WHAT IS EVEN A PURPOSEFUL LIFE?
I fancy attending conferences and seminars especially when they border on youths and leadership. I see myself as a budding leader; I therefore seize every opportunity I see to learn more on leadership and acquire more skills on the subject.
Few days ago, I attended a leadership seminar where the guest lecturer emphasized living a purposeful life. He went ahead to cite numerous example of what he meant by a purposeful life. He gave us formulas; some 'dos and don'ts'. He rounded off with these words, " The words tragedy in life is not death but life without purpose".
I kept asking myslef, what is even a purposeful life? Who defined it?
I have discovered that life has different meanings to different people. I know a couple of friends who care less about the so-called impact we were advised to make. Who gives no hoot about the success race we all are being encouraged to join. A race leading us to nowhere. Should I now classify them as those leading a life devoid of purpose?
Purpose is relative. My purpose might be to be United Nations secretary general, another's might be to stay in a small village, raise his kids in a decent manner and have his peace of mind. The rat race we all join is not healthy for our society. We define success by how much one has acquired or eager to acquire. We bring our younger ones up in this manner. The concomitant effect is a society where everyone is locked in a keen competition to outshine or outdo the other. Selflessness is gradually going into extinction; making way for selfishness to become mater sort of - have weight and occupy space.
It is time we redefined our priorities. Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted. I tell my friends that the greatest want of our modern day society is not education. Our world is replete with educated derelicts. Our greatest want is neither more money nor what we define as success these days. Our greatest want is the want of men; men who can never be bought or sold. Men who will cherish the virtues of kindness, peace and love. Men who will attach less importance to material success as defined by our contemporary society. Men who will be true, honest and be willing to say no to dishonest gains. These are men who are living a purposeful life.
What makes you great most times is not the great things you do or acquire but the little things you do in a great way especially for others.