What Makes Life Worth Living?

This Kiplinger piece gives some advice on what to do to rejuvenate your career. It details the story of a guy that has worked all his life to get a big job with a big salary and then wonders, "Is this all there is?"

Kiplinger offers some suggestions for dealing with this sort of situation and two of them made me start to think of another topic. Before we get to that, here are the two suggestions that got me started:

Take on an exciting avocation. There is more to life than work. Find a new hobby or resurrect an old one, volunteer for a cause you believe in, make a concerted effort to meet Mr. or Ms. Right, host a TV show on public access TV. I, for one, have recently become a play director. My production of Same Time Next Year opens this Friday. Being a part of something beyond yourself can bring clarity and purpose to your life.

Find faith in something. I'm often surprised by the number of high-level employees and entrepreneurs who find that religious faith adds great meaning to their lives. They believe they are God's instruments and they find purpose in doing His work here on earth. Even if you're an atheist, developing spirituality about your career or finding faith in a mission can be a powerful motivator.

After reading these, I thought that it's these sorts of things -- a great hobby, spare time with family, a religious faith -- that make life worth living. What's the use in killing ourselves to make more, invest more, save more and the like if we hate our lives? What a waste.

Here are a few of things I enjoy in life:

• My family
• My faith
• Bicycle riding
• Volunteering for a charity
• Growing roses
• Football
• Coaching my son's basketball team

There are several more, but I'll cap it here and let you share your list. What makes life worth living for you?

Comments

[Mrs. Micah]

1. Mr. Micah
2. My faith
3. My quilting
4. My writing/thinking
5. My friends
6. Snuggling
7. Sleeping

That's off the top of my head.

[Beastlike]

God/Faith
Wife
Kids
Family
Sports
Friends
Exercise

[Susan]

I take great pleasure in spending time, laughing and talking with my adult daughters.

I love being out-of-doors; in fact, I often wish that I could bring the sky into my apartment.

Walking and exercising daily

Sewing

Cooking, especially at the holidays

Listening to interesting people from many walks of life

Creating art from recyclable items

[plonkee]

As an atheist, I'd say that its not faith in itself that's being described, but purpose. People can find purpose in religious faith and they can find purpose without it.

Things that make life worth living

Friends
Family
Travel
Books and other mental travel.
Music.

[sid]

Great post , recently i was ready to hang my self , my ex stole all my money and my kid only thing i had left to live fore , got a bill from the IRS saying i owe more than i have left !

[beastlike]

-Not being an Atheist, I'll pray for you SID!

[Susan]

SID,
I heard a financial lecturer on television several years ago say that "money problems are not real problems, real problems are when your child has a terminal illness,..." I agree wholeheartedly and while this blog is beneficial and wonderful, I count my blessings where they really count. It is the people in our lives that matter, this money thing is secondary.