Pursuing Meaning

Many years ago, I quit the corporate world. I was having dizzy spells every morning at eleven o’clock, and vision black outs. I thought I had a brain tumor, but my doctor told me it was stress. A few months later I quit that job. That night I got the first good sleep I’d had in years.

That was the first decisive step I took to delete all the meaningless things from my life. Television was one of the meaningless activities to go, as I have discussed.

There’s a clock somewhere in the universe that has your name on it, and it’s counting down to zero. When it gets to zero, you cash out and move on to something better, let’s hope. My point is that the clock has a certain number of minutes left on it, and there’s nothing you can do to increase your stay much beyond a hundred years, though you can decrease it at any time!

That’s the context of and reason for my next exhortation to you, Producer.

Make every minute in this life count, make every activity meaningful.

How is that done? Well, it is tough infusing meaning into traffic jam delays. I suppose you could listen to books on tape or carpool with friends.

The best method is to replace meaningless activities with meaningful ones. If you have a two hour daily commute, delete it by getting a better job closer to home. Or move to the city. A friendship that drags you down should not last long; there are six billion other people who need a Producer friend like you. Spend too much time watching television? Oops! Already covered that one.

You see, Consumers spend loads of time kicking a can through life, hands in their pockets, shooting the breeze, nothing on the calendar. Every moment they waste is gone forever. The Paraducers have absolutely no problem with that, because the Consumers still have to consume.

As a Producer, you need to maximize the fun, work, play, joy and happiness in each moment of the day. I’m not saying that you have to be “on” 24/7, but even when you rest, make it a quality experience. Get away from the family for a while and let that blood pressure fall. Get the family away from your in-laws! Get recharged for the work you love to do as a Producer.

And there’s another criteria for every activity in your life. Is this something I absolutely love to do? Or is it just filling space and time, or something I’m obligated to do? Nothing wrong with duty, but when you have the choice, do things you love to do that benefit your mind and body.

“Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.” – C.S. Lewis

These words will pierce the hearts of many Producers because they are not now working in what they would consider a meaningful job. Perhaps you are not producing, but are stuck in some Consumer level job, or are serving a Paraducer and bored out of your skull. Take your time, look around, follow your passion, and move toward a more meaningful career. Many Producers do that every day.

Having more time to do meaningful things you enjoy means having to change not just the big things but the small. Using computers to make your work easier is helpful, so learn how. Combining necessary trips into town saves gas and time. Even paying your bills online can be quicker.

This is not brain surgery, or something that will transform you into a powerhouse intellect! Just simply examine every activity over the next dozen years and ask yourself, “is this meaningful?”

The Meaning of Life

Then what is the meaning of life? I cannot answer that, but I can answer a related question: What is the meaning of my life? The meaning of my life is whatever meaning I bring to it. Resolve to bring new meaning to your life each day. Resolve to eject nonessential things that rob your life of meaning.