What is your purpose in life that no one and nothing can take away from you?

[JanisMoplin]

The last two years have just been a series of losses for me, as for many of us. I am now in the process of trying to find something that no one can take away from me, come Covid, hell or highwater. Something that I can do on my own without relying on anyone in this era of social distancing. DC are grown and don't need me. DH is a very quiet man with a v stressful job. So I strike out on my own.

This purpose used to be reading. At one point in my life I used to read two or three books a week and belonged to 3 book clubs. Somewhere in the pandemic, I have forgotten to read.

Then I took up walking and got really into it. But lately, the weather has been shit and I need something else for when it's pissing down outside
I volunteer at a heritage site, but if we are in lockdown again, that may go away.:(

I would like everyone else love to travel, but....

See a theme? What is your purpose ?

I don’t have one, I have interests which come and go.

Besides my children/family mine is theatre.

I found being unable to go to the theatre one of the trickier parts of lockdown.

I love the theatre! But I am wary of going over Xmas. Waiting to see what Omicron will bring ( as I am 50). I also love museums. But all of these are dependent on there being no lockdowns. Hence, why I am looking for something I can do all on my own.

My children are young, one has autism, so they need me. Especially the one with autism because I'm autistic too and I use all I have to advocate for her because she can't and I can often understand how she feels because I feel it too or have done.

I have a dog I took on when an older lady was struggling to give her what she needs. I walk and walk and walk with her. She needs daily grooming etc I absolutely love taking care of her and learning all about dogs. Its my main hobby.

I act in amateur theater so please covid don't take that away again. Its my proper me time away from everything just something for me away from being a mum and work.

I'm a domestic abuse specialist in my paid work so I still work through the pandemic and I have people who will still need support come rain or shine so it gets me up each day.

All in all life is pretty good. Often stressful. I lost myself for a while but I feel like I am finding my purpose again.

My dogs. I have other hobbies I do, but they are my main purpose in life

My cat! We rescued him with a multitude of issues that we have been working through one by one. We got him in the last lockdown to give us something in life other than work and it has been endlessly rewarding and fulfilling. Myself and my partner gaze lovingly at him in shared devotion every evening!

I'm an artist at heart. If given the time/peace I would create words, images, music, pottery whatever. I always thought I'd live off my creativity. Was so wrong.

I get you op. Would you take up a language.
I learned how to play the guitar in my 30s and am considering taking up photography.

Need to purchase a decent camera but I think that's something that would be a good hobby.

Being creative. That takes different forms but I love hands on projects- interiors, renovating, crafting. When my hands are busy I feel like I’m on holiday! I’m totally switched off and engaged mentally. I’m passionate about transforming something or creating something new & see possibilities for transforming things everywhere. I do it for work too but even if not at work it’s just who I am.

Also have 2 rescue dogs; they are number 3 & 4 we’ve had, I think I’ll always have one. They brighten up life and give structure to the day, always good company. And fascinating when you really get to know them.

I’m on maternity leave about to have my first baby so perhaps the above will change!! I’ve been enjoying doing the nursery and also making bits and pieces for baby too. A nice thing about having a creative streak is there’s so many activities you can try - always something new to learn or create if you want. Xo

My body, especially my hands are almost always warm. Just thinking about whether they are warm, gives a rush of blood which makes them even hotter.

Only if I am really unhappy do I ever feel cold and shivery.

As a young child, pre school, I remember asking my mother why my hands and body were always so warm. She laughed and said it was to keep her hands and feet warm. This made perfect sense because she always felt the cold and was often shivery.

When I go out walking in a group, people are always surprised by how warm my hands are however cold the weather. I was over 50 years old before I realised that saying 'oh, my hands are always warm to keep my mother warm' sounded just a tad creepy and was not, actually, a matter of historical record.

I'm always happy to warm peoples hands when we have a break in a group walk. It seems like a reasonable purpose for my life.

Get shit hot at pole dancing

Medical history 42 years
007 41 years
Dr who 31 years
These are my life long hobbies well the medical stuff is my biggest obsession,
Books love them if I don’t want my books or dvds them I’m very ill.

Aside from my son, it’s art.
I’m not very good at it, but it makes me happy. I’m hoping to go back to college and then maybe to uni for art, if that’s something I can manage.

I bought an electric piano last year and I’ve been taking lessons for the past three months. I love it. I’ve always wanted to learn how to play and it’s easier to do at home when you’re a single parent.

What a thought-provoking question OP! Mine is to steady the family ship, as we have some 'unusual' people on board who take careful effort to keep on an even keel. Realized that makes me sound like a rescuer but I try to have boundaries. Aside from that, my purpose is to suck up as much wisdom/knowledge as possible to steady my own ship! I keep notebooks full of quotes and snippets of advice and basically I mine for them, record them, and hope to write a book one day.

finally what a lovely way to think! I love your life purpose!

Study. I have a list of exciting looking courses I want to do. Everyone thinks I’m barking but the sense of achievement as I complete things and the interesting thing out there to learn make me very happy.

I’d say though I’ve just had A few months hiatus where I’ve been off it for a bit and now I’m enthused again so don’t expect anything to always fire you up?

Everything can get taken away, especially the things and people you love.

Running (though that can be snatched away from time to time by injury)

But even though I'm running not terribly well right now, it's still terrifically good to just have the sheer joy of motion and ideally somewhere that's green

Writing. Even if I'm never published, even if I never have a single reader, I am dedicated to the worlds I have created. I love my characters, and no one can ever take them from me.

Looking after my family. Not in an opressed housewife way, I just like being a home maker, like looking after DD and DH, like having a clean and tidy and nice home. I work but will be leaving it in a couple of years to be a SAHM/housewife.

@Chesneyhawkes1

My dogs. I have other hobbies I do, but they are my main purpose in life

Ditto

Mine is to try and make as many interactions as I have during a day positive for the person I'm interacting with.

This almost always is little things, like appreciating the beautiful nails the waitress has or writing a quick email to a colleague to say thanks for something they've done well.

The best thing about this purpose is there are limitless opportunities, and if I totally fail one day it just sets a lower baseline to improve from the next.

Cooking - I really enjoy everything about cooking, baking, planning dinner parties and weekly meal plans, baking, thinking up recipes to finish up odds and ends in the fridge. I read cookbooks, blogs, magazines about food. I have to do it most days anyway so I might as well enjoy it. (That being said, even I hated cooking 3x daily by the end of the first lockdown!!)

Work-wise, I am trying to solve climate change stuff in my little corner of the economy and that gets me out of bed every morning pretty efficiently.

Also developing my kids skills and education. I am (hopefully secretly) quite an ambitious tiger mum but try and keep it under wraps so as not to pressure them. I do get massively involved at their school, PTA, cake sales, and I volunteer for as much as I can.

My purpose is to live the best life ever, come what may and nothing is going to stop me. l am glad to have this mindset.