While scouring the web this past weekend for some book research, I came across some of Socrates’s musings, and it got me thinking again about the good life. What is it? Why pursue it? What impedes it? And, I realized something very important: one blog post can’t answer all those questions.
So I won’t try.
However, I thought about my history and my pursuits and realized that I have been asking and answering those very important questions throughout my life, whether or not I knew it. In fact, I was asking (and answering) them even before I knew who Socrates was.
You see, scribbling words has been an outlet for me for years, and when I took some time to reflect on the contents of some of my journals and papers, I realized so many of them are about working out what I value and what I want from life. Even my own “ancient” writings (y’know, from middle school and whatnot) describe the things I liked and disliked. Some entries dealt with people, some with food, and some with plants and animals. I took a look at the things about which I chose to write, and it was powerful insight into the things I value today.
As I take stock of life moving forward–as a person and as a writer–I am astounded at how the events of the past have conspired to drive me towards a clearer vision of my purpose. The things I embraced and the things from which I turned away have all had a profound impact on me and have delivered me to this place, this post, this very moment.
If you want to know where you stand personally, or what you truly value, then investigate. Get a pen and a piece of paper and write about it. Reflect on the things you love and the things you’d prefer to leave behind. Write out your personal history and let it instruct you. Take stock not only of what you write, but also of what is left unwritten.
You see, the answers to life’s toughest questions are already inside of you. All you need to do is ask the questions and let the craft of writing take the lead as you search for answers.
If Socrates were in my office right now, I think he’d agree: when it comes to discovering what we value, the best place to start is with questions. And perhaps the best way to get those answers is with a pen, paper, and a willing heart.