my way up the corporate ladder (may still be, more later), got married and managed to accumulate a fair amount of "stuff". Nice house, a few cars/motorcycles, big TV and stereo, etc. For several years these were things that I felt content with pursuing. They brought enjoyment into my life and made life better and easier.

I turned 40 this year, and maybe it's my age setting in, but these same things don't motivate me like they used to. Sure I could get a "nicer" house/car/motorcycle but the ones I have are fine and good quality. There's always "more", but I'm at a point where adding significantly to any of the things I have would require a significant amount of time, money and effort and I'm not sure it's worth it or that I want the financial burden long term.

Along the same lines, I'm at a bit of a quandry in my profession. I make a very solid salary and really don't have to work very hard for it all things considered. Most of my worries on any given day is staving off boredom, which is a good part of why I post here as much as I do. I've come to a point at my company where there really isn't going to be any advancement or learning opportunities that aren't "more of the same" for quite a while if ever. Similarly the specific industry I work in isn't overly appealing to me. It's not bad mind, but it's also not something that I'm passionate about. I've been trying to decide if I want to just stay where I am, with a fair amount of seniority and complacence because I know my job in and out, or go try something new. Sadly, try something new is likely going to involve a pay cut. Additionally, my wife has been unemployed for about 10 months now and just now got a 8-10 week contract job. So me getting a pay cut isn't really tenable atm, not to mention the added risk of being the low guy on the totem pole if the economy/new company tanks.

All of this has left me wondering about your question Hopwin. Unfortunately so far, I haven't found any answers. Only more questions.
Author:  Diamondeye [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Life: Why?
I dislike questions like this intensely.
Author:  Aizle [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Life: Why?
Diamondeye wrote:
I dislike questions like this intensely.


Why is that? I'm honestly curious.
Author:  Lenas [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:53 am ]
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I've never had the urge to need a "why". I'm okay without one.
Author:  Arathain Kelvar [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 12:03 pm ]
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Maybe you figure it out, you die. Heart attack, stroke. Like: if you figure it out, you aren't allowed to stick around anymore; you get promoted.

Meanwhile, Dolores says we're here to do one thing... It's different for everybody. Her's is lasagna.... It's like, when the moment comes, you either do the right thing or the wrong.

-Jonesy, Fallen
Author:  Noggel [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 2:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Life: Why?
The alternatives would make some people really unhappy.

Really wish I had a better answer, but I got nothin.
Author:  NephyrS [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 5:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Life: Why?
Hopwin wrote:
What is the point of life to you? Are you living simply because you were born? Are you hedonistic, seeking only pleasure? Live your life in service to God/others, etc. Why do you go to work every day, pay your bills, eat food, continue to breathe?


I think it's about a balance. My "job" is in developing anticancer agents, with the secondary purpose of training budding young chemists/biochemists, so I feel like I have a broader general purpose in my days/weeks/years. Earning a decent salary is nice, but if it was just good money without some more far reaching purpose I don't think I'd be happy in it.

Past that, I think there is obvious responsibility to family and friends- paying bills, staying healthy, etc... I also really enjoy volunteering at local underprivileged schools, etc.

And then I think there's a lot of life that is meant to be enjoyed on several levels: the deeper pleasure of good friendships, relationships, and long term happiness, and the short term enjoyment of good movies, good books, computer games, and good food.

TL;DR: It has to include all of the above to keep me going.
Author:  Micheal [ Thu Oct 14, 2010 8:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
Throughout my life I have had too many instances of being the right person in the right place at the right time to kiss it all off to coincidence and circumstance. I was put here for a whole bunch of reasons and I'll keep trying to do good by people until I'm called home.

I believe God exists. I'm not sure which if any of the man-made concepts of God is closest to the truth. I don't think we can really understand a being as powerful as a God. I tend to fall back on my Catholic upbringing and visualize God as an elderly man with a huge beard sitting on a cloud and watching over us. I will be extremely surprised if I ever get to heaven and find that image to be anywhere close to accurate, but it serves as a reference point, especially in prayer.

