Purpose

"There is no escaping reason; no denying purpose. Because as we both know, without purpose, we would not exist."  -- Agent Smith (Matrix: Revolutions)

I had an epiphany tonight.  For the longest time, I've always thought and felt that my purpose -- my meaning of life -- was set: to help people who needed help.  I've come to realize that that is not the case.

I think my issue was that I had confused an observed need/demand in this world, with my ability/supply to fill it.  That is: there are people in the world who need help, and I have the ability to help.  But the kicker is that there are numerous needs/demands in this world, why pick the one that I did?  The answer is simple: that was the one that was most glaring to me at the time.  As I continue to age, and continue to experience life from different angles, the set of observed need/demand has increased, to a point where I've come to re-evaluate my ostensibly concrete purpose.

Although I no longer *think* this way, I still feel it -- this charitable, philanthropic feeling; despite all the new needs/demands I've come to observe in the world, none comes close with respect to the altruism contained in the first.

Heh, I *so* feel like Neo after he saw the Architect: lost and without clear purpose (now, all I need is to be able to zap lightning out from my fingers, :P).  But in the end, our purpose is what we make of it, and we figure it out as we go along...

more thoughts about this to come...pertaining to:
- what I've done so far to reach my original purpose.
     - Considering I've been working almost none-stop while graduating, the answer is almost a big fat 0.
- where I see myself in the not-too-distant future.
     - Ha, working non-stop...
- crap....is *this* the pre-cursor to mid-life crisis?!??!!

My Rules #2

Quick one, something I came up on my own (though there's probably someone who thought of this before me):

 

- When in doubt, go without.

Gallery: Hong Kong, 2009

Methinks it'd be a Testarossa?

My Rules

Rather than give it some fancy name like "manifesto" or "personal axioms", I prefer sweet and simple (for now).  Here goes:

 

- No rule is unbreakable (this rule included...try wrapping your head around that one, ;P) without reason.

- KISS: Keep It Sweet & Simple.

   - Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler. -- Einstein

- Do no harm.

   - do no harm -- Hippocrates

- Never stop improving.

- Question everything.

   - "Doubt everything that you take on...That is very important...Information is information, after all...open your eyes, clear out your ears, and look & listen to the world...use your own brain...after you've doubted everything, there is a possibility of something real to believe in...to believe in something, doubt everything." -- Cowboy Bebop unreleased episode

 

More to come as I remember them...

Don't forget to wear sunscreen (Key's to Life)

A few years back (hmmm, about 5 years, actually -- half a decade...) there was a song called "Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen" by Baz Luhrman.  You can look up the lyrics on your own.  But the first part of it goes like this:

----------

Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis or reliable then my own meandering experience.  I will dispense this advice....now.

----------

Good advice.  Now I want to do the same, but just for a specific subject: keys to life.

I find there are two three:

• balance
• timing
• context/perspective

I won't go too deep into explanation, as it can get very verbose, and it's really not that hard to understand if you give it a little thought.  If you can control and/or perfect these in your life, the world can be your oyster.

And now a few secondaries:

• ambition
• perseverance
• resolve
• conviction

Yes there's some overlap here.  The secondaries aren't fully baked.  Will update when I get to 'em