What Does Life Mean To You?

@inertia4 (27960)
United States
August 6, 2015 6:07pm CST
What is life? What is life to you? What does it mean to you? Is life a series of events that are out of our control? Or are we the ones steering the ship. Is life what we make of it or is it already pre-planned for us? Good questions I think. My personal take on this is that we are driving the ship of life. We are the ones that make the choices or not. I don’t truly believe in a pre-planned life. Some might think so, but I don’t. Now, on the other hand I do believe there is some kind of serendipity in this life. Like a boomerang being thrown, it usually comes back to us. But in the meantime we make life what it is for us. Each one of us. Also, not one person sees like in the same way. We all have our own ideas and ideals of what life should be for us or mean to us. Some people are high risk people. These people are looked at as crazy. Most people would say, I would never do that. That is nuts, how could they do that? Well, they don’t see it the way you do. And to them it is exciting and fun. And that is how they feel their life should be. These people are adventurers. They take risks. Not all the time mind you. But on occasion. Some jump from planes, others climb mountains and others are on the fast track. other people like to travel. I call these people travelers. Their idea of life is to travel every place they possibly can. They want to see every part of the world we live in. And there is nothing wrong with that. They also have a sense of adventure inside them. Not to the extent those risk takers do. These people are not content unless they go somewhere. Whether it be another state in the country they live or to remote parts of the world. To them this is the meaning of life. To take in all the sights and sounds the world has to offer. Knowing they can never take it with them. Then you have the simple person. No, not stupid people. The people that like life simple. The life that they live in one place all their lives. The person that is totally content with living a simple life. The small town they grew up in. The big city they grew up in. These people are dreamers as well. Though they think about traveling, they don’t have the need or desire to do so. So life as a whole is looked at from different perspectives. From different angles. We all have our idea of what life is and means to us. No one else could ever change that. There are also people that are taught to be and think a certain way. And they have yet another view of what life means. What does life mean to you? How do you see the perfect life for you as an individual? Does it include risks or traveling? Does it require you to do all these things, or it is more of that content mundane lifestyle that you have in mind? Either way, there is no right or wrong answer. We all do what we feel is right. Copyright © 2015 Steven Cetta All Rights Reserved Check for all my Posts here: #inertia4posts Image Credit: CoolText.com Tags: #inertia4 #what #life #means #inertia4posts
12 people like this
18 responses
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
7 Aug 15
I don't think our lives are predestined, but we can certainly seek some guidance for our lives and we can make our choices based on more than just whims of the moment. I like to think that I have a set of moral guidelines that help me and I seek God's guidance as well.
4 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
7 Aug 15
@Rollo1 "...we can certainly seek some guidance for our lives..." Guidance... from whom ? Just curious.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
7 Aug 15
I believe it is not predestined either. We do make the choices. And whatever it might be that guides you is your choice. Whether it be religion or some other entity.
1 person likes this
@phoonk (341)
• India
7 Aug 15
@Rollo1 You are absolutely right. Moral guidelines set by oneself are very necessary to stop from doing something wrong.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
7 Aug 15
Life is a mystery. We never know what is in store for us. Every new day brings a new fervor or surprise beyond our expectations. We keep on living our life, without sometimes even knowing how and why things happened with us. We could assume it to be pre-destined but sometimes we are responsible for the events taking place in front of our eyes. We are humans and we just cannot control certain emotions/things. We should live life day by day without bothering about past and future. Nice post.
4 people like this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
10 Aug 15
@phoonk - Many thanks for appreciating my response. I may add here - in the older version of mylot, there was an option to choose one [/b]'best response[b]' among the responses received. However, I do not find the same option in the new version.
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
8 Aug 15
I will never say that anything we do is predetermined. The reason I say that is because we make the choice, no one else does that for us. Yes, some people might be swayed into choices. But ultimately, we make the choice.
2 people like this
@phoonk (341)
• India
7 Aug 15
@dpk262006 The best response, I must say. Really liked it.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
8 Aug 15
Our choices make our life, and who we choose to be in life with. That starts with God, and also includes partners and friends.Whoever accompanies us on the journey helps form it. I like to travel. My roots used to be firmly planted, but now have loosened up. I do not like risk taking. I hate to feel out of control.
3 people like this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
8 Aug 15
We all have many influences in our lives. That goes without saying. Our spouses our families and those of who d believe in religion. But for me, I was always one to question everything. I needed to know I could be truly free.
