Last January, while visiting family in Arizona, my cousin asked a simple question of us. “What’s the meaning of life?” It’s a question we’ve all been asked before. I’ve certainly answered it before. But for some reason, this time, I stuttered before responding. I said “to explore.” Everyone else said “to love,” and for a flash of a moment, I thought “what’s wrong with me that love wasn’t my answer?”

I’ve been sitting with this encounter floating around in my head for nine months; questioning my answer, questioning my rationality for my response, wondering what I REALLY think the meaning of life was. And then, like it knew I was searching for it, I came across this quote:

“The meaning of life is to give life meaning”

-Victor Frankl

I don’t think I was drawn to this question randomly. Since turning 40 during the first year of the Covid pandemic and subsequently dealing with what are probably symptoms of periomenopause, I find myself in a place where I’m questioning a lot of what it means to live the life I want to live. Which brings me to this blog. I’ve so far primarily used this blog to talk about my literal journeys, the trips to foreign or not so foreign places that bring me to life. But I don’t only live when I’m traveling, and I don’t only journey when I’m on a plane. So moving forward, this blog will be about the multiple journeys that encompass my life.

So here’s what I really think the meaning of life is.

The meaning of life is whatever you need it to be in the very moment that you are alive. Maybe it’s love. Maybe it’s forgiveness. Maybe it’s RAGE. Maybe it’s family or friends or macaroni and cheese. Maybe it’s ALL of those things. I plan to go forth and find the meaning in each moment as much as I can remember to, through all the stress, with all the to do lists, and the in the midst of the vulnerability of living.

Join me in this journey?