The Purpose of My Existence

I've been amazed over the last week with some of the things I've read for class--Lord Tennyson's "Ulysses", the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Marianne Moore's "Paper Nautilus", Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, etc. and I have learned something I think is pretty amazing.

I've learned that the purpose of my existence lies in what I become--not what I am. My values only benefit me by means of their results. I don't strive to have charity for others solely for the benefit that it gives THEM, but because of what it helps ME to become.

I've learned that the purpose of my existence lies in what I achieve--the point of my life is to grow, develop and reach the highest level of existence that I am capable of. Anything less is an immoral waste.

I've learned that the purpose of life is to BE, to CREATE, to ACT, and to DO. Benjamin Franklin was just a printer who was terrible at math-until he decided that the limits on him were of his own making and decided to BECOME the man we revere--inventor, diplomat, and statesman.

I've learned that by accepting the "limitations" we think we have, we stand in the way of our own potential to grow.

I've learned that our best is enough--if it's really our best.

I've learned to give my sincere best with everything I do--I refuse to give up until I'm sure I'm beaten.

You can too.