December 13th, 2024

Living a Life That Matters

Hey friends,

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

At first, I’ll admit, it caught me off guard. Not to be happy? Isn’t that what we’re all chasing—happiness? But the more I sat with these words, the more they made sense. Emerson isn’t saying happiness doesn’t matter. He’s saying it’s not the purpose.

And that got me thinking: If happiness isn’t the goal, then what is?

For me, happiness has often felt fleeting—like something just out of reach, something tied to achieving the next big thing. But when I think about the moments in my life that have felt truly meaningful, they’re not always the “happy” ones. They’re the times I showed up when it was hard. The times I gave something of myself, even when I didn’t have much to give. The times I leaned into compassion, into connection, into the messy, beautiful work of being human.

Being useful doesn’t mean you have to change the world in some grand, dramatic way. It can be as simple as being there for someone who needs you, lending a hand, or offering a kind word. Honor isn’t about perfection—it’s about integrity, about showing up as the kind of person you want to be, even when no one’s watching. And compassion? That’s where the magic happens. It’s what turns the ordinary into the extraordinary, what makes life feel rich and full, even when it’s not easy.

There’s something so freeing about this perspective. If the purpose of life isn’t to chase happiness, then maybe we can stop running ourselves ragged trying to find it. Maybe the purpose is simply to live well—to be present, to be kind, to make a difference in ways that matter to you.

For me, this has looked like shifting my focus. Instead of asking, “What will make me happy?” I’ve started asking, “What will make me proud? What will make me feel like I’ve lived with intention, with purpose?”

And you know what’s funny? The more I focus on being useful, honorable, and compassionate, the happier I feel—not in a fleeting, surface-level way, but in a deep, grounded way that feels like it’s rooted in something real.

So, here’s my question for you: What does it mean to you to live well? What’s one small way you can make a difference—whether it’s in someone else’s life or in your own?

Maybe it’s reaching out to a friend you’ve lost touch with. Maybe it’s offering a little more patience or kindness to yourself. Or maybe it’s just showing up, right here, right now, with the intention to live fully and well.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Let’s talk in the comments or message me—I want to know what “living well” means to you.

Thanks for sharing this moment with me today. Here’s to lives that are useful, honorable, compassionate, and deeply, beautifully lived.

Until next time,
Marjoly 🌿