• Carlisle, Pennsylvania
8 Aug 15
i ask my self all the time way am i even here what does life even mean i think right right now and forever is my children .
• Carlisle, Pennsylvania
8 Aug 15
you are right it does start with god i always tell my husband when you are feeling down pray, and go to church god will be there to guide you .
@much2say (55601)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Aug 15
I'd like to think my life is a bit of everything - my traits are more or less, depending on what it is. I believe we are writing our own life stories as it comes. If the book was already sitting on the shelf, then that would mean I have no control over what I do. But I'd like to think I'm steering my own ship like you said - I can choose to sail to another far off land - or through the street I live on just to make the neighbors jump - ha ha.
3 people like this
@much2say (55601)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Aug 15
@DnkHrth @inertia4 Yes! And like with all good stories - there will be happy moments as well as the sad, ups and downs, routine and the unexpected. Life is continually tweaked, like a story, in hopes that the outcome is, well, just how we hope it to be!
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
8 Aug 15
Now that is what I am talking about. You got it. Right. The book has not been written. We write it one day at a time. And as I said in my post, each of us has our ideas and ideals of what our life should be.
1 person likes this
@DnkHrth (268)
• Sri Lanka
8 Aug 15
@much2say I like your idea. We write our own life story. I think at least we should try. The more we write, the better our story will be. One day it will be a beautiful story to see.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136369)
• India
9 Aug 15
Each of us have been given a package, something good, something bad. It all depends how we handle the package. At the end of the day, we all want to live. And that is what I also want. I want to live.
3 people like this
@allknowing (136369)
• India
18 Feb 16
@inertia4 That inner ability to survive is part of the package
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
19 Feb 16
@allknowing Okay, call it a package.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
18 Feb 16
We don't really have a package. What we have is our inner ability to survive. We are resilient creatures.
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
7 Aug 15
In my opinion, Life is the simplest thing that exists on this planet. Only we humans make it as complicated as we can... talk of expectations, attachments, ego, aspirations... all continue complicating what you have. And worst is - amidst all of this many a times you end up missing the things that would have eased and comforted you. A lovely discussion and I want to stay glued to it reading what others think about Life.
3 people like this
@phoonk (341)
• India
8 Aug 15
Nice one
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
8 Aug 15
Thank you. I am glad it got a good response. Maybe it is the easiest thing on the planet, maybe not. And yes, humans, all of us, make it complicated. And we have seen plenty of that in the news.
2 people like this
@phoonk (341)
• India
10 Aug 15
@inertia4 Yes, we really complicate our lives. But, may be it is meant to be that way; so that life turns interesting. May be life itself means ups and downs as @much2say said.
3 people like this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
14 Jan 16
I think we do have choices that take us to different destinations in our life. I believe the balance of nature or a predestined fate either guides us or puts us there. As for life it is a big circle. You are born, you live, and then you die. That is life. What is in between is up to you.
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
16 Jan 16
@inertia4 That's true. Maybe our destiny is partly controlled by our parents. I know mine wasn't or I would still live in that area.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
18 Jan 16
@mommaj I hear that. But they do have lots of influence on us at those young ages. And some things stick with us as we get older.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
15 Jan 16
I agree. We do need to fill that time how we want to. Except of course for our young years. Those are the years we are being molded into what we will eventually become.
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
8 Aug 15
I agree with dpk., life we can never know what is around the corner really even if we feel sure and confident there will always be something waiting could be good or bad who knows? Its just that we can never really know a 100 per cent. You can have what seems a bad day and it turns out to be great in the end.
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
10 Aug 15
@lovinangelsinstead21 - Thanks for agreeing with my views. Yes, many a times we are not sure what is going to happen tomorrow. Even if we plan systematically, we should keep in mind that life is unpredictable.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
10 Aug 15
@dpk262006 We might make plans. But it is ultimately the choices we make. Not the plans. No one said we will know everything. We never will know what life has in store for us.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
8 Aug 15
We will never know what life has in store for us completely. But we do eventually find out things as we go along. And as that happens, that's how we form our opinions and choices.
2 people like this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
8 Aug 15
Such a nice post you have here. I want a simple life too. I want to work and do what I want and what will make me happy. I want to be with the people that I love. But there are just things that we need to do because these are the right things. We cannot always do what we want. We are surrounded by rules and boundaries. That is why life for me is a dream.
3 people like this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
8 Aug 15
I agree, we cannot always do what we want. But I am not talking about working or responsibilities. I am just talking about our inner selves.
