“What is the purpose of living?”

This is a question humanity has pondered since ancient times. Philosophers think about it, religious teachers interpret it, poets sigh over it, and ordinary people, at different stages of life, search for their own answers in silence.

Some say that since life is short, we should enjoy it while we can. To them, everything eventually fades, so why be so serious? Eating, drinking, having fun, and living for the moment seem to be the most genuine way to exist.
But others disagree. If life is only about physical pleasure, then how are we different from animals? What makes us human is our ability to think, to feel, and to dream. To live is not just to “exist,” but to live with meaning.

There are also those who believe life has no meaning at all. No matter how great a person is, they will one day turn to dust. No matter how glorious a civilization becomes, it will eventually be swallowed by time. If everything will vanish, what’s the point of seeking meaning?
Yet this view overlooks one thing — meaning is something we create. It does not fall from the sky. It is built from our choices, our actions, and our experiences, moment by moment.

For some, the meaning of life is happiness. But happiness itself has many layers.
Some find it in food, entertainment, and leisure;
others find it in family, friendship, and love;
and still others discover deeper joy in helping others, achieving goals, or fulfilling a sense of purpose.
As someone once said: “There are pleasures of the senses and joys of the soul.” The happiness that lasts the longest often comes from inner peace and acts of kindness.

In truth, there is no single answer to life’s purpose.
For the young, it may be adventure and dreams;
for parents, love and responsibility;
for philosophers, the search for truth;
for artists, the expression of beauty;
and for ordinary workers, the quiet satisfaction of honest effort.
The meaning of life is not found in some distant future or afterlife — it is found in how we live each moment. When a person faces life sincerely, treats others kindly, and strives to do what is right and good, their life already holds meaning.

In the end, perhaps we don’t live just for happiness, but for growth and love.
Growth helps us understand ourselves;
love connects us with the world.
When one learns to understand, to give thanks, to help, and to forgive, they will have found their own answer within the flow of life.