How do you define a meaningful life, and do you feel you are living one?

How do you define a meaningful life, and do you feel you are living one?

I guess we all come back to this question from time to time, including myself. After I moved to a different village four years ago where I did not know anyone, I went through some rough times and have worked a lot with myself to find a meaningful life and understand what is really important to me.

One of the first things I learned during lockdown due to COVID was that, even though I love my family and enjoy spending time with them, I also need other input in life. I am a very social person, and I need to engage with other people regularly. Due to the move, I did not have any friends around then, and there was a lot of facetiming with friends from where we lived before. With time, I have also gotten a good friend where I live now, and I am very grateful for her. So, this will be my point one for a meaningful life: Having good relationships, both with family and friends.

Good health is another important point for me to feel like I live a meaningful life. I enjoy being healthy and fit enough to do the things I want. I want to hike and run around with my kids, I want to go for long hikes with my friends, and I want to feel strong. I have struggled with eating healthy, and I must work daily to make enough good choices. I try to always incorporate an 80/20 habit of healthy/whatever I want because my body feels more energetic. The 20–part is important, though, because of my social nature and going out with friends.

The last point I want to mention is financial stability. I am not rich, but I have a job that gives me and my family a roof over our heads, food on the table, and even the opportunity to travel on holiday, maybe every second year. I worry easily and have had to turn down more interesting jobs for the sake of stability in this area. I know some people would be bored by such a choice, but we are all different.

Right now, I feel that I am living a meaningful life, but I have hard days when I struggle to find meaning despite my focus on my values and my gratitude for family, friends, and health. Am I not adventurous enough? Will I wake up in 10 years and not feel I have done enough to have a meaningful life? I will be reading other people's thoughts on this with interest in the coming week. Thank you for a nice topic.