What is the purpose of life?

I have had that discussion with a variety of people over the years. Way back in high school, in grad school, and now in playgrounds watching over our kids. Frankly, I am sometimes tired of the discussion. No, it is not the discussion per say or idea itself that tires me, it is an interesting enough question and yes, I know the answer to it, it is a problem I dealt with with when I was younger, I have solved it and as far as I am concerned I do have the right answer. I doubt there is much that anyone can say now that can radically alter my world view. I am not denying that there is a possibility of something like that happening, just saying that it is a very remote one at best.

All the same, it does not irritate me one bit when someone asks that question. May be they were too busy doing other stuff when they were younger and are only now getting around to dealing with the big stuff or perhaps they just are just curious to hear what I have to say or more likely they want to impress me with their own personal brand of zen wisdom or whatever else their excuse is it does not bother me in the slightest. Remember I am the kind of person who can watch the same movie twenty times and still laugh or cry.

So why do I get tired of the discussion sometimes you ask? Good question. What tires me is when someone does not understand their own question.

What is the purpose of life? Life in general or your own life in particular? What are you asking? With all due respect, I am not interested in figuring out what your life purpose is, if one exists that is. It is none of my business, it is your purpose, you figure it out and you don't need to tell me. Do not disguise your personal existential angst in to a grand philosophical inquiry. If that is what you want to talk about, say that. Say 'hey I am so confused, I don't know what I am supposed to do in life. I am fed up with my life, it is rotten and shitty and I hate everything that is around me.' Say that and as your friend I will listen to you, i will try my best to comfort you, to show you the silver lining (even if none exists), I will do my best to make all the right noises. No, I will not be able to answer you because like I said it is your purpose and only you can determine what it is, but I will be there with you while you struggle.

However, when you ask me the grand purpose of life in general question, then please in the name of all that is good and holy do not muddy it up by bringing your own emotions in to the argument.

And no do not even try to bring up the lame excuse of how you figured it out when you were younger and now things have changed. Nothing has changed in the last thirty years of your being here. More than likely you were on the wrong track, and hence by definition, had never really figured it out. If you had the right answer back then, then trust me it has not changed.

Life has existed on this planet for waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay long before you ever showed up. The purpose of life (all life, not just yours) has nothing to do with you. It has not changed in the last 3.8 billion years with the first appearance of life on earth. To actually, truly answer that question you have to get off your high horse, and stop being so emotional about it. That's all I ask.

If you are going to ask a question, understand what you are asking first. Is this an emotional or an intellectual query? That is the question I ask someone when they bring this or any topic to me. Tell me how you want me to respond, and I will comply.

So, coming back to what tires me, is when people on the outset vehemently profess how they merely want to have a logical intellectual discussion and then in the end when the arguments start falling apart they begin resorting to 'Oh but I feel like there has to be a plan.' Or 'I feel like there is a god so there must be one.' 'It is intuitive.'

That is the time when I FEEL like swearing.

You loon!! Your trivial, puny, insignificant , unstable, irrational 'feelings' have nothing to do with anything. They have no bearing on the case. The universe does not care. The universe has got bigger fish to fry. No seriously, with all due respect, and at the risk of repeating myself, get off your high horse, and come walk with the rest of us.

And if you still want to feel then fine just let me in on the secret from the beginning so I can turn my feeling gene on too and stop looking for rationality. Don't make me sweat this out. Don't fool me into 'thinking' when you yourself have no intention of doing so. Is that really too much to ask?