The Meandering Mind

Making a difference: A series of thoughts and reflections on living a life of purpose. Someone once said, “The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.” Good quote. Even better thought. I wonder how many of us thought, when we were a lot younger, “I want my life to mean something. I want my life to have purpose — to serve humanity, to honor God, to make a positive difference in the world.” I suspect researchers have studied this topic and published statistics from all manner of surveys. From my own, anecdotal perceptions and experiences, I found that few young people think so profoundly about the way their lives will matter. In a recent conversation with a 30-year-old, he said, “When I was a kid, I had no idea about anything but being a kid and having fun.” I responded that such an attitude was not only typical, but probably healthy. Kids should enjoy being kids and not be overly concerned about their futures. Adults who drift through their middle and senior years are often troubled that they haven’t made a difference. They wonder how, or even if, they will be remembered. As I talk with high school students, some have an idea of what they want to do or be after high school or college. Others, not so much. Kids and young adults are pretty good at being existentialists — those who live in the moment. Recent proms focus on the here and now. Seniors graduating this month face decisions about their immediate future. As we get older, we tend to become more reflective about what our lives have meant. How have we affected others in our family, through our work, our leisure time, etc.? As usual, my mind will meander through this series, in no particular order, to the various ways and means people have “made their mark” in the world. The inspiration for this series began with a book I read recently. “Leadership in Turbulent Times,” by Doris Kearns Goodwin, is a study of four presidents — Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. Goodwin is a presidential historian. She’s a couple years older than I am, so we share a common experience of living in America through the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st. Goodwin worked for Johnson during his presidency and ghost wrote his memoir after he left the White House. She describes the personalities, ambitions and accomplishments of these four presidents. They all had several things in common. From an early age, each of them wanted to matter. They sought power and influence. They were persistent and determined. They all demonstrated the leadership traits to face serious challenges to the country and themselves. A good book to read. Future columns in this series will get closer to home, focusing on regular folks like you and me and some of the people we know. Read on.