@Deepak2J (1178)
• India
9 Aug 15
I like to adjust with life and love to win, try heavily, no matter how difficult the situation maybe. Of course, its not easy. But, then again life is never easy, you get up, you fall, then get up again with new challenges and ideas. So, life is all about learning and winning and fulfill the dreams.
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
9 Aug 15
You are a fighter. A go getter. That's cool. I like that. it is true we will be knocked down in life. But if we don't get back up and push forward, we will be left in the dust.
1 person likes this
@phoonk (341)
• India
7 Aug 15
Life for me simply is a roller coaster. But I think life is very mean to me in some cases.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
7 Aug 15
@phoonk - What made you think that life is mean to you in some of the cases?
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
7 Aug 15
@phoonk Being harsh and being mean are different things, arent they ?
3 people like this
@phoonk (341)
• India
7 Aug 15
@dpk262006 I said in some cases because I have seen that in some fields life is very smooth for some people, but in the same case, life may be harsh for someone else. Similarly, life may be harsh for the former people in some other cases. Do you get me? Or did I confused you more?
2 people like this
@TearHere (62)
• Philippines
7 Aug 15
Life is where you survive every day.
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
8 Aug 15
Cool. Now that is your true honest view point.
@DnkHrth (268)
• Sri Lanka
7 Aug 15
I agree with what you say. We are the ones that driving the ship of life. Life is not a series of events that out of our control. We can't control all the things happening but we should never let our selves loose control. Well, this is my persnal idea about if the life is pre-planned. Not all the things happen to us are pre-planned but some things happen because we did something related to them before.
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
7 Aug 15
I agree. Like a karma type of reaction. I get that. usually what goes around comes around. I don't think it is pre-planned. But I do believe that our actions will create the reactions we get from it.
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
7 Aug 15
@DnkHrth - I think it is more about how you look at it. I recall an earlier discussion we had some years back - where one said - what action you take is also pre-determined. Though it seems that there are choices available and you make one, come to think of it, whatever you selected/chose, maybe that was pre-determined too.
2 people like this
@DnkHrth (268)
• Sri Lanka
8 Aug 15
@thesids Yes. It's true what you say. It is more about how we look at them. Some people look at it like every choice we do is pre-determined. Some see it as nothing is pre-determined. As I said above, I'm in the middle of those two.
2 people like this
• Philippines
13 Jul 16
Well, the meaning of life for me is make the things while you are young and healthy. I have this thought because I have a bad past and this time I want to correct the things I have done wrong and do the opportunities I missed. I am also a risk taker to try and do the things I have not done ever and travel more. I might say that I may not be able to live a perfect life but I am giving my best and live my life to the fullest and would not regret every single thing I have done in my journey of learning.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
13 Jul 16
That is a great outlook you have. We all should experience as much as we can in this life.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
14 Jul 16
@HappyChubby Correct. And I do. Within my means that is. LOL. You enjoy your day and MyLot.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
14 Jul 16
@inertia4 take every opportunity that would come.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
12 Aug 15
I do believe our lives are not predetermined.I am very clear as to what life is and what I should do.But at times,I feel confused,and feel I do not know what to do.Whatever choices I make,the results are not what I expect.It is as if some things are predetermined or what some call fate.Mind you,I only feel like that at times.Not always.Good,post from you,@inertia4
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
15 Aug 15
I agree. Some things do seem predetermined. But we know they're not. Life is funny really. It has it's ups and downs. And we have to really make the best of what we have.
1 person likes this
• Moradabad, India
9 Aug 15
Life is an interval between. two deaths
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
9 Aug 15
Well, it is really just borrowed time. Two deaths, well, one is a birth.
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
9 Aug 15
@sunilmishra7756 Well, that has not been proven. So, as it stands, we are born and then we die.
@jstory07 (139697)
• Roseburg, Oregon
10 Aug 15
I think we are given certain paths to follow and we choose the path to follow.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
10 Aug 15
I don't know if we are given paths to follow. But the ones we do follow are the choices we made. It's like coming to a fork in the road. We can go one way or the other. It is up to us which one to take.
• Kolkata, India
28 Nov 15
Well it depends on us i.e. how we create life for ourselves. The most important thing is understanding things and then growing up with those lessons. But still I believe that there must be someone who can guide us in life with their thoughts and ideas.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
30 Nov 15
Life is what we make of it. As for being guided, not everyone has that option. Some are not guided at all. Some are guided by the negative. But mostly we are guided by our parents and or family.