"When Life Gives You Oranges: The Meaning of Life" by Collin Hadsell.
Quick. What is the meaning of life? Answer in one word.
If you've seen the less than stellar (but thought provoking) 1985 film "St. Elmo's Fire," maybe you've given this question some thought before. If not, here's your chance.
The answer may have come easily and with grace. You also may have found yourself grasping for something you've never given thought to before. But don't worry, it's only the hardest question ever asked by anyone ever. But, if you sit down and really think I'm sure a word will come to mind eventually, at least one. If not, here are some responses to jog your thought process
Earlier this spring, I set out to ask several strangers and friends the meaning of life in one word. When confronted with this question the answer was always and surprisingly interesting and pertinent. Even when the answers were the same or similar, when asked to explain their reasoning each and every person gave a different response. I found this remarkable in itself. Each of these responses were recorded with a name, their word and a brief description of their reasoning:
Leah - “Heartbeat, when you don't have a heartbeat you don't have a life.” She said quietly, quickly, and matter-of-factly.
Kristen – “Oranges, if life hands you anything you accept it graciously. Plus, oranges are hard to eat like life is hard to eat, and you have to work at them for satisfaction.” She said with a chuckle. She thought this response was silly and nonsensical, but everyone listening was oddly elucidated.
Tom - "Discovery, everything you do is discovery,” he said without much thought.
Rachel – “Adventure,” she said and paused for a moment. “Step out of comfort zone if you don't do anything between when you're born and when you die, what's the point?” We all shook our heads.
Danielle – “Happiness,” she said. I asked her to explain what happiness meant to her and she continued on saying, “Happiness is when you enjoy simply and purely.”
Kate – “Love,” she said with a giggle. She then defined love as a “strong feeling of affection toward things or people. She then added the word, caring to the definition and finished by saying, “Because to lead a happy life you should surround yourself with love.”
Michael - “Improvement. Bettering yourself in everything you do. Every year better than the last if not then it's like walking backward."
Clair – “Procreation with someone you love. Having a beautiful child someday and carrying on living through them.”
Julie – “Love, that's just it, nothing more.”
Steph – “Gratitude, you can be grateful for life and that's all you need. The rest takes care of itself.”
Now it's your turn. When you've finished reading put down the computer, or phone, these impersonal screens. Look at the beauty that surrounds you and saturates your world to the point where it goes almost unnoticed. Then look at the immeasurable love that you've received throughout your life. Look at the spring as it turns to summer, and then the fall as it fades to winter. Close your eyes and soak it in. Look at the sadness and pain and thank the universe that you can feel so much. Look at your friends and your education and all that you have. And even if your response ends up being “oranges,” revel in that answer. No meaning is too silly or too small. And when you discover that meaning or aspect of life that holds you up, take whatever it is and realize that it is purely yours no matter how microscopic. It is beautiful. Keep it close to you, next to your heart, or brain, or organ of your choice, and remember it in times of struggle so that from here on out, when life gives you oranges you know what to do.
