You are Meaning

And people get all fouled up because they want the world to have meaning as if it were words… As if you had a meaning, as if you were a mere word, as if you were something that could be looked up in a dictionary. You are meaning. – Alan Watts

We are living through times of great change. The world is even more starkly divided between the haves and have nots. There has always been inequalities no matter the society. Because of this, individuals can become disenchanted and disillusioned with life. Difficulties bind their guts in tight knots and doubt constricts around the heart. It is important in tumultuous times to remember life has the meaning you give it. One has to create meaning from the matters at hand or refocus their attention towards more meaningful things.

To be content find meaning in daily life. Otherwise mundane tasks can hold profound meaning with the right perspective. I do not watch television. I do watch some clips from shows, but I can’t remember the last time I sat down and watched hours of television, or scheduled my day around a TV show. It is none of my business if people enjoy watching. I just find meaning in different ways. When I was raising my kids, I would point out all the perfect tableaus which framed the action in TV programs. The artificial world within the scenes was off-putting to me. I especially objected to the size of rooms in houses and the nearly perfect décor. The sterile staging shattered the authenticity of the show. The underlying artificiality kept getting in the way of my enjoyment. I thought the scenarios were designed around product placement and sales. Seeing the TV world can make one feel as if their life wasn’t as satisfying or as meaningful. The same can be said for social media.

By moving away from the chaotic thinking of FOMO (fear of missing out), one can begin to build meaning into their world. Does it really matter, what others are doing? Life is not a product. Meaning cannot be purchased. The simplest things can sparkle like diamonds, but sadly, often only after the moments have passed. People have asked me if I could travel back in time where would I revisit in my life? The answer to me is crystal clear. I was a single father for many years. There were struggles of course, but oh the joys were as plentiful as the stars. I would travel back to a time when all three of my kids were in grade school. Any winter day, when the heat was on at home, and the cats were sleeping on the vents. I would finish making dinner – cheeseburgers three different ways 🙂 and we would sit down and watch the Simpsons together. After their homework was done we would play a video game together, and they would always beat me. And later when it was bed time I would read three different stories, sitting in my daughter’s top bunk. Kissing them goodnight one by one and telling them I love them, I would fall asleep on the couch thinking about ways to make the next day better. To have that one more time would be a treasure beyond measure. But, in truth, I still have it in my heart. The meaningful moments continue to fill me with wonderful abundance.

Meaning – the significance of something. You are the meaning in your life. Do not compare your life to the material possessions of others. Don’t let money be the ruler by which you measure meaning. Try your best to make this day better than before. Another definition of yoga is union with the Divine. Life is a form of yoga in that deeper meaning can be found within daily life if one lives authentically and with love. To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life. – Robert Louis Stevenson