Life purpose

When I see these books, etc., that have some secret to how you should live your life, or your life's purpose, I realize that, in order for such a thing to be published, people must choose to be blind. Not blind in the sense that they can't see, but in the sense that they won't see. If you are in your life and you are not liking it, what is it about what you do every day that makes you think it's without meaning? When I was a kid I remember hearing about the "God-called garbage man," who feels that the service he performs has merit and purpose, even though others might not see it that way. Besides, didn't you want to do that jobe (and ride on the side of the truck) when you were a kid?
I think it's the feeling that, if I am not changing the world, then what I do means nothing. Tell that to your friends--"my life has no meaning." They're gonna ask you, "what am I, chopped liver??" You have a life, and it has meaning because you are in it. For those who need more than that, get your head up and look around! It means something because you decided to perceive that it does. Don't believe me? Read William James and his idea that we are living the life we perceive. John Grey's book about "how to want what you have" tries to say that in a different way. Not to say we shouldn't strive for things, but the striving is the point, not the getting. Part of this is our culture and what we are told we should expect. For instance, Amazon now has a "lending library" that allows you to download books to read on the Kindle. You have to be an Amazon Prime subscriber, and it costs you $79.00 a year to be able to borrow books.  But why is it that this revenue model has any traction at all when anyone with a Kindle can borrow books for the Kindle now from the neighborhood library without leaving the comfort of home? Oh yeah, and did I mention that IT'S FREE??? That's what I mean by cultural expectations. It's a mindset, a perception, that needs to be revisited every now and then to make sure it still works for you.
Ok, off the soapbox. Just wanted you all to know that my relationship with you, with myself, and my Higher Power is what gives my life meaning. I get carried away by a false sense of urgency and importance, but in the end it's the relationships we have, I think, that sustain us.

Looking for work

After sitting for comprehensive exams, but before my oral exam, I am whiling away the time by filling out applications for employment in the greater Houston area. Hoo boy! Things have certainly changed. Used to be you could submit your resume and cover letter. But not now. I think answered one question at least twice on every application I submitted. This is in addition to submission of resume and cover letter. It takes hours to do this, and the prospective employer wants to know things that don't seem relevant unless you have an offer on the table. I feel somewhat as though I am being played-- as though the HR department for the places to which I have applied need to have so many people apply to justify their jobs, not for the employers' benefit. I don't always know whether I have done everything perfectly, either, because there is so much information and lots of forms to fill out. I wonder why they need me to fill out information about work history and education when they also want a resume (and it's all in there?!). This redundancy is annoying. I work on a resume that looks great, only to be told to "copy/paste" into their textbox-- which promptly loses all the beautiful formatting and spacing. I guess it's my life lesson of the month: You are not as important as you think you are...