What is the Purpose of Life?

I have been thinking about life over the past few days. More than usual.

I am approaching my 50th birthday, and my health is not at its best. Beside that, though, I have pretty much everything that most people seem to be aiming for.

• I have a stable job that pays well and that I enjoy doing
• I have a few close friends who make me laugh, provide a safety net for me, and who I care for and about.
• My weight is really the only health problem I have, with most of my other issues (which are admittedly minor) stemming from it. My vision is good, my hearing passes, and I have full mobility.
• I have a home that needs work, but successfully keeps my family and I warm and dry. More than this, it is actually unusually large property for the area. Finally it is my grandfather's home.
• I have important books overflowing my bookshelves, music that would fill days to listen to, and enough access to information and entertainment to fill several lifetimes.
• MOST importantly, I have a partner, wife, best friend who walks alongside, and frequently supports me. My children are wonderful people in their own right, my brothers both talk to me, and I get along very well with my in-laws. Family is great.

So what is my problem? Having all of these things in my life, how can I not be satisfied? How can I not be happy?

That is just it. I am satisfied! I am very happy! I am grateful on a daily basis, and I take the time to express my love and gratitude to all who need to hear it.

But I still wonder... what of it. It won't last, it will change. I know that, and I accept it. I know that death is real, and close and personal, and so I prepare myself for it as best I can. But I don't fear it. There would be no point.

The old Roman cry of "Eat, drink and be merry! For tomorrow we die!" rings hollow in my ears. True, we die, but we also live. And while we are alive... we must LIVE.

So. That is the question. What IS the purpose/aim/goal/meaning of life?

I plan to continue exploring this question in the following blog posts.