Our purpose in life, our only real purpose in life, is to reproduce. Biologically, it is the one function that single-handedly outweighs the rest. Logically, it becomes a little bit trickier. Many come to believe that there is something special meant for them to do, and until they figure out exactly what it is, feel that their purpose, and therefore there lives, are unfulfilled. Others come to believe that there is no purpose, allowing their logic to quit after being overwhelmed by the subject's magnitude. They choose to simply exist and not worry themselves with the reasons for why they exist. The religious, in a way, do the same. They place purpose in serving a higher power, allowing their logic to quit after being overwhelmed by the presence of a higher power. The genuinely religious, through faith, choose to simply live righteously and not worry themselves with the reasons for why they exist. Their faith is the intangible answer to all their questions, and their purpose is to serve God.

The spectrum of our versions of purpose is infinitely wide. Attempting to explore it's depth would only leave one less informed and more confused than when they started. The best approach is to start biological and move forward. Reproduction. So the purpose is to make as many babies as possible, regardless of if you can raise them or not? Of course not. This is something that most can agree with, so let's restate it. The purpose is to have children and provide for them as much as possible, hopefully creating a healthy environment for them to develop in. The definition of this type of environment is traditionally and generally accepted as a family unit, led by a husband and a wife. So the purpose is to get married, have babies, and provide for them? Not necessarily. Some marriages deteriorate so badly that the child becomes scarred with dysfunction. Some parents should never marry in the first place! So if that's the case, it is up to the more loving parent to find a suitable environment for the child and get him/her the hell out of crazyland! Let's restate it one more time. At this point, we can remove the biological purpose if needed, because many women cannot have children, and many that can should not have had them! Adoption grants a second chance to both the child adopted and the mother adopting. That being said, the purpose in life is to have or adopt children, raise them in a suitable environment, and most importantly, love them unconditionally. This involves a continual effort to instill a set of values and a code of conduct within them. This can also be defined as knowing right from wrong, and if religious, good from evil. Hopefully, that way, when they begin their search for purpose, they will follow the steps you did. If they are successful in repeating the formula and you live long enough to see it, you may then officially say that your purpose in life is complete.

Self-expression and individuality are both powerful qualities that all should seek to possess, but when those qualities possess the individual, one begins to crave recognition from others. The recognition is needed in order to briefly confirm their existence and purpose as unique. This eventually fades, requiring more attention than one can achieve. One is left with a void, and in the efforts to define their own version of purpose in life, ends up feeling more ordinary and alone than ever imagined. Whatever opportunities and fortunes life brings you, count them as just that. Do not allow them to lead your logic into delusion. All of it is temporary, and no matter what, sometime before your final breath is taken, you will come to discover your miscalculation. Unless you are the next Michael Jordan or Bill Shakespeare, your legacy's best chance at longevity is through offspring. So perpetuate the cycle, stir in some good old love and compassion, watch it grow, and enjoy the results! That, to me, is the only real purpose in life.

It's your boy, grillin beans, all day everyday.