Meaning of Life to you?

[Shiroi Tora]

To live life fully and with a passion.
So I will have no regrets and may face death with ease.

To make a living doing it.
So I may provide a good life to those whom I love most...my family.

To help others on the widest possible scale.
So I may live life with honor.

What does life mean to you?

[Shiroi Tora]

People...put your thoughts out here.  By forcing yourself to think what life means to you....you will lain out a template for you to follow.  Many don't think about life as a whole, and for the long term.  Life is NOT about taking it one day at a time...to do so is to merely exist...no hope for the future.   Life is about progression...walking steadily toward your goals.  This in itself is uplifting. 

To even have a goal is the first step....and so this thread.  Think...plan...write...follow...live ...achieve.

This is a writing exercise that is similar to ones professional mental health and motivational speakers use.  To not know, consciously, what life is to you...is to not have a schematic to follow...a plan.  All it is...is a general goal.  It defines, in your mind, what is most important to you.  It is then merely a little research and thought into engineering your life to best achieve those goals.  With a goal...you may then have a destination...and a starting point.  You will then be able to gauge your speed and direction...and so feel progress.  You will then be living for tomorrow while enjoying the process, through your progression, of today.  This generates hope and engenders passion...which develops drive...The most important attribute to success.

[zenemu]

   
I can only speak for myself, but I suspect that this is a bit of an esoteric question for an AS forum. I am unsure whether it is an AS trait, but most aspies I have met are not well equipped to answer theological questions.
 
Let me give you an example: I am agnostic, not because I do or don't believe in God (I have studied most religious texts), but simply because I genuinely found (after my studies) that I don't care one way or another. Please don't mistake that as looking down on those who do have faith, in fact I am often in awe of people who devote their lives to such spiritual endeavors, but I am equally aware that the awe I feel is partly their because I genuinely don't understand how people can sustain such conviction without evidence. I am intelligent enough to understand all of the arguments for and against the existence of a supreme being. The thing is as an aspie, I find life is complicated enough without adding elements of faith or theology, which by their nature require questioning if they are to have any meaning.
 
SO back on topic: Asked what the meaning of life is,  suggests faith that life has a meaning. If pushed, the meaning of life to me, is to try and get through it alive (something we all fail at eventually), and to take some enjoyment from it, but that too is all rhetorical nonsense really. In my view life is a paradox. It is an unlikely, but inevitable happenstance and over analyzing it seems a little bit of a waste to me
 
Hmm, that probably wasn't a very helpful response, I apologise

[Remission]

Life has no meaning, only sensations, variously interpreted. 

[MM]

Monty pythons last effort was about the meaning of life.  Pretty darn funny

[Shiroi Tora]

I am an Atheist ("A" meaning not) - this has nothing to do with theology.  It is pragmatism - very practical.  It is an exercise in the plotting and prioritization of goals and the objectives to achieve  those goals.  Life is what you make of it, part of which is securing a job in a profession that will provide means for you to live life and provide for your offspring.  The idea here is simplicity, not complexity.  Define what you value most in life and from there lay out the most efficient way to achieve that goal...all realistic...all practical.  Life becomes complicated when, because a lack of planning, you must dance to someone else's tune.  Concentrate on your strengths and passions.  Work towards your goal.  This was designed to make you think that which you are most passionate about.  The rest would be up to the individual as to how to best pursue that passion...that is all.  Again...Nothing spiritual...all practical.

Perhaps my motive is suspect:  Maybe I am perceived as a snob....What I post comes from the heart.  My son is an Aspie...I have a tender spot for Aspies.  I talk this way to him to try to motivate him and to guide him in life.   Although he is only 9 yrs. old...he is advanced.  Again...I post as I talk to my son.  I wish to help others who may be depressed or feel that life somehow doesn't hold hope for them.  I merely wish to help the others that post..that is all.

Don't let anyone tell you differently.  Life takes on the meaning that you work toward.  The danger lies in the under analyzation of life...not in the analyzation of it.

[MM]

Learn to live life on lifes terms.  Thats the best way of putting it keep it simple.  You athiest your going to burn in hell

[Shiroi Tora]

Living life on life's terms is what animals do.  They can't control events to any major degree because they lack Objective Reasoning.  Man sets the terms through proper planning.  You change your earning capability by getting advanced training in your field...(A person may be fun around campfires if he can strum the guitar...but it is through unrelenting practice that he becomes the classical guitarist who makes a good living at it).  Through your effort, and applied intelligence, you may set the terms on how you shall live your life...you must become a Captain of a ship...otherwise you become a cork in the ocean (You either steer your path...or you are at the mercy of the waves in life). 

YES...you must accept the inevitable...however...few things in life are truly inevitable.  Most things are under your control...if you use forethought and plan your life out.

[Dwighk Sr.]

Trawlin MathGirl.

[MM]

Actually humans have very little control over life but if we make wise decisions the impact of life can be less messureable.  We can only adjust or make changes to adapt to life but we very little control.  If I had total control I would not be an alcoholic I would not be autistic I would not have asthma My mother would a motherly mum my dad would not have married the wicked witch of the west stepmother of mine.  Everybody would happy joyious and free and there would be no death or dying but I don t have control over these things so here is the serenity prayer god grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

[Shiroi Tora]

Actually humans have very little control over life but if we make wise decisions the impact of life can be less messureable.  We can only adjust or make changes to adapt to life but we very little control.  If I had total control I would not be an alcoholic I would not be autistic I would not have asthma My mother would a motherly mum my dad would not have married the wicked witch of the west stepmother of mine.  Everybody would happy joyious and free and there would be no death or dying but I don t have control over these things so here is the serenity prayer god grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Ah...but I say you are so wrong when you say we don't have much control over our lives.  True..many things that happen to us are out of our control...but our reaction to them and the final results (as opposed to the immediate temporary results) are.  

Through applied intelligence...formulating a remedy...a plan to overcome the obstacles and the continued drive to fruition of those plans....These we have control over.  By proper prior planning using foresight...many of the pitfalls in life can be avoided, mitigated...or even turned to a positive.  With the optimism and imagination to see a better way and the drive to succeed..to never quit... so many obstructions and obstacles in our lives will instead turn in to milestones of achievements and will form some of the greatest moments, and so, memories you will have in life.  

Once you have a major victory...you will forever know you can do what you most wish to do.  Success will breed success.  You will turn into Optimists...no matter how hard you try not to be...and no matter what you are now.  Optimism is not a way of conscious thought or will...it is the natural reaction of success...once you have a taste of it.  That is what you get by taking control of your life...planning...following through...overcoming obstacles through your acceptance of challenges in life...and so achieving.  Once you taste this freedom...there is no going back.   You merely have to step forward...never to look backward...never accepting defeat.  By doing so...you are on your way to victory.

Being an Aspie is not an excuse to not achieve your happiness.  What it is...is it will make your success all the sweeter.

[MM]

You have not said anything I dont disagree with.

[Shiroi Tora]

You have not said anything I dont disagree with.

I must admit....I had to read that through a few times....

You are actually saying that:  I have said nothing that you agree with.  I am astounded.  Really?  Or did you confuse yourself as you had confused me for a second?   

I really think you must agree on some of what I had said.  I can only hope so. 

[Remission]

If I can have sex with women and make money, i have life.

If not, I die.

Pretty simple.

[MM]

I ment I agree with what you are you saying maybe poor choice of english on my part.  I can look at things from another prespective now adays I have developed that capability. not easy but it is possible.  I agree with all that you were saying when I looked at it from that prespective.