Purpose of Life-I

Purpose of life: A topic worth discussing at any time of the day and some thing that can easily be explained in less than one 1000 words, I believe! Any humans with reasonable intelligence might have thought about it at some point of time. Let me start by saying that I have no idea what is the purpose of my life or any ones life for that matter. I am planning to write on this topic on many more occasions. It’s almost the time for me to go through the ‘mid-life crisis’ anyway! So better be prepared.

The other day I was flying to San Antonio when I came across an article in one of the magazine they leave by the passenger seat. It was about an interesting person Robert ‘Raven’ Kraft. Raven was an aspiring songwriter grew up in south beach Florida. In mid 70’s he went to Nashville to get into the music industry.  However, things did not work out as planned. One of his works became a big hit, only under someone else name. He came back home, depressed and angry. One day for fun he joined a friend of him for a 2-mile run. That changed the course of Raven’s life. He felt very good after the run. After that he was running on and off. In 1975 January 1^st, he took a New Year resolution to run 8 miles every day for one year! He kept that resolution.  Then, I guess he took the same resolution for every following year! Yes, Raven has been running every single day since January 1^st, 1975. Same route, 8 miles a day, 365 days an year, 39 years! 

Pretty amazing feat! And crazy too. He is a prisoner to his routines. Raven cannot travel anywhere that prevent him from being present in south beach every 5PM. He is under lots of back pain from pinched nerves, and stress fractures. But he keeps running. Why? According to Raven “ I found the place I am most comfortable. Everyone has a place where they shine. This is where I shine”. In that article several people testify the changes happen to them due to ‘Raven run’. People getting out of depression, blending into society after serving their time and people who met their partners during the run and people who just feel good by being a part of an activity group. All these impact in other people lives were not one of the intended goals of Raven in the beginning. It was personal reasons that instigated this routine. But that simple, may be trivial, but dedicated act grew into proportions beyond the imagination of the instigator. I think that is a pretty good reason to live for, and in my book, a purposeful life.

If I may generalize, a life become meaningful when someone does things that he/she most enjoys, without hurting anyone else or the society he/she lives in. That life will become purposeful when that deed of great joy brings happiness for someone else too.  An individual becomes legend if someone’s action provides not only the happiness for the doer but also benefit someone else in the society and touches someone’s life. There are lots of such legends. Some of them famous and some will remain unsung heroes. But those are truly inspiring and meaningful lives.