Everyone Has Purpose

I had been rushing around for hours that morning. Deadlines had been established. The pace, demanding and frantic. Amidst the chaos, frustrations arose. Disappointments reared their ugly heads. Anger intermittently tried to take control. The odd exaggerated deep breath was not having the desired effect. Scattered thoughts bombarded my mind.  Filling it to overflow with toxicity. Anxiety propped me up. A deep sense of hopelessness embraced me. It was overwhelming. Tears stung my eyes. I realised this needed to stop.

It was a simple cup of coffee that changed everything. Its purpose was to capture me in a simple moment of calm. A purpose divine and powerful. One that would change the way I view Life most of the time. That cup of coffee forced me to stop, breathe and settle into a deep realisation. It created a simple trigger with which I could reflect on the madness around me. 

Nothing is by chance. There is always a plan. Life often resembles a bull let loose in a china shop. Chaotic, stressful, damaging and unfair. As humans, most of us want calm and order. Everything in its rightful place. Working according to our expectations. We certainly don’t feel safe not knowing what our purpose in this world is. We feel lost, insecure and inadequate. We slowly learn to navigate the rough waters. Sometimes even accepting them as the norm. That is not sustainable. It is not right.

Feeling without purpose, no matter how insignificant that purpose may be, is soul-destroying. It wears you down. It has the power to distort your own self-image. And the way in which others tend to see you too. Everybody wants to feel needed, to belong, and to be part of the life unfolding around them. Purpose brings productivity, creativity, opportunities, success and wealth. On all levels - emotional, spiritual, mental, social and financial.

Everything and everyone in Life has purpose. 

We may not see it. We may spend most of our lives trying to find it. Not ever recognising it. We may find it tough to understand once revealed to us. Purpose may be tiny and seemingly insignificant. It may go unnoticed. It may be praised and revered. No matter what your purpose, or our purpose as a collective, may be, it is invaluable. It is a vital component of life for every human being. It exists.

This simple truth, once accepted, awakens a deep sense of worthiness. Knowing your purpose — or recognising it in others — gives a deeper understanding as to the intricacies of life and how they fit together. Everything and everyone in existence is part of a magnificent puzzle. We all belong. We all have a purpose.

A hearty local breakfast of seafood fried rice in the coastal town of Kep, southern Cambodia, was a great way to start my holiday. My coffee was miserable though. Weak and cold. I put the mug aside, deciding to savour my surroundings instead. As I snuggled deeper into my chair, waves of gratitude washed over me. I am always keenly aware of the incredible opportunities I create to travel. To absorb cultures, to broaden my knowledge and to love the many people I meet along the way. A bus trip to Kep was no exception. 

The Gulf of Thailand stretched out before me. For now, I was exactly where I needed to be.

My eyes rested on a group of ladies below on the beach. Each one wearing a huge floppy hat. I soon came to appreciate these cleaners of Kep Beach as the natural guardians of that stretch of sand. Their collective purpose, to protect and nurture the natural environment. Each lady, a crucial part of the wheel that helps to drive our ecosystem.

I watch them, day after day, these unnoticed gems of Kep Beach. I hear them too. Amidst the cacophony of bantering, eruptions of laughter break free. Filling the early morning with vitality and a sense of fun. Their simple goal each day is being accomplished. Within a sense of community. They have friends. They have support. They have shared experiences and happiness. At least for the first part of their day. I admire their tenacity. Their ability to do an important job properly. Whether they understand the importance of their work, remains a mystery. What matters is that they are serving their purpose.

Using bright green rakes, a sense of order is created in the already hot sand. The ladies have a system. The dark green seagrass is carried to the shoreline by the incoming tides during the night. Deposited in clumps everywhere, it forms a natural barrier preventing those wishing to swim. It is also one of Mother Nature’s gifts to us, in terms of nutrition, amongst other important uses. A valuable resource.  One needing to be collected and put to good use.

The ladies rake the seagrass into neat piles along the sand. Stopping to chat and share stories. I watched in absolute disbelief as a young girl then guided the piles into an old plastic tray of sorts using a flip-flop! From there, her collection was tipped into the black bags. These people make use of whatever meagre resources they have. This tedious process lasts a good two hours every morning. There is clearly no need to rush. The only requirement is to do the job and to have fun whilst doing it. A great lesson to be learnt there.

The white beach is soon dotted with dozens of huge, plastic, black bags. In neat rows. As laid-back as the women appear, their system works perfectly. There exists a quiet rhythm of structure and understanding beneath the surface. The plastic shimmers in the sun until the final back-breaking task. That of carrying each heavy bag to a certain spot from where it will be collected. Throughout this task, the laughter never stops. Minutes later, a contraption resembling an antiquated flatbed, driven by a kid of not more than fifteen, pulls up. He and his buddies pile the bags onto the vehicle and screech off. More laughter is heard bellowing above the raucous engine. These are poor people. However, they are happy people.

Suddenly, the two-stroke engine of a tuk-tuk cuts through what was a relatively peaceful atmosphere, to announce the arrival of food. People materialise out of nowhere. The breakfast lady is surrounded by empty bellies. She serves each one. Her voice squawking. To be heard above the gathering crowd.  What joy her purpose brings. What importance it holds.

Tragically, the trash left behind from the simple meals is left to soften in the scorching sun. Releasing toxins. Polluting our air. However, the next human with a purpose comes along and collects all the forgotten trash. Their bags are filled with endless tins and plastic containers as they head off to collect their earnings for the day. The cycle continues …

I discovered many little nooks all over Kep. Cosy spaces providing me with what I needed most. Serenity. A very basic wooden table and chair delivered their much-appreciated purpose as they supported me during many hours of either being lost in thought whilst staring out to sea or writing.

Something I have allowed myself to do more of is to sit in silence.  Staring out at the sea, the sunset, a boat or nothingness. Guilt-free and with absolutely no need to explain to anyone. Including myself. I simply stare out.  I surrender. My eyes, being the guides as to what happens next. Slowly they lead me into deeper spaces. Realms that exist only within me. I no longer seem to see out and beyond. I see inward. To a safe place where answers to my own questions lie. Where questioning my purpose is acceptable. It is all there. Waiting to be discovered. 

What I’ve learnt is that patience heals most situations. Humanity is hell-bent on getting there first. Wherever and whatever there may mean. Many exist in a mindless frenzy. Many are afraid of being alone with Self and perhaps by rushing around, chasing materialism and power, manage to avoid that situation. More and more, humanity can’t seem to cope without a gadget in hand.

Clarity envelops me. Her strong arms finally holding me. The purpose of my stillness and solitude holds infinite worth. I reconnect with Self.

A splash makes its way up through the old wooden floorboards at my feet. Bringing an awareness to my surroundings. To the deliciousness of this day and all it brings me. A local fishing boat signals for me to look up. The fishermen onboard successfully carrying out their purpose for the day. 

I am learning. I am actually comprehending some of Life’s most important lessons. The process is not a quick-fit. But it is, without doubt, an ongoing journey. One that will be tested from time to time, as I slip back into old patterns.  Those of having too many expectations and trusting that others share the same hopes and standards as I do. I’m a slow learner when it comes to this specific issue. I keep falling back on my beliefs that everyone always does their best. This tendency brings with it much disappointment. And frustration. I am learning to pause. To take a few deep breaths. