This is the sixteenth year of my life, which can be interpreted as sixteen years closer to my death, and my death is coming closer and closer by each passing second. With all the time we have left, which is still a lot compared to the time that has been consumed, I believe that it is important that we know the purpose of everything that we do from now henceforth.



Who are we? Why are we here? Why do we exist? Why carry on? Why continue to battle the forces of the time in attempt to secure our own place in this abyss of existence? Why pursue knowledge? Why continue to be encased in this piece of organic flesh, so wonderfully and prodigiously designed, yet so fragile and prone to disease, pain, suffering, and death. What is the purpose of life? What is the goal of life? Is it a product of divine providence from the beginning of the cause-effect chain? Or is it merely a result of random variables hitting each other meaninglessly to create cosmic coincidence? If it is the previous, then there has to be a premeditated purpose. If it is the latter, then life has no meaning.



No matter what your views are, you can probably reach a consensus that the goal, the purpose, of living our lives is simply to be happy. Think about it. From now on, you will be busy choosing and applying for a college. Why should you choose a college? To be more educated. Why should you be educated? To have a job. Why should you have a job? To receive the incentives of money, work colleagues, and occupation on the subject you are passionate about; in other words, to receive material, social, and spiritual happiness. Such is the typical life of a member of the working class, the vast majority of mankind as opposed to the ruling class or the warrior class.



The typical life of the ruling class, if they are free from corruption, is also to obtain material, social, and spiritual happiness, but it is not merely for themselves but also for the others, mainly the working class. Meanwhile, the typical life of the warrior class, if they are genuine in their motives, is to provide security for the ruling and the working class so that they have the opportunity to pursue their happiness. However, as the warrior does so, he also receives a high level of self-satisfaction and self-worth, also known as happiness. Thus no matter who you are or what you believe, it is indisputable that your goal in life is to attain happiness.



There is also another significant goal or purpose of life—more life. Think about it. You fall in love with someone, someone you see as the perfect person for you. Scientifically, it is not full-fledged love yet in this stage, but the feeling motivates you to create a bond with that person and develop true love. No matter what kind of love it ends as—romantic, companionate, or consummate—if the love endures and perseveres despite all adversities, sooner or later, you will marry that person. And what happens next? Yes, sooner or later, you will finally have sex with that person with the original purpose of sex in mind. And of course, you or your bride will have to bear the child, and together, if it is a healthy relationship, you and your lover will raise your child so that he/she may obtain material, social, and spiritual happiness.



But why do we do that? Why have children? Why propagate our species? Why create more life? It is obvious that we want children due to our innate desire for immortality. It is a method to escape from the painful truth that we are simply not immortal. Our youthful beauties will diminish as time passes by, and it is to our children that we turn our attention from ourselves to, in hope of receiving self-esteem, for our children possess our genes. Human beings are not immortal, but by reproduction, we can hope that humanity can become as immortal as possible. This is the second purpose or goal of life, life itself.



This piece of writing is an example of a “backward chaining strategy”, or “working backward” to solve the problem of "how should we live our lives?" It does not answer what the meaning of life is as the title promises, but it does answer what the goal and purpose of life are, the pursuit of happiness for you and for me and for everybody as well as the propagation of our species. I'm sorry if this might become a spoiler of life; afterall, life is like a movie, but with knowledge of the goals of life in mind, this shall guide you in times of uncertainty and fear! Amen.