June 5th, 2013 - Rosenhill Farm, Sweden
Every once in a while the Goat Man comes along and I help him feed his goats. He is 48 years old, and we call him the Goat Man because nobody knows his real name. Today he asked me what my interests are in life. I said to learn as much as I can, to be a good person, and to be a positive role model. I then asked him the same question. He responded by saying he is still trying to figure out the meaning of life.
HOLD UP
While the famous quote from Souza states that, "Happiness is a journey, not a destination," I also believe that finding meaning in life is a journey and not a destination. The author, Alain de Botton, pointed out that people are so willing to go to the gym to strengthen their muscles, to the doctors to heal their illnesses, but so unwilling to train their mind and go to therapists for psychological health. I have been priding myself over the fact that I've been willing to face my fears and take time to discover my true self. However, not unlike the Goat Man, I may have taken this a bit too far, and it has prevented me from simply living life. Who wants to spend their entire life at the doctors? At the gym? At the therapist? They should only be pitstops along the road of living an enriching life, not the goal itself.
Life doesn't suddenly have meaning after a certain number of hours you spend thinking about it, after a certain number of trips around the world, or after a certain number of self-help books you read. Life is an ongoing process in which we have to work with what we have. It's okay if you don't know if you're on the right path. Find comfort in simply knowing that you're at least heading towards the right direction. Don't waste your life away spending all this time trying to find meaning in life, because before you know it, life has passed you by.
The Goat Man will be having twins and moving in with a woman he no longer likes. He bought goats to raise thinking that it will help him find the meaning of life.
To each their own, but enough with the moments of utter confusion, relentless questioning, doubt, and fear.
Stop being so intent on arriving, and GET LIVING.
by Jason Lam