“What does Emma Corrigan want out of life? Money? Fame? Security?”
As I reread Sophie Kinsella’s Can You Keep a Secret this week, that question from chapter fifteen had me pausing. I directed the question to myself.
To answer the question, my mind went back to my conversation in Baskets and Contentment.
After all the hustle and bustle, the nights to mornings, mornings to evenings, Mondays to Sundays, and the Januarys to Decembers, it all comes down to this one question.
What do I/You want out of life?
Some people want peace. Some want love… or to be loved without effort.
Some want security, a steady income, a life that feels safe.
Others want freedom, adventure, money, fame, and everything that sparkles.
Some want healing. Some want to be understood.
Some want success, recognition, or to finally feel proud of themselves.
Some just want rest. Some want meaning.
Some want joy in small, ordinary days.
Some want a combination of most of these things…
…And some people don’t quite know what they want… only what they are tired of.
I am also one of those who want a combination of things… peace, rest, and joy in small ordinary days.
That’s why I completely understand Emma Corrigan’s response to Jack’s question; “Happiness, I suppose. Doing what I want to be doing. Feeling I’ve made my mark on the world.”
If you struggle with a response to this, I would like to recommend Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven life. The book begins with the question; What on earth am I here for?. I found my answers with the help of that book.
This is so truthful, Mimi. People want different things in life. I just want to do what is right.
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This is a solid one Tim. Doing what is right is very important and can be a bit difficult sometimes 😁
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Fine reflections on the theme. I am one of those who have hoped for much of the factors on your list. At my current stage it is to stay contented
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Hello Derrick. Staying contented is such a soothing thing. I have often pondered on the line between contentment and seeming unambitious. But recently I have dug deep and found it all comes down to priorities.
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She’s so right. I just finished reading a book titled “The courage to be disliked” by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. It’s a whole philosophical conversation between an old and a young man, so many things stood out for me and one of them was that “Happiness is contribution to others” this sounds just like her conclusion.
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Just to add that loving people, doing what’s right, having money helps you contribute to others which leads to peace, adventure, freedom and every other thing we seek
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What is upsetting is how the ratio of those going this and those who aren’t is too huge.
What’s even more upsetting is how the larger ratio even try to frustrate the efforts of the small one.
Laslas, we will do what we can and live life and be happy 😊
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I love that line. “… contribution to others”.
I keep wanting to browse through that book.
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