"Do what you love and @#$% the rest."

I’ve never want to be an old person who is old. The senior who yells at children, who goes to sleep around dinnertime, eats dinner around lunchtime and complains about all the lost time, wasted time and long passed time. Before I die I want to reflect on my life and not wish I had more time to do what “I’d always wanted to do.” A life’s value is determined by not only the life lead, but also the lives affected.
Upon milestones in a life-- be it a daughters graduation, a friend or parent’s death, a son’s marriage etc- it causes reflection on your life. At these reflection points an inward look should be taken and life examined. Are you where you wanted to be at this point in time? Are you living a stable life? Are you happy? All these questions should be asked at each milestone of life. If a life is not examined more than one, satisfaction cannot be reached. Many, upon realizing the end is near, begin to examine their life and contemplate the should haves and could haves. If it takes a lifetime to conclude you did not live a well-fulfilled and satisfying life, then there is no room for improvement. With recurrent inspections of life a happier, more complete life will be lead.
For as long as the sun has risen and set the meaning and purpose of life has been pondered. In the end, the meaning and purpose of life differs from person to person. Sadly, many view the meaning of life as becoming as wealthy as possible. To another, raising a family. And yet another may view their meaning and purpose in life to help others. To me the meaning of life is happiness. Though utopist and simplistic, happiness, to me, serves as the meaning and purpose of life. In order to live out the meaning and purpose of life, several things will assure this.
At the end of my life I want my only regret to be not living longer. No single person can decide if another has lived a life of value. The only one who can determine the value of a life is if the life being measured is their own. If minimal lamentations are felt then a life may be considered valuable. If the life lead helped and influenced others in a positive way, the life may be considered valuable. If the life lead was minimally selfish, the life may be considered valuable. What is the definitive quality a life must have to be truly considered a valuable life is if the person living the life was happy. Albert Camus says it best when he asserts “you will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. “ Do what you love, and happiness will ensue. If a life is lived seeking happiness through actions, the life has little value. Though, a life has great value if happiness is brought about through actions.
There are five things I hope to accomplish before I die. In no particular order, I would like to experience true love; I would like to perform a large scale, completely selfless act; I would like to learn five instruments; I would like to experience motherhood; and I would like to be truly happy with my career.
The most coveted and sought after possession is the love of another. To experience true love is something I hope to feel before I die. The codependency, the meshing of two souls, utter devotion to each other is love. I want to love and be loved- truly madly deeply loved. A life void of true love seems like an empty life. If I were to die without experienced ‘true love’ I do not feel as though my life would be nearly as complete. Though my desire for ‘true love’ may do little for humanity, in a way it does. Upon seeing love in its truest and purest form, hope for the world may be found. Amidst all the fighting and unrest, and absolute hatred amongst the world the fact that true love can exist in the same place is comforting. Humanity may not be drastically changed in Michaela finding true love, though on a small scale it may evoke hope and optimism.
Junior year in Spanish class we read a short story about a man seeking a soul mate. When listing characteristics the girl must possess, he determined the girl must commit small acts of kindness. He distinguished the difference between small and larger acts of kindness is that small acts are the kind that nobody sees and are done solely for the betterment of the world; whereas a large act of kindness was done for many to see and many to praise about. Before I die I would like one act of complete selflessness that greatly affected somebody’s life to stand out in my mind. I would feel as though my life was well lived if I helped somebody completely selflessly. In respect to humanity, my act of kindness would hardly have an impact. Though, knowing I helped one person would be enough satisfaction for me. I do not need to know I was valuable to humanity. Helping one person significantly would make my life a life I could be proud of.
I have always been a musical person; I have been playing the piano for about eleven years now. A while ago I decided that before I die I would like to know five instruments very well. With the piano more or less crossed off my list, I would also like to learn the drums, the guitar, the bass, the harmonica and the saxophone. In doing so I would prove to myself my true talent and agility of my musical talent. Playing five instruments with ease would not affect humanity, other than to entertain them. In keeping art and music alive I may affect a few. Though, the goal I set of learning five instruments is for myself, not for civilization. In doing so I would feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and achievement in my life.
Henry Ward Beecher said “there is no friendship, no love, like that of the parent for the child.” To experience such an intense emotion and connection with another human being would make my life infinitely valuable. I cannot perceive the feeling of being a mother, though one day, before I die, I hope to know it first hand. To bring a child into the world, care for them, raise them well, and send them off into the world spreading good morals and love would be the most fulfilling of all accomplishments. With all of the immoral people in the world, nurturing a good person and leading them out into the world could make a great difference in society. After all, it only takes one person to change the world.
Lastly, I would like to reflect upon my life at death and realize the career path I chose brought me true happiness. Currently I have every intention of becoming an artist. Though upon hearing this, many elders put on a puzzled face and begin to tell me to ‘be a doctor. They make a ton of money.’ The suggestions vary, though few encourage my chosen path. To me, money is not equated with happiness. Regardless of how much money I make or what status I hold, I hope to lead a career in which I am truly happy doing. My happiness is more important to me than my wealth. When examining my life, I hope my ideal that ‘happiness trumps money’ prevails. I is very important to me that I do not sell out my ideals to conform to society’s belief that money is the most important thing of all, and to acquire wealth is to attain happiness. The greater good of humanity will not be largely affected by my desire to be happy with my chosen career path, though that is okay. Even if a few are inspired by my dedication and ideals, then my life had meaning.
When I reach a milestone in my life, and begin to reflect upon the life I am leading I hope I am satisfied. A life led devoid of happiness is a life without value. The time will come when I know I’m dying. When that time comes I hope I see my life as valuable, one I can be proud of, one that can be shared with pride. The meaning and purpose of life is happiness, and I wish to lead my life fulfilling that—being happy. Before I am dead, I hope to experience true love; I desire to perform a large scale, completely selfless act; I yearn to learn five instruments; I want to experience motherhood; and I anticipate being truly happy with my career. If I die happy, content with my life, and satisfied with the impact I had on others, I can safely qualify my life as a life of value.