Another thing I discovered at the same time is that what I did not expect happened.  Let me explain.  When I agreed to do a science project in seventh grade, I will be honest and tell you that it was merely for the A grade my teacher was willing to give me for participating.  I plunged into the easiest experiment I could find that much research had already been performed and set out to accomplish my grade.

There were of course expectations from my teacher in that I would have certain duties to perform and carry out to receive that A.  Whether my teacher knew the ending result of my simple little experiment I may never know but have thought about many years.  as the days went by, I pulled my project together and went to display it at the regional science fair.  Just so you understand my mind set about my attending such a tremendous event and what i was thinking about the whole time, I had already in my mind evaluated what classmates would get recognition based on their average grade in our science class. 

The only thing I expected to gain from my participation at the science fair that day was the only part of the agreement between my teacher and I left to do on my part is to present my project to the judges according to the fair guidelines.  Once I did that I had my A.  What transpired after giving my project explanation to the judges was totally from right field so to speak.  It was around 2pm and the news came that we could return to the building where our projects were to find how the judges graded our project.

I was in little hurry for as I explained I was just happy the whole thing was over and I would be seeing that beautiful A on my report card.  What I was expecting was to be able to go skating that weekend because I knew that A would get my way with my parents to allow me to do so.  Once I made it through the double doors of the auditorium, three of my friends (classmates from my class) ran up to me excitedly exclaiming I had received an honorable mention.  I remember saying “an honorable what”.

One of the three students in my class I thought would get high awarded did get first place in their category.  The other two did not receive any recognition.  Right there in front of my project shined an "Honorable Mention”.  I never expected that to happen to me in a million years.  The whole reason I am sharing this experience to tell you that sometimes what we expect is not necessarily what we get.  It may be better or it may be worse.  Now what I did know I could expect if I had not participated in the fair is that there was not enough time to get an A in science no matter how hard I tried.

The fact is that we can know what to expect sometimes because of experience and deciding factors, but we can not drive ourselves insane thinking that what we are expecting is going to happen.  It may or may not but the deciding factor that plays out depends on your level of experience in that situation plus what you decide to be true because of those past experiences against what you do not know and how much effort you put into finding the facts.

I think a really good way is to find out each day the purpose behind that we do each hour.  Learning more about ourselves is the beginning of maybe learning more about our purpose or rather how we function optimally.  For example, when I am ready to start my day and I begin to start cleaning the house I can ask, “what is the purpose that I am doing this”.  Maybe I think I am doing it because I like a clean house, so it is a visual thing or a physical thing.  I like to see an organized area or I like knowing that I am clean or my surrounding are clean.

From that I can tell that I am an organized clean person.  Or maybe I intend to be that in someway or another.  We can further ask “why do you like a clean area or why do you like to see an organized area”.  The answer maybe “I enjoy the unity of things” or “I like the feeling of a clean area because I feel free inside with less worry”.  So from that we can think about the idea that maybe we like harmonious experiences or we are someone who enjoys freedom.  We can further that idea by asking “why do you like harmony or unity” and “why do you like the idea of freedom”. 

Our response maybe, “I like to be able to move within my environment in such a way that I feel in tune with my surroundings and I feel comfortable with that” and “I like freedom because it allows me to move around wherever I want with few distractions”. So from that we discover that we are someone who enjoys comfort and mobility or travel.  This of course is just a brainstorm article that I decided to write because I am one of many that seems to be lost when I think about my purpose.  Wanting to find why I am in this experience in life seems to haunt me yet at the same time it makes me consider one important thing.

Maybe my purpose is to go through this experience and discover what makes me more me.  In other words, when I am hungry I can just about tell what I want every time.  So why would it be difficult to know what it is that I want in life?  Maybe because like the grocery store there are many things to choose from however I am less compelled to buy everything just what seems to interest me at that time.  How can eating one meal create a purpose for me?  Good question.

The purpose of trying new foods will help me better understand what I like and enjoy so it helps me to get to know myself better.  Why do I prefer chocolate ice-cream above all other flavors?  I like chocolate ice cream because of the flavor that is strong and distinct.  This could go on for hours.  So, when I think of my purpose for being here in this experience is to first understand that I want, and the second is to discover whether it resonates with me or not once I have it.  I think knowing our purpose is something we discover along the way of the journey.

Should I go this way or that way?  We do not know but we must choose one or the other.  It does not mean that half way down the path we chose that we must continue in that direction if we feel we have made a bad choice, but the point is there really is a point when we have to be realistic and say that life is a journey and we are here to find out more about how to be more of ourselves.  If I take one path and discover something new then I may want to share it with others.  This would cause me to think “hey, I am meant to be a scout” or a “gatherer”.

This may be true for today, but tomorrow may be something totally different.  So to beat myself up wondering am I doing that I am here for is like asking which path should I take.  There cannot be an answer until we have chosen one or the other and discover whether that path resonates with that we personally enjoy and find happiness therein.

Here is a really good question that goes back to being in the set of “people”.  Why do we hunt? Why do we gather? I think it is to better our situation and to improve upon that we already have ownership over. Maybe you are like me, you are not sure what your purpose is in life.  I can tell you this, as long as you are moving, experiencing new adventures, and reviewing whether it resonates with you, you will discover that you enjoy doing and experiencing.  You will discover what you are good at and that that brings you happiness.  Break away from the fear of not knowing what your purpose is or what others say is your purpose that you are unhappy about and begin to hunt for that you want and gather that you enjoy.