Whose purpose is more meaningful?

Who sets guidelines or standards for an acceptable purpose of life?

Some are fighters whose ultimate purpose is to fight; for environment, for nation, for religion, for women, for sick, for poor, for justice, for universe etc..etc.. (doctors, lawyers, politicians, NGOs, environmentalists, socialists, defense forces, civil forces, economists, saints, monks,etc..).

Some are creators whose purpose is to create that one masterpiece for the world (people like writers, musicians, artists, composers, scientists, researchers, innovators, farmers, influencers, engineers, chefs, designers, architects etc..etc..).

Then comes the category of skill or hobby loving folks who find purpose of life in their skills or passion like acting, teaching, singing, climbing, mountaineering, sports etc...

But all these together form just 5-10% of the society. The major part of this world don't have any said purpose. Not everyone's ultimate purpose is to save the world.

Rest of this world leads a normal life. They work 8-14 hours a day, 5-7 days a week, 12 months a year for 40-50 years - on a job that they either hate or don't feel anything at all. All this so they can earn money to fulfill their needs, and sometimes their wants. A few hours that's left in a day, they invest in family and relationships. Their goals in life are simple - from getting a decent job, earning livelihood, providing for family, getting married, shaping the future of kids, buying home etc ..

They are not changing the world per say. But they cannot be ignored as non essential elements. They are THE SOCIETY.

I say "They", because I have never been able to relate to this kind of normal life, and in all my previous blogs you would have seen a glimpse of how much I hate the word "normal life" coined by this society. But my recent trip to India, I realized, in this two way judgemental battle - no one is really winning, and in fact, I should stop judging this society. On the contrary, I started trying to understand what is this society made up of? What motivates them? And hence, this blog, so going on.

For many providing a comfortable life to their family becomes their sole purpose. And if that is accomplished by a routine, so be it. That doesn't mean they don't have a purpose.

And who is to say their purpose is not as large or important as that of Steve Jobs or Mother Teressa or Nelson Mandela or Edmund Hillary.

You would be surprised to meet people in India whose only purpose in life is to meet or just get a glimpse of Salman Khan or Sachin Tendulkar. Does it make any sense to me? -No. Do I find it illogical? - Yes. Do I find it stupid though? - Maybe yes, but I don't want to judge them anymore. They probably relate to these public figures, may be they connect to their characters, whatever be the reason; just because I don't understand it, doesn't make it stupid.

Anything that pushes you into living another day on this planet, is your purpose. Some dream big, some dream practical; but everyone dreams a dream. And you find purpose in it. As long as it's your dream, as long it's your purpose - be proud to state it.

So next time someone asks you what's your purpose in life; don't hesitate if you want to say "having vada paav and chai in Juhu chowpaty with my wife" or "sleeping peacefully in the night" or "getting a six pack".

It might not sound heroic but hey - It is your life. So, you be the person who finds and states the purpose of your life. As long as you are content and happy, that's all that matters, you can save the world in another lifetime.

On Streets of Sri Lanka.

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