Hearth Letter_March 2019_From the Heart

What is your purpose in life?

Season changes always bring me to a place of reflective contemplation.

This change is no different.

The contemplation this time around has been about my "purpose in life". A thought went through my head. "What if someone never finds their purpose in life? Does that mean their life has/had no purpose?"

The thought stopped me in my tracks. I felt the wheels that are always spinning in my mind screech to a halt. I experienced a full-on PAUSE in thought processes. Is cognizance of a purpose what makes it purposeful? Does a purpose not have a purpose if I don't know it's a purpose? Is a known purpose what makes a life full of purpose?

Obviously, the mind-wheels didn't stay still for too long.

I poked and prodded that thought for awhile. I came to my own conclusion: If someone does not "find" their purpose in life it does not mean that their life is any less purposeful. It might be sad (...that popped up another question: Will someone who doesn't know their purpose have a chance of being happy or fulfilled?) Or rather... I would be sad for another if they didn't find, or know, their purpose in life. But would they be unhappy? Would they be fulfilling their purpose if they didn't know their purpose?

As I said...wheels...turning.

That eventually led me down the thought path of, "What is your purpose in life?" As I said it in my mind, I heard it with an emphasis on the word "purpose". 

"What is your PURPOSE in life?"

That is usually how it reverberates through the air whenever this topic is discussed. The PURPOSE is the important part. And it is always PURPOSE with a capital "P". Often, along with the question, anxiety stretches to its full length and globs its prickly-sticky self around my internal organs. This time was no different. Was I fulfilling my purpose? Was the purpose of my life the real purpose of my life? 

I continued rolling the phrase around and around in my mind. Eventually, little adjustments happened and suddenly I heard the phrase with the emphasis on the word "your".

"What is YOUR purpose in life?"

There was a sudden inhalation. It was literally an "ah-ha!" moment! I began to contemplate some more. What if I chose the purpose of my life? What if it really is MY purpose? 

It felt as if my mind was doing a "wet-dog shake" and freeing itself of 47-years of preconceived notions. I took another deep breath and felt the thought of "striving to find my purpose" slide out of me on the exhale. 

Then the question repeated. 

"What is YOUR PURPOSE in life?"

And now, instead of a slight feeling of anxiety at trying to find it, excitement bubbled up. I get to choose my purpose! It is mine. The world opened up before me again. I get to embark on an amazing journey of making my purpose. 

Where will this path lead? I'm not sure. I have a lot of ideas and many directions I could go! And that is what Spring is about. New beginnings. New growth. New plantings. I will share the newness. And I invite YOU to share YOUR purpose with us! What new directions, new plantings, new growth are you contemplating at this turn of the wheel?

WWRL would love to hear from YOU! Please feel free to share via email, snail mail, or on our social media platforms.

May YOUR purpose take strong root and grow into full beauty!