Purpose: the reason for which something exists or is done, made or used, an intended or desired results; end; aim or goal.

I remember years ago when I was in high school I would rush home after the final bell so I could be home to watch Oprah at 4 p.m. It was literally the highlight of my day. There was one show in particular she did talking about purpose and your life’s purpose and how until she found her purpose she was just living life, instead of living life. There’s a difference.

When you do not have a purpose you’re lost, mentally, emotionally all of the above. I don’t want to say you begin acting out, but you do. There are stages; since you have not found yourself or who you are, you go looking in different places. Whether it’s a bar for a drink, a Bloomingdales, solace in your room with a TV remote or home with a stranger. The aimless wandering through life is much different than the enjoyment of life. The person who doesn’t have their purpose is selfish, they are trying to find themselves so they do not have time for anybody else. How was your day? What new stuff are you working on? Any plans this weekend? These are not things you will hear from this person. The person who doesn’t have their purpose is reckless; they don’t have a bigger picture for their life so all that matters is the now. What will bring me the most pleasure now? What will make for the best story tomorrow? What will make me feel good now, look the best now. They want what they want, when they want it with no regards on how it will affect the future. The person who doesn’t have their purpose has no compassion; this might have come off as a little harsh, what I mean is that they have trouble empathizing with others. When someone makes sacrifice in their life to fulfill their purpose, pinching pennies to travel abroad and teach underprivileged children, moving to a small town because they want to break into the news scene, or quitting your job to pursue a career in writing some people might not understand. Some people won’t get it.

People will ask “Why are you leaving your great career?”, “How are you going to accomplish all of this?”, “What if you meet someone?”, “How are you ever going to save enough money to buy a house?”. Sometimes your purpose doesn’t fall within the ‘norm’, you might not have a 9-5, or a nuclear family with 2.5 children, a dog and a husband, you probably won’t float along the path of life that everybody else does, you might break out and be a little different but that’s ok because at least you’re working towards a goal, a goal that makes you happy, fulfilled and gives you a reason to get up in the morning. Makes you excited about life, about meeting new people, doing new things, taking risks and living.