The Farm

A life of purpose seems to be a rather sought-out sort of thing. Seriously, some spend their whole lives in pursuit of that purpose which will embue usefulness on all of their actions - actions which are otherwise seen as completely pointless. Something to keep in mind: a cow on a dairy farm has this kind of purpose.

Is that really the kind of purpose you want? To not belong to yourself, to be only a means, to be used, to need someone who will use you?

Alan Watts presents a different idea. He asks, "When you dance, do you aim to arrive at a particular place on the floor? Is that the idea of dancing?" Is the aim of life to arrive at a particular place - whether it's wealth, fame, success, or maybe heaven? "Of course not, the point of dancing is to dance!" In the same way, the point of living is to live! Meaning does not come from without, it comes from within. Have you ever danced for some purpose other than dancing itself? What a hassle! It's utterly bothersome.

The addition of external justifications/reasons/destinations onto that which is inherently enjoyable serves only self-destructive ends. We end up missing the whole thing!

Dance. Live.