I had an epiphany today: Wanting to be happy, wanting others to be happy, thinking that being happy is the key to life—not so. Wanting to have a meaningful life, to have a purposeful life, to make a difference, to want to do something with your life—those are worthy goals. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? No. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of a meaningful life, the pursuit of purpose? Much better

Stop looking for happiness and start looking for purpose. You will be much happier.

I have said this because I believed it to be true—there’s always a third alternative. Even when there are two paths: go to the left, to the right, or stand still. Stand and fight, run away, or try to negotiate a compromise. Choose yes, choose no, or make no choice. But then this one hit me: aging. You age or you don’t. You grow old or you die. That’s it. Two choices. Getting younger isn’t an option. Time moves forward or it stops–for all living beings, So, what is my advice in light of this hard, cold, either/or reality? Find something(s) you love to do and do it as much as you can as well as you can as often as you can for as long as you can. Okay, so don’t hurt anyone else in the process, for sure. That goes without saying, I hope. But still. Just don’t wait for the optimal time, or for the right person to approve, or to have more money. While you’re waiting, you’ll get older anyway. I once heard someone say, “I’m not a human doing; I’m a human being.”  Well, guess what? You better be both. Be a good person, sure, but do stuff, too. Work. Learn things, take risks, go places, talk to strangers, keep moving. Take the stairs while others get on the elevator. Push yourself. Keep on—until you can’t. Because that day will come, and think of all the cool memories you’ll have.