Dear readers, how time flies! We are approaching December, and before we know it, we will be welcoming another brand-new year.
Whenever this time of the year comes around, I naturally become more reflective. I find myself looking back at the year that has passed, taking stock of my experiences, and pondering some of the bigger questions in life. Beyond our daily routines, work commitments and financial pursuits, what are we really living for? And as we progress through different stages of life, what gives our journey greater meaning and purpose?
Over the past few days, I have been binge-watching an interesting Mediacorp documentary series on meWATCH called Pause with a Purpose. Being in midlife myself, I found the series particularly thought-provoking. It follows the journeys of several Singaporeans who ventured overseas in search of something beyond their familiar surroundings and everyday lives.
Their experiences were varied. Some travelled overseas to contribute to local communities and help those in need. Others took the bold step of starting businesses abroad, while some challenged themselves to survive in the jungle, stepping far outside their comfort zones.
Although their motivations and experiences differed, there was a common thread running through their journeys: a search for greater meaning, purpose and perhaps a better understanding of themselves.
Watching their stories made me pause and reflect on my own journey, and on what it really means to live a fulfilling life.
Perhaps that is what makes Pause with a Purpose such a meaningful series. It reminds us that life does not always have to be about chasing the next milestone, accumulating more wealth, climbing another rung on the career ladder or meeting society’s expectations of success. Sometimes, we need to step away from the familiar, slow down and give ourselves the space to rediscover what truly matters.
As we approach another new year, perhaps it is worth asking ourselves a few questions. When was the last time we did something simply because it made us happy, rather than because it was expected of us? Have we been so caught up with making a living that we have forgotten to enjoy living? Are we spending enough time with the people who matter most to us? And if we were to look back on our lives ten or twenty years from now, what would we hope to remember?
I suppose the answers will be different for everyone. For some, it may be spending more time with family. For others, it could be pursuing a long-forgotten passion, travelling to places they have always dreamed of visiting, helping others, starting something new or simply finding greater peace and contentment in everyday life.
Personally, I am beginning to appreciate that perhaps the meaning of life is not necessarily about achieving something extraordinary. It could be found in the seemingly ordinary moments we often take for granted – having a meal with loved ones, watching our children grow up, catching up with old friends, doing something meaningful for another person or simply waking up each morning with a sense of gratitude.
We often spend so much of our lives planning for the future that we sometimes forget to appreciate the present. Perhaps the real purpose of pausing is not to find all the answers, but to remind ourselves to ask the right questions.
So, dear readers, as we bid farewell to another year, I would like to leave you with one question:
If money, career achievements and society’s expectations were taken out of the equation, what would make your life truly meaningful?
Perhaps this is a question worth reflecting on before we step into a brand-new year.