Blank Slate

The future is unwritten and fluid. There is nothing that we are that is concrete. Our jobs, our families, our homes, our friends, our daily activities, none are concrete. Anything can change at any time. And for all of us, we are able to maneuver within our means.

Our means... But do they really exist? Is there really anything that we cannot do if we don't really really want to? Do you really believe that there is something that you can't do if you really try? If you do, you've got larger problems than any I can solve. Good luck.

But beyond this I have a rather more frightening thought. If we choose not to follow a given path, any given path, and decide to do something else, will anyone actually predict how our actions would have changed their lives?

Let me give you an example.

If my parents never met, I would not have been born. Would anyone actually be asking where I am? No. If I never moved to my home city, would my friends ask what happened to me? No. If I had gone to a different college than I did, would my friends and floormates ever wonder about where I was? No.

But let's turn it around again.

If my parents never met, would I be wondering about my birth? If my parents never moved to my home city, would I wonder about how my friends are doing? If I had chosen to go to a different college, would I wonder what my friends were up to?

No, I'd be off living another life, or not even living at all.

Now do you realize that we really have no purpose in life but what we make? It's true. If there is an infinite number of choices, each with it's own consequences and paths, each with its pros and cons, then there is no one set life and if there is no one set life path then no one path is more significant than any other. Therefore, all paths are equally insignificant when not taken and the world when taken. Taking the larger picture however, all paths (those taken and those not), are equally significant and insignificant at different times and in different instances, therefore all paths are either completely significant because of their possibility or completely insignificant for the same reason.

Taking that as true, we must also see that it is not the choice that is important, but the choice itself that is important. Purpose is the choices we make.

Now, let's take our interests out of the equation. Our interests are the determining factor of our choices, therefore without them, we should be able to see if we really have a purpose. Why do you work at the job you're at? Maybe it's because of money, to feed your family perhaps. Or maybe it's because you enjoy what you do. Why do you associate with the people you do? Friendship? Commonalities? Duty? Work? There are always reasons why we do what we do and why we make the choices that we make. But, remove your job, your friends, your family, and the rest of your interests and what's left? Nothing.

Removing your choices, you have no purpose. You are a complete blank slate. Your choices make you who you are. So make the choices you want and remember that life is not set. Predestination does not exist, but I'll get to that next time.