Thin walls allowed for neighbors to be heard. Lights stayed on in each small room. The pantry was always filled with food.The loud pops that spooked the neighborhood at odd hours of the night, were never a direct threat. The burglary that took valuables left behind the most valuable thing.

The city limit brick apartment stood as a representation of life and an important lesson. Even when it seemed we had little, we had necessities that never allowed for complaints. There was nothing more we could ever want or ask for. Sometimes we pour too much time and energy into things that don't matter.

Materialistic objects such as a bigger house, the newest car, the brand of clothing we wear or any valuables we desire to possess. In that brick apartment, I realized that we possess the most valuable thing of all, life. Sometimes we seem to feel an emptiness and hunger for something we need to fill. The hunger pains of life are fulfilled by meaningful relationships, purpose, and life itself.

Meaningful Relationships

Building solid relationships, honest friendships and a level of vulnerability only a few in our lives understand offer value like no other. The most powerful relationships come from those who have made great impacts within us and our lives. Most people that waltz into our lives fall into one of three categories.

Each person we welcome into our lives teach, help, or guide us. Through conversations, experience and impact during their teachings. Each person we interact with throughout the day, even if momentarily, can impact us by saying the right words. We have the power to impact others, even with just our smile.

Meaningful relationships pave a two-way street, with each person seeking each other's best interest. Feeling loved and giving love is one of the most valuable things we have to offer.

Purpose

Times may pass when we feel we're falling into false love, chasing blank dreams, reaching for emptiness, Or journeying down a path towards the town of nothing. Nothing can fulfil feeling lost like a sense of purpose.Our values shift once we see there's more to life than being alive. We each have something great to accomplish within life.

We're all wanted and needed. It's less of anything having to do with ourselves and more of for the purpose of impacting someone else. We may be unsure of our purpose but each of our lives matter. No one greater than another. We don't have to be famous, have the most followers or show off senseless possessions to show we're all worth it.

Value comes from waking up knowing that we have a responsibility to be our best selves. We strive to be great within ourselves so that we can help lift others. Each day we have an opportunity to make someone's day, be a friend, reach out a helping hand, and make a difference. While pursuing purpose in our own lives, in the smallest of ways we may be giving meaning for someone else's life.

Living each day with love and purpose quickly fills the vacancy in a way no materialistic thing ever could. When we realize so much of what we care about doesn't matter, room opens to enjoy living. We can then begin soaking up each moment of life as a precious gift. To recognize that life itself is irreplaceable, and beautiful reminds us that it's value is above all others.

Our complaints and worries may blind us from appreciating the small things. Meaningful relationships, purpose and life are valuable in their own way and gives new perspective to what really matters.