by Digger Barr
https://gaiasgardens.guru/
I have spent my whole life wondering what is the purpose of life.
I asked my cat, What is the purpose of your life?
She looked at me somewhat incredulous that I would even ask the question and at the same time not caring if there was an answer.
I tried on the ‘not caring’ hat and sat with it for a minute.
The closest thought I could muster was one of absolute surrender.
My favorite memory of surrender is from my high school days while living in remote locations during winter.
We would get incredible snow storms that would bury us under feet of snow for days.
There was no use in fighting it. It was nature and she was going to have her way.
We just allowed the storm to run its course then shoveled our way out.
I don’t remember asking what the purpose was. It just was.
But it felt good to be forced to let all other responsibilities slide away.
Being snowed in was fun and I actually looked forward to it.
Any other purpose that directed my daily life was put on hold and what I experienced instead was a sense of relief.
Now in my adulthood perspectives have changed.
And advancing even further into the now with all the perspectives that have changed, I am still wondering what is the purpose of life?
Everyday I get up and set forth in scheduling my day.
I look at the calendar and see where things have been scheduled, what needs to get scheduled and adjustments accordingly.
I look for structure that gives my life meaning and purpose.
I go out with friends at least once a week.
Meeting with people makes me feel part of the community beyond work.
Social interaction gives me a sense of belonging and gives me a broader purpose than just meeting my responsibilities.
I watch the bartender and could tell she has had a rough time of it.
I wondered what she might have thought her purpose in life was?
Not judging but guessing making it through another night may have been her driving force.
Some purposes are set closer to the self and focus on simply meeting basic needs.
But she was still in service to others.
I dreamt about a family I know that is very well off.
They have done some amazing things to help the community.
Fundraisers for families dealing with cancer, an outreach program for hungry children that consistently serves over 6000 meals a week.
They have met all of their basic needs so now they have reached out to help others.
This gives their lives so much more than wealth. It gives them a sense of purpose.
It doesn’t matter what your condition or situation, we all seem to have that desire to have a purpose for our lives.
In my dream this family was helping me find a new home.
I was moving into their house temporarily.
I find great meaning in my house dreams. It’s a symbolic process of where I am choosing to live.
When examining what the meaning of this dream may have meant, I found that there is a shift in my idea of what my purpose may be.
When comparing notes with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs I find that I have checked all the boxes from physiological needs to self-actualization. Well yes, now that I am sleeping with regularity again I can check off those boxes. I will make a public note here that takes away any leg of that lower structure in Maslow’s pyramid and it can disrupt the whole system.
Much like a snow storm and getting snowed in, regularly scheduled life gets put on hold. And not always with a sense of relief.
In this dream, I was putting together all the furnishings I would need in order to live in this new home.
I was looking for a bigger dining table, which in my physical life is really unnecessary.
The symbolism of a bigger table obviously means to be able to include more people. More food for more sustenance for more people.
I woke from this dream once again in wonder about which direction my life might be taking.
Why would I be moving yet once again?
I trust my dream thoughts more than my waking thoughts.
But it’s my waking thoughts that need to give meaning to my dreams.
What may take mere minutes at night may consume many hours of my day and even weeks as I keep the dream with me as I go about my regularly scheduled program.
What is seemingly a faint feeling will act as a guide to direct me further along in my evolving purpose.
Since my basic needs have been and will be met, there is plenty of room for me to wonder about what the future will bring and what my role in it will be.
I can direct that role by actively engaging with a sense of purpose.
Or I can take hints from my cat and just go with it accepting that my purpose is already in full action.
This is probably a more accurate assessment.
Like my dream state, my soul knows its purpose, I am just a mirror for what my inner guidance is showing me.
If I choose to pay attention and follow the guidance I may very well end up in the right place.
I can change my mind of course and set different priorities.
Maybe I focus on just getting rich with no plan to share and help others.
I can tell already just typing those words, it does not feel right.
My new purpose then becomes to listen.
Listen to my soul’s desire and surrender to its guidance.
That felt right.
I also feel the desire to add more chairs to the dining table.
Apparently there are guests coming to dinner.
BTW, you’re invited.
With much love,
Digger24