I'm not hedonistic, fun is fun but you can take anything too far. It isn't that I'm really living my life in service to God, just helping out when I can see I'm needed.

The first paragraph explains why, even when in the depths of depression, I still get up and go to work and just keep on going on with life. I believe God intends me to stick around and help the people he puts in my path. As I can, I will keep on doing that.

As always, with all matters of faith, your mileage may vary. That is none of my business unless you choose to make it so.
Author:  Kirra [ Fri Oct 15, 2010 3:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Life: Why?
I'm trying to decide reasons right now.
Author:  Raell [ Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Life: Why?
Aizle wrote:
Diamondeye wrote:
I dislike questions like this intensely.


Why is that? I'm honestly curious.



Someone is bound to get a stick up their bottom and feel the need to argue.


Hop?

Life is good at times. Bad at others. You have had more than your share of bad and I am sorry my friend.
Author:  Kaffis Mark V [ Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:50 am ]
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When it comes down to it, there's life, and there's not life. I don't think I'm done experiencing life, and it's not something you get to dabble with not life for a change of pace and then switch back to life when you get bored. So I'll continue to be amused, bored, lonely, entertained, have fun with friends, etc. when I can at life (and work to support the rest) until I'm not allowed to, anymore. Then I've got an eternity to experience not life.

So the answer to your question (Life: Why?) is: Because death (and whatever comes after) is permanent, and I've got plenty of time for that later.
Author:  Diamondeye [ Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Life: Why?
Raell wrote:
Aizle wrote:
Diamondeye wrote:
I dislike questions like this intensely.


Why is that? I'm honestly curious.


Someone is bound to get a stick up their bottom and feel the need to argue.

Hop?

Life is good at times. Bad at others. You have had more than your share of bad and I am sorry my friend.


This. It invites too much pompous lecturing from people who think they've figured out the reason because they're oh-so-much-smarter than everyone else.
Author:  Ienan [ Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Life: Why?
I really don't know yet. I'm just going to live it and see where it takes me. After all, it's about the journey, not the end result.
Author:  Aizle [ Fri Oct 15, 2010 10:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Life: Why?
Diamondeye wrote:
It invites too much pompous lecturing from people who think they've figured out the reason because they're oh-so-much-smarter than everyone else.


Fair enough, athough I had no plans to dispute anything. Feel free to PM me if you care to with the answer.
Author:  Hopwin [ Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:14 am ]
Post subject: 
Whoa, this isn't a suicide post. Just want to know what meaning people apply to life.
Author:  Shelgeyr [ Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:45 am ]
Post subject: 
About 7 1/2 years ago, I'd have said (did say, in fact) that I was nothing more than a cog in someone else's machine.
I worked because it paid my rent, and I maintained a living space because I needed to be rested, fed, clean and clothed in order to keep my job. I was basically living to work and working to live.

Now, I've got a bit more going on in my life. Time spent not working is more enjoyable, so life no longer feels like a hamster wheel. I'm pretty self-centered in that I primarily seek to make my own life more enjoyable rather than living to serve others or some higher purpose, but luckily for Taamar, making her happy is on the list of things that makes me happy, because I doubt I'd do so if there were nothing in it for me.

In answer to the original question - I'm alive because I was born and haven't died yet. What I do in between those events is pretty much passing time. I think of it like a long layover in a foreign airport. I'm here, so I might as well look around a bit and find something to occupy my time.
Author:  Arathain Kelvar [ Fri Oct 15, 2010 3:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re:
Hopwin wrote:
Whoa, this isn't a suicide post. Just want to know what meaning people apply to life.


DON'T DO IT, MAN!!!
Author:  Rodahn [ Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:20 pm ]
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I am alive because whatever force that causes life to be dictates that I should have been.

Life itself is neutral, giving us more control than we realizes. I.E. Life is (to a large degree) what we make of it.

There may be a more definitive answer than that, but sadly I do not have it.
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