The Meaning of Life

On a cold December day, Mariam asks her father, “Where is grandpa?”

“He’s in the hospital. The doctors are looking after him,” Hassan replies.

“Is it true what mommy said… that he will never come back?” she questions again.

“Why would you ever say that to a child, Naina? Don’t you have any love for your father?” he murmurs.

“If only my love for him could save him from dying”, she defends herself.

Little Mariam’s perplexity knows no bounds now, “What is dying, daddy?”

“It’s… it’s when a person’s time with his family is over and he has to, therefore, serve God. For all the happiness and opportunities he got. That is to give a nice farewell to everything and everyone he has ever loved before he begins to undervalue them.” What does it mean to die? He cannot comprehend it himself, yet he rushes to answer his young daughter before Naina would answer.

“Oh, Hassan… your answer sounds rather hopeful. Mariam, listen to me. Everybody you see today has his limited time on earth. Some have much of it remaining, while some are at the edge of it. Dying is… the permanent end of our lives. An end to our stories.”

“Everybody dies?”

“Everybody. Granny, Daddy, Mommy and you, too. We all must leave, and the sad part is, we don’t get to choose when or with whom. That’s why, dear Mariam, we are so hard on you to work harder, to shape your life in the best way possible. Because, people rarely have anyone by their side to share their darkest days… or even the happiest ones.” 

Hassan feels like adding something, something that would flip the table. He thinks Mariam is too young to really get any of this. But he knows, he can’t win an argument with Naina. Especially, when there’s some truth in what she said.  

“Then, what’s the point?” Her mother has left her with more confusions. More questions than answers.

“Mariam, there is so much to life. There is so much that you don’t know yet. There are going to be some sad days, and some happy ones. You try, you fail but you give another shot to see if it’s really not meant for you. You think life’s something and you realize that it’s something else. And when you’re older, you’ll have a different perspective of life..

When I was young, I often questioned life and my existence? Why all this? What’s it all for? What’s the point?

I spent months wondering if my struggle was worth it all. I searched for the meaning of life everywhere. There were days where I seldom did a thing but think. Finally, growing up, struggling, being a professor, teaching young minds and involving in service I found an answer that satisfied me. Obviously, it didn’t solve all my problems but it settled me.

If you ask me, that’s what I would say is the meaning of life. It is to contribute to something greater than the self. To help others and to bestow others a better life, if you can.

The meaning of life is to be able to love and hurt. To enjoy. To live. To forget and forgive. To marry a pretty woman like your mother and deny her insecurities, to tell her, life’s worth giving a try, worth it all. The point, above all, is to learn and grow.

Furthermore, it is to create a legacy. A legacy and lesson for all those who are to come, and will be gone. Something that might live and help live. Like the paintings you saw on the museum last Friday, or the music you listen to with your earphones  plugged in.

So, if you can, why not try and make life bearable? For you, and for others. The point is to… take risks. And… be happy!”

Hassan smiles at his own eloquence and to his daughter, innocent, full of life, who reminds him of himself.

On the contrary, Naina is not impressed with his answer. However, she keeps quiet. She doesn’t want to mess up this moment. So she glances at them with a quiet smile, as if to say: Look at them, Hassan and Mariam. Their optimism is contagious! Maybe Hassan is right. The meaning of life is to make it bearable, for yourself and others. And to be happy, while you can.