You Are Not Here by Accident
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Every single person was put on this earth for a specific purpose. You aren't here by accident! You have the ability to provide something valuable and make the world a better place.
Every single person was put on this earth for a specific purpose. You aren't here by accident! You have the ability to provide something valuable and make the world a better place .
My Dad is a perfect example. He was always reinventing himself. He did well in school during the 1920's and early 1930's. He had completed school and one year of business college by the age of 16. In hose days they allowed the gifted students to skip grades. He went to work in the offices of Massey Harris Tractor Company in Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.). He hated working in the office and he hated office politics even more. After a year there he quit, and went to work as a logger.
He went through the body builder phase ending up with a 48 inch chest on a 5 ft 7 in fame. As he often claimed, "I had muscles in my nose." This led to an amateur boxing career. He then met a pofessional wrestler by the ring name of "Gorgeous George" who encouraged him to try wrestling as a profession. He worked out with "George" and a fellow called "Bouncing Bunny Martin" and then his mther told him that he should find something better to do. So, he went back to being a logger.
When the Second World War came along, he wanted to become a soldier, but the company he was working for was cutting down trees that were used in the manufacturing of aeroplanes, so the government wouldn't allow him to enlist. He was able to join the British Columbia Rangers, a paramilitary group that patrolled the bush along the coast of B.C. At this time, comic books could not be imported from the United States (I have no idea why) so a Vancouver publisher decided he would start some. My dad saw his advertisement in the newspaper, thought it sounded like something interesting to do, so he drew comic strips using a pen and Indian ink. His topic was logging in BC and he called it "Now You're Logging". The story was kind of sappy, but the artwork was very good. The strip included explanations of all the equipment and terminology used in the logging trade. He also did a western strip called "Son of the Range". All of this with no formal training in art. When the war ended so did the comic strips.
By then, however, we had moved to Vancouver Island, so he bought a small row boat and taught himself how to fish in the ocean. In the mid 1950's, he started to draw again, and taught himself how to paint pictures using oil paints. Most of his scenes involved wildlife. His fame as an artist started to grow and he had many requests for paintings. Since it was a hobby at this time, he only did it in his spare time.
In the early 1960's he grew tired of working as a logger, so he bought himself a west coast troller called the "Loon." Since fishing depends on days when the wind is relatively calm, he had a lot more time to paint, so he decided to start painting old time logging scenes. This is when his fame as an artist took off and he became well known up and down the west coast. Because oil painting has it's limitations, particularly it's long drying time, dad switched to painting in acrylics.
From the mid 1960's until 2002 he painted pictures, created a book version of "Now You're Logging" which is in all of the school libraries in B.C., illustrated books, magazines, T-shirts, hats, match book covers and posters. He also appeared on stages up and down the coast of B.C. with a group called "Caulk Boots and Marlin Spikes". This group toured small communities where logging was the main industry. Dad told stories about people he worked with in the woods, others sang, recited poetry they had written or played instruments.
In the spring of 2002, dad slipped on the bank of the creek that runs through the family property. He fell down the bank and struck his head on a large rock. In the process of falling he also severely damaged his back. Upon release from hospital, he had to use two canes to walk and his mental faculties were affected. He continued to paint and also began to write a book of short stories similar to the ones he had told on stage. However, his health continued to decline. In January, 2003, his long time friend "Jack" passed away and dad didn't take it well. In late February, the family dog woke my mom in the middle of the night. She went to investigate and found dad unconscious on the kitchen floor, the last short story was sitting on the table. He was rushed to hospital. He survived, but remains in long term care where he recently celebrated his 93rd birthday.
Dad did many things in his life, but the thing that will keep him in everyone's mind long after he is gone is his art. As he once said to me, "son, the purpose of life is to discover your gift and then pursue it with passion."
Have you discovered your gift yet? If you have, congratulations and please pursue it with all your heart, emotions and energy.
If you are still trying to find your gift or reason for being here, consider the following tips.
1. Think about all of the things that you have done so far in life and all of the things that you would like to do.
2. Is there one thing that stands out in your mind that you could be passionate about? It doesn't have to be earth shattering, it can be as simple as knitting, sewing, drawing, public speaking or whatever gives you pleasure in doing it. If you really enjoy it, then that is what you were put on this earth to do. Become the best at this task that you possibly can. Take courses to improve it. Find someone who has the same desires and mentor each other. Encouragement from a like minded person will improve the abilities of both of you.
3. If you still haven't found something that you really like to do, keep searching. When you find your reason, you will know it because it will be something that you become passionate about. My passion is to help people better themselves. It drives me from the time I get up until I go to bed; sometimes I even wake up in the middle of the night with a new idea that I must write down so that I can research it.
If you can make your passion something that you can make a living at, then you will become a very happy and contented person. Remember, in this day and age, there are few things, if very well done, that can't become your profession.
For example, a lady in a northern Canadian city with a funny name (Flin Flon), had an idea for a new baby carrier. She hand made a prototype to carry her own baby in. Every new mother who saw it wanted one.. She started making them for friends and neighbours and the orders kept pouring in. She couldn't keep up with the demand so she began hiring staff. She calls her carrier the "Baby Trekker" and it is now sold around the world. Recently it was used in a movie by actor Vin Diesel.
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