| Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley | | | | make me happier than I have ever been in life. Why? |
| There have been times in my life when I have sat | | | | Because now I understand my place in the universe |
| down and wondered: What is the meaning of life? | | | | and am comfortable with myself and my role in life |
| Why are we here? | | | | beyond being a husband, father and grandfather to my |
| Is this what my life is going to be? | | | | family. |
| Is this all there is to life? | | | | After much reflection and soul searching, here is what I |
| Who will remember me when I am gone? | | | | found about myself: |
| Sometimes my answers to these questions were not | | | | Who am I? I am a survivor, and a man of integrity who |
| very positive. Sometimes my answers were downright | | | | became a professional writer. |
| negative and involved cussing. Sometime I felt helpless | | | | There are three key words in this statement-survivor, |
| and sorry for myself. I even had a pity party. | | | | integrity, writer. I am a survivor because I grew up in a |
| Then I thought: What is a matter with you? You should | | | | very dysfunctional family. As a man of integrity, I |
| be thankful for all of your blessings. I would start | | | | learned early on that I could not stand lying, cheating |
| reciting old sayings, like "I felt sorry for myself because | | | | and stealing. In the Bible, Proverbs, Chapter 20 Verse 7 |
| I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet." | | | | says: "The just man walketh in his integrity; his children |
| Would any reader who HAS NOT experienced at | | | | are blessed after him." I am that man, and have |
| least one of these thoughts, please stand up and | | | | always been that man. As a writer, I became aware |
| announce yourself. If you stood up, you will lie about | | | | of my ability to communicate with the written word |
| other things too. We all, without exception, have | | | | early on and have used my God-given gift to become |
| questioned our existence and purpose in life at one | | | | a professional writer. |
| time or another. Welcome to the club of self-doubt, | | | | What am I meant to do here? Serve others. |
| you are a charter member by simply being human. | | | | Being hard-headed, I spent more than 6 decades of |
| What is it that will give you true-not | | | | my life waiting for God to reveal to me some great |
| temporary-happiness here during your life on planet | | | | purpose for my life. Finally, thankfully, slowly, I came to |
| Earth? Accomplishment? Money? Notice? The perfect | | | | realize without any great revelation that there was |
| soul mate? I have had them all and still did not find | | | | really only one reason for me to be here and that was |
| permanent happiness and peace of mind. | | | | to serve others and not myself. This epiphany of |
| There is much in my background to suggest that I | | | | personal growth on my part has given my continual |
| should be happy with the blessings I have had, and I | | | | happiness for the first time in my life. |
| certainly am to a degree, but I was never totally | | | | What am I trying to do with my life? I am using my |
| satisfied with myself and my purpose in life. | | | | writing skills to bring knowledge, understanding and |
| To find my reason for being, I was forced to answer | | | | ideas to life that will encourage and motivate people to |
| in writing these three questions: | | | | achieve their true potential. |
| Who am I? | | | | Perhaps Albert Schweitzer said it best: "I don't know |
| What am I meant to do here? | | | | what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the |
| What am I trying to do with my life? | | | | only ones among you who will be really happy are |
| Finding answers to these questions and putting them | | | | those who have sought and found how to serve. |
| into writing was not an easy task, but doing so has | | | | |