Cocoanuts seem to be the latest fad food: cocoanut oil, cocoanut flour, cocoanut sugar, cocoanut water—it’s supposed to fight infection, fix your skin, cut your cholesterol and any number of other wonders. But to a cocoanut tree, its wondrous nuts are even more miraculous. They are a way of reaching the tree far out into the world, as the rolling, floating seeds move out to plant new trees.
How do you see your life purpose in a way that is different from how most people see you?
Not all seeds are meant to travel. Some people are “good” at seeing the intellect in others and envisioning their lives in matching their potential, but truth be known, some seeds are meant to stay home and plant deep roots. Each seed responds accordingly wherever it lands.
I have been an artist, a teacher, a lbrarian and a Peace Corps volunteer. I have thought I would concentrate on my art during retirement. However, I have found that I see the urgency of helping people, some of whom I know as close friends, others whom I know through the fellowship or in other situations, who need some kind of help which I can provide. Hence, much of my time is focused on being available when I think I can provide some assistance. I suppose this could be defined as my major function right now. However, many friends introduce me as “an artist”.
I don’t know what others think my life’s purpose is nor how well they think I’m fulfilling it. I do know that when I talk about my feeling unable to give back to the world, yet feeling that it is vitally important that I do so, other people deny this. They either say I do give back or they say I don’t need to. Some even say both. However, I don’t know how much of this is what they actually think and how much is social obligation. It seems like it’s a huge taboo to acknowledge a fault someone has admitted is real.