Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site terak.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ucbvax!ucdavis!lll-crg!seismo!hao!noao!terak!doug
From: doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee)
Newsgroups: net.suicide
Subject: Re: misc. ramblings
Message-ID: <725@terak.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Sep-85 16:10:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: terak.725
Posted: Thu Sep 19 16:10:46 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 25-Sep-85 07:20:16 EDT
References: <199@ikonas.UUCP>
Organization: Calcomp Display Products Division, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Lines: 55

No purpose in life?  Sounds like how I felt back in high school.

Some homespun philosophy I've developed over the years since then:

The problem is *not* that there is no purpose in your existence.

The problem is that you think there is *supposed* to be.  You have
been conditioned by a largely religious society to believe that your
existence is part of a Plan.  But (if you're like me) you aren't
religious, and don't subscribe to any of the Plans put forward.

In that case, quit looking for a Plan.  For those of us who aren't
religious, there is no Plan.  Contrary to appearances, most people
do *not* have (nor do they need) any "purpose in life".

Look.  If you happen to win a million bucks in the state lottery, you
wouldn't think "There must be some cosmic reason that I had such good
fortune."

The same goes for life.  There is *no particular reason* that you are
alive today.  You just got lucky.  Don't look the gift horse in the
mouth.  Take it and make the most of it however you see fit.

My personal goal in life is very simple: to have as satisfying and
enjoyable a life as possible short of shafting my "fellow man".

This doesn't mean I became a beachcomber, although a few people would
find beachcombing to be to their liking.  After all, even if you win a
million bucks in the lottery you still have to pay taxes -- very few
things in life (including life itself) are 100% good or 100% bad.  I
still work to get money to support myself and my wife, and to pay for
my computers, sports cars, airplane, etc.  On the face of it, a fairly
conventional lifestyle (although perhaps a bit "yuppie" :-)   But I
am *very* picky about having enjoyable working conditions, and I cut
back my working hours to 40 hours a week so that I've got *time* to
enjoy my toys.  I don't live to work; I work to LIVE.

Bottom line:  quit worrying about having a purpose in life.  Some people
have one but most don't.  You can enjoy the life you have just fine
without one.

It's YOUR life, dammit.  Take charge and run it to suit your own self.
If you *like* whatever you're doing now, then keep doing it.  If you
don't, then *stop it* and start doing whatever you *do* like.


P.S. -- How do I get by the bad times?  I always remember that I am
ultimately in control of my life.  If everything goes to heck, and it
looks like I'll spend the rest of my life trying to straighten things
out, I have a "plan of last resort": disappear, assume a new identity,
and start a new life elsewhere.

Just knowing that I always have a way out is a heck of a big comfort.
-- 
Doug Pardee -- CalComp -- {calcom1,savax,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!doug


Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com