<p>As I sit here doing research for a paper that I am procrastinating on, I am wondering if the goal of our life is to find that perfect partner to marry and then produce young who we hope will find their perfect partner to marry, etc...</p>
<p>Just thinking about it, it seems that that is what society (dare we say the economy) wants.</p>
<p>Do well in school so we get into good college. Do well in college to get a good job. Get a good job so you can support yourself and future family, therefore being an attractive mate... All the why developing crushes, flirting, going out on dates, until you find your "soul mate."</p>
<p>"To love and to be loved is life's greatest joy." <-- a quote i've stumbled upon in my research</p>
<p>Yes, I know it's a basic black&white sort of question. But does anyone feel like the ULTIMATE goal is to find that perfect person to marry and have kids with?</p>
<p>I somewhat agree. I sit here in front of a handful of papers or walk around campus (I'm in college) and I can't help but see how trivial all this schoolwork is, especially the grade aspect. Ten years from now, I won't find myself walking down the street and have a random strange pose to me the question, "hey, aren't you that guy that had straight A's in college? Weren't you on scholarship the entire time?" Ten years from now, no one will care. Sure, it's nice to get good grades so I can get into a good graduate school or a good job, but all this fuss about getting stellar marks to get into a stellar graduate school is just so pointless. What will matter is the joy in my heart that I can look back on with an all-telling moment of awe and say to myself, "yes, those were my college years and yes, this is my life that I'm proud of." Ten years from now if all I can attribute to my name is a fancy diploma, a bloated GPA, and an expensive education, I'll feel sick because I know right now that isn't what my life is about. I want joy, comfort, and experience and to me, that just isn't it. I want love, life, and all the nicknacks in between. The ultimate goal for me is to just find happiness and contentment with who I am and what I have done.</p>
<p>Your post makes me feel joyous to be sitting here and typing, knowing that I am doing something I enjoy, rather than studying for an exam tomorrow. Thank you, welshie ;)</p>
<p>The ultimate goal, according to Aristotle, is to be happy. I don't know many people who are unhappy to be with someone they love, so yes, perhaps for most people, finding a mate is life's ultimate goal.</p>
<p>But what about priests and nuns? The majority (we hope) become servants of the church because of their love of God.</p>
<p>Also, I truly believe money cannot buy happiness. Material goods are worth so much less than the love of someone you care about. I hope I don't get trapped this way, I hope I can find some balance that will allow me to be happy with a family and a great job.</p>
<p>"No one lies on their deathbed wishing they had spent more time at the office." I love that quote.</p>
<p>I think about meeting my future soul mate when it comes to going to college or my future profession. I guess I want someone who does what I like to do.</p>
<p>Don't we all wish that we had a soul mate out there? I know I do. But I just don't believe there is one person there for everyone. I feel like there are billions of people, characteristics, etc, and I think there are couples that are more compatible than others. I don't really believe in a divinely chosen pair, rather a wow we click and if we work we will be great for one another.</p>
<p>Either way, I do believe in love! And I hope I find someone who I can love to death and who can love me the same.</p>
<p>That's an interesting thought Mosby... I think we all agree that love is something important in life. I hope it is always a part of mine, and hopefully in time not just family love but more partner love. I can't call it the purpose of life just because I don't know what the purpose of life is or if there even is one. </p>
<p>I was just thinking about that recently how I am so focused with my school and think of going to college as a means to grow but I can't imagine getting married right now. I mean even at the end of four years of college I can't imagine getting married. I hope I fall in love and yet I'm kind of I don't know scared to lose my young dreams you know. I mean so many people marry, settle down, and so forth. Maybe I can fall in love, marry, but luck out and marry an intelligent yet adventurous guy who will not just fall into the conventional married couple lifestyle. I'm rambling...</p>
<p>I believe that love defined loosely is everyone's ultimate goal and motivator in life. You can love people but you can also love things and experiences. In this society romantic love is (in a darwinian way) emphasized but it's only one of many types.</p>
<p>When you say love, is that towards a partner, like romantic love, or is that love of any kind? I love my life dearly, and all my friends, and family (and cc of course :p), but I don't love someone romantically, which brings upon my point, is it love as you yourself define it, or is it something set in stone? Is happiness the real goal, or is it love? Or are they connected through a complex pattern? When you love someone, it makes you happy, but the converse is not always true. I loved welshie's post, and it made me think, that each of us needs to find a reason why were here, and to really be happy and loved.</p>
<p>**But does anyone feel like the ULTIMATE goal is to find that perfect person to marry and have kids with?</p>
<p>"To love and to be loved is life's greatest joy." **</p>
<p>Mosby (and everyone else), these are two very conflicting statements. On the one hand, I agree with the second. To love and be loved is life's greatest joy. Being loved and loving is rewarding, gratifying, powerful, satiating, and inordinately satisfying. It is the reason for living and breathing, it incites wars and fights, it is the reason for happiness. </p>
<p>But your first statement about finding that "perfect person" is totally off. I mean, I don't know whether you paraphrased your sentiment poorly or whether you really mean that. The whole point of love is accepting and appreciating a person, not finding something perfect to relish.</p>
<p>Agreed. Although do watch out for grades and scores - I let them fall down because I thought exactly like you do, and now my chances of getting into the various colleges I like have been jeopardized. </p>
<p>I never will regret my past relationships, though, although I will say that they have caused stress-induced depression. So do find the happy medium.</p>
<p>Indeed. Grades and school are very important but only to a certain extent. Towards the end of my senior year, my friends invited me to the movies, and I almost didn't go because I had a research paper to do. I went "against my better judgement" and ended up having a blast. Towards the middle of our little outing I had tried to make up some excuse to go home so I could write my paper. Heh, again my friends convinced me against my better judgement to stay out later. Sure, I ended up rushing the night before on my paper. But it all worked out. And now that I'm in college and separated from my friends, I really cherish the moments such as that night were we laughed our guts off and had a great time.</p>