The Meaning of Life

By Tom Salatto

I know what you’re thinking…who’s this clown to answer the most mysterious question conjured by man? What’s his point of reference, what spirit did he channel to attain such Titanic knowledge?

I am you – a human being. For all our differences we are basically the same – we have the same aspirations (to be important at some level), we understand that the clock is ticking away, we worry and wonder every day. We even share the same symbols in our dreams (Jung’s Archetypes). So let me ask you…

“What is the meaning of standing at shortstop during a softball game, watching the batter begin his swing?” Or, “Here comes my son, emerging for the first time into this world, and I hold my wife’s hand and we cry.”

If you’re looking for an end to the path of life you’re missing the boat. Life is the EXPERIENCE of LIVING. The journey IS the meaning. The guy at bat is about to slam a ball your way that takes a bad hop right into your throat, and you fall. Your friends gather around you, laughing of course, and later you talk about it over a beer. The child gives you 18 wonderful years, then leaves you to yourself again. If you experience it all fully, you’ve done well. If you’re looking for the end of the rainbow, Dorothy, you’ll discover that you’ve been home all along.

Wake up, LIVE, go to bed. That’s LIFE, that’s all you get. You may call the living good or bad (and if it’s bad, you’ll dream of the rainbow), but on earth, with other humans, it’s all you get.

Ah-ha! But then why not go on a killing spree? Because you and I are the same – “Do Unto Others”. You don’t choose to go crazy and shoot up the town because of the pain it inflicts on others who are like you. Sociopaths who do these things have no CONSCIENCE, which means they cannot understand caring for another human, or themselves.

But there’s some BONUS material here – there may not be a true ending to the path, but you decide which path to follow, from your heart. This is your PURPOSE in life, and you know it already. Is there something you’ve always loved to do, always knew you should be doing, something you would do if you had nothing else to do? That is your BLISS (Joseph Campbell’s word); each one of us has something unique to offer this world, and in your heart you know it.

What is it you love? What do you do differently than anyone else? You’ve known it since you were a child – it was your first ambition, it’s that passion you feel for, say, the Civil War, or Jazz. That’s your Purpose on this earth. I write, like millions of others, but my voice is unique. I know a guy who lights up the room with laughter. That’s his Purpose. Some people are great caregivers and friends. Some play for the Yankees (other’s who are confused about their Purpose end up on the Red Sox!). Have you ever had the experience of losing time while doing something you love, of feeling that you’re in the greatest place on earth while you’re doing that thing? That’s your bliss. That’s heaven on earth.

I’m not saying quit your job to knit a sweater. Part of being human, on a physical planet, is to suffer a bit – we have to work, get hurt, die. But don’t let this discourage you. I’ve met many people who have stopped LIVING because of pain. Joy and Pain are in this world – you’ll experience plenty of both. And it’s that experience of LIFE that gives it meaning. But you cannot let fear (or laziness) stop you from acting on those things you’d love to do.

Ask any elderly person. They’ve experienced great joys and great tragedies. Some have regrets that they didn’t really DO what they wanted to Do (Purpose) more often. But they’ll also tell you that it seems that life had a script to it; problem is you can’t read the script while you’re playing the role. It’s the CHOICES that are made that put you on different paths, and it seems haphazard, but in the end the old people see the meaning in it all, in all the seemingly random choices.

Your real Purpose is to follow your heart. Do what you know is right, do what you love. Try to hurt no one. If you follow your heart in the end you’ll understand what your Life was all about.