The Meaning of Life

In short: The meaning of life is in the relationships you have.

That's about it. Sorry for your loss, move on.

OK, not quite.

The reason why one is feeling terrible when a significant relationship in their life disappears, ie either through a regular break, through death or some other means - life ceases to have meaning, as the person is just not connected to anyone/anything else, sufficiently, at that stage. The one relationship they invested their life in disappeared.

Our connections are what define us, or in other words - relationships.

It is not only the relationships to other humans. We have relationships to the whole environment around us, humans, pets, plants, even inanimate objects like toys, cars, houses, boats and the like, to abstract concepts like "looking good", "being successful", famous or even negative concepts such as revenge or retaliation.

Some of those relationships are healthier than others, but whatever they are, they give life meaning.

In case you lose one or more of your most important relationships, it's a tragedy, but keep on looking and after a grieving process there may be another lease of meaningful life out there.

In this day and age where we are taught to avoid pain, connect with only material things or abstract notions, as presumably we will not get hurt that way, creating meaningful relationships is harder than ever. No pain, no gain applies here very well. Learning not to be a selfish prick, helps too, even with your pets, and most definitely with other humans.

It does not mean that you have to be a submissive slave, or an exuberant fool, but it is also fine, if that is what you are comfortable with. Remember that you are setting your side of the story. Setting the stage for a meaningful, reciprocal relationship has to be learned, if in no other way, by trial and error, and once there the effort will be worth it.

Your life has no meaning, no relationships worth squat? Get a dog, or at least a cat - they will teach you. Once they train you, you will be more ready to move on to other, more complex relationships.

All you need may be love (the ideal relationship, and a whole other topic), but most are not that lucky, so try, be respectful, be moral, and perhaps the other side will offer the same to you. Once there, you have something to build, look forward to, perhaps something great will come out of it, and life will be meaningful again.