Purpose-driven life 有目的的人生

Last year a book called “Purpose-driven life” went best-seller for months on end. It sounds like a self-help/improvement kind of book. But in fact it’s religious/Christian and the primary reason that it sold so many copies was because it’s required reading at numerous churches US nationwide.

去年一本叫‘有目的的人生’的书风靡全美。因为是很多教堂的必读书，所以极端畅销。

Never read the book. But the title of the book came into my mind, out of nowhere, and it got me thinking: what’s the purpose of my life?

从没读过这书。不过偶然想起它倒让我揣测：我的人生目的是什么？

For those of us who are so “unlucky” to be forsaken by religion, what’s our purpose? What’s the single most overwhelming goal that we must strive for?

有宗教固然有了指靠，但如果不走运没有”被主拣选“，那我们人活一世到底是为了什么？

When we were younger the purpose of our lives used to be loud and clear. It’s been going into good schools, landing glamorous jobs, and flying across the ocean see the other side of the earth. Then it’s to be as Roman when in Rome. But after all is said and done, what’s next? What are the things that motivate us from here on? What get us out of the bed every single morning, rain or shine? What bring us joy, pride, and sense of achievements?

小的时候反而目的清晰无比。好学校，风光的工作，去地球的另一边。再后来是要人有我有。一切都有了之后呢？接下来的动力在哪里？每天早晨为什么要从床上爬起来，特别是当窗外是凄风苦雨，被中是温暖惬意的时候？曾经令我欢呼雀跃无比自豪的东东你们都藏到了哪里？

Some people say that you should enjoy the simple little things in life. Smell the flowers. Go with the flow. That’s fine – except what if it’s not my cup of tea?

有人说应该有一颗平常心 。要欣赏生命中的种种细微末节。要随遇而安。听起来好像不错。可是 - 就是做不到水静河飞又怎么办？

I need a purpose (or purposes). I have to find out what I’m supposed to do here. What’s my calling in this journey called life? What are the good deeds that I’m destined to do?

我得有目的。我得知道我为什么来地球一遭。我得知道我人生旅程的使命。虽然不是雷锋，我也一样要做好事 - 但是做什么呢？

By the time I get old, I NEED to be able to look back and say, hopefully contentedly, that I have worked hard and served my life’s purpose. Without a purpose, my journey is aimless and my time is wasted.

等我老掉牙的时候，我指望着能够回头看看，然后最好是得意洋洋地说：嗯干得还不错吗你。可以如果没有目的的话，所做的事情就变得没有意义，就荒废了我的生命。

I’m still searching for my purpose and I will continue to do so until the day that I find it. Though it's perfectly clear to me that that day may never materialize and that makes me sad.

到现在为止还在寻寻觅觅。也许永远也找不到那个目的。其实很悲凉。

And such is life.

人生大致如此。