The meaning of life (or the 3 stages of life)

darth frosty

Couldn't decide which I liked better, here they are.

Ok here is the key and real meaning of life...Listen up I'm only going to say this once. There are 3 stages to human existance. The first is the growth or learning stage. This stage is the first 20 years or so of life, where you learn and prepare for the second stage.

The second stage is the legacy stage. This is where you set out on your lifes work to make your mark on the world. This is where you accomplish major feats, find your true calling and try to make a difference in the world (hopefully for the better.) This stage is from your 20s-40's.

The third stage I like to call philanthropy, this is the stage where you give back. This stage occurs late in life (50's and up.) This is where you pass on what you have learned and work for, to others so that they might learn and carry on your work(or at least find their own path.)

A very simplistic formula for life. Sadly the society we live in conspires against us. In the formative years of the learning stage most of us are taught values and goals that are counter productive to our lifes calling. we are fed other people's beliefs and values, not allowed the broad spectrum of knowledge and experience, necesary to truly prepare us for the second stage of life.

Because of this divergence in the first stage, most of us spend the second stage of our lives behind the 8 ball as it were. By the time we are half way thru the second stage most of us find ourselves having to re-evaluate our course in life. We as men and women, must take it upon ourselves to reach back and help the up and coming first stagers. If we dont, 20 years from now they will be asking the same questions from behind the same 8 ball.

Warlock

The three stages of life:

#1) Introduction (ages: conception to 40)

#2) Body (40 to 80)

#3) Conclusion (80 to death)

Warlock

frankiespeakin

Why does there have to be a meaning of life? To search for it, seems to be a waste of time based on an assumption that there is one. Searches based on assumptions tend to be biased.

jaguarbass

Darth Frosty, you make a good post. My life has pretty much been a waste according to your understanding thanks to the watchtower. I knew my life was a waste before I read your post. I had the watchtower against me and lazy inconsiderate parents. I would think a lot of people here had the same situation. It was easy for my parents to let a magazine publishing company take the responsibility of raising their children. Then my parents didnt have to be responsible my mother could hang out on the couch with her depression and my father who was not a witness could play his whole life. While the watchtower told me school and education was bad. If you take the watchtower out of the equation. Society tells you to get an education and take care of yourself. Budwiser even had a commercial which the watchtower ridiculed. "Go for the Gusto" which was probably a play on words go for the gusto of life by August Anheuser Busch the maker of Budwieser. Gusto, August..

jaguarbass

Why does there have to be a meaning of life? To search for it, seems to be a waste of time based on an assumption that there is one. Searches based on assumptions tend to be biased. I search for it because I am currious. I search for it because the witnesses have me so messed up that I think I have to find the meaning of life. If there is no meaning than I am just like my dogs. Which may be true. But since I have the capacity to think I will spend a portion of my time trying to solve this riddle. I dont watch tv so I have about 4 hours extra a day to search. I have to do something. I play my guitar, go to the gym, eat, sleep and try to figure out whats going on. But thats just me. Searches based on assumptions tend to be biased. I do agree and try to factor that into my research. And that bias makes the search for meaning of life most difficult. And what is the meanig of life? I rephrase it to why are we here? Hopefully the answer is not because my parents had sex, but theres my bias showing.

nvrgnbk

I very much enjoyed your explanation df, especially the need, privilege, and duty to give the younger members of humanity a hand, so as to avoid repeating our mistakes.

Having said that, I think frankiespeakin may be on to something. If there is a "purpose" it would appear that it is beyond us to grasp it. Perhaps we are not intended to. I prefer to focus on "a way of being" than look for the "why".

I used to look for the "why" in everything. I've come to learn, sometimes there is no "why", there's just "is".

Flowerpetal

My 2 cents.......The meaning of life is to be happy. It's to find something which gives you purpose and a sense of accomplishment/satisfaction which brings happiness....maybe to contribute something to the world. Raising children (if you want to have any) to be sensible, decent and carry on what you started in your own household.

All human beings were meant to be happy.....and don't put any judgements on anybody---just accept whoever comes into your life. Observe your pets; they don't put any conditions on you--they just accept you, love you, depend on you and that is very rewarding!

And if you are in your mid-50's and still don't know what you want to do when you grow up, don't worry! Keep searching and it will find you.

And then of course, you could always watch Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life"

brinjen

All human beings were meant to be happy.....and don't put any judgements on anybody---just accept whoever comes into your life. Observe your pets; they don't put any conditions on you--they just accept you, love you, depend on you and that is very rewarding!

Good point Flowerpetal

Maybe that's just it. To be happy (and maybe reproduce ).

Most of us (myself included) still like to see a purpose for our existence, as it then gives us a reason for being here. Maybe thats my insecurities talking.... Maybe I'm not quite de-programmed just yet...

As frankispeakin and nvrgnbk both pointed out though, maybe it is something beyond our understanding.

Flowerpetal

Hi Brinjen,

Yes I agree with Frankie and nvr as well. Did you ever see the TV series Roots? Remember when Kunte Kinte was just born, his father raised him towards the heavens, it was a starry night, and he said, "Behold, something greater than yourself"? So maybe it is beyond our understand or maybe we have to figure it out--we may never get the answer, but the enjoyment is the journey.

Anyway, on the Science channel tonight, (Sunday) there are two programs coming on about TIME. 9:00-10:00 and 10:00-11:00 pm, EST). The first program is an exploration of whether Time is experienced within the body or outside. Sounds intriguing and setting my DVR to record.

changeling

Great observation. Very true.

The meaning of life (or the 3 stages of life)

Share this