PURPOSE
Keep saying yes to the things that
make you curious.
It’s easy to think that purpose belongs to the years when we’re working, raising children or building a career. We have jobs to do, people depending on us and goals to achieve, so it seems fairly obvious what we’re here for.
I used to think that too.
But looking back, I can see that purpose never really disappeared. It simply changed as my life changed.
Sometimes it arrived as a new opportunity. Sometimes it began with a question. Sometimes it was nothing more complicated than thinking, I wonder what that would be like?
And perhaps that’s where purpose begins.
Not necessarily with a grand plan, but with curiosity.
A little spark that makes you want to find out more.
PURPOSE ISN’T ALWAYS SOMETHING BIG
Sometimes it’s learning something new simply because you want to.
Sometimes it’s planting a garden, picking up a paintbrush again, taking photographs, helping someone, walking every morning, planning a trip or finally writing the story you’ve been carrying around in your head.
It might be sailing somewhere you’ve never been, learning how to make something with your hands, joining a class, reading about something you’ve always been fascinated by or simply giving yourself time to explore an interest you’ve kept putting off.
Purpose doesn’t always announce itself.
Sometimes it starts with a small yes.
WHAT HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY?
Not because anyone expects you to.
Not because you’re trying to impress anybody.
Not because you need another achievement to add to the list.
Simply because something about it makes you curious.
You don’t have to become an expert.
You only have to begin.
PERHAPS PURPOSE LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT NOW
Maybe you once measured purpose by what you achieved.
the job
the promotion
the business
the house
the family
The things you could point to and say, I did that.
There is nothing wrong with any of those things.
But perhaps purpose can become something quieter as we get older.
It might be about using what you’ve learned to help someone else.
It might be creating something beautiful simply because you can.
It might be learning something that challenges you.
It might be becoming more involved in your community.
It might be caring for a garden, a friendship, an animal or a piece of land.
It might be travelling somewhere you’ve always dreamed of seeing.
Or perhaps it is simply about creating a life that feels meaningful to you.
Your purpose doesn’t have to change the world.
Changing your own life is enough.
IF AGE, MONEY OR FEAR WEREN’T DECIDING FOR YOU…
What would you try?
There isn’t a right or wrong answer.
Perhaps the answer comes immediately.
Perhaps it takes a while.
And perhaps you discover that what you thought you wanted isn’t what you want anymore.
That’s alright too.
Curiosity doesn’t come with a contract.
You can try something and decide it isn’t for you. You can change your mind. You can take a completely different direction.
The important thing is that you gave yourself the chance to find out.
PURPOSE OFTEN BEGINS WITH SOMETHING SMALL
a single idea
a conversation
a book
a photograph
a paintbrush
a garden
a place you’ve never visited
something you’ve always wondered about
You never know where one small yes might lead.
And perhaps that’s one of the lovely things about this stage of life. You don’t necessarily have to know where you’re going before you take the first step.
You can simply be curious enough to see what happens.
Stay curious.
Life has a wonderful way of surprising us.
Where will your curiosity take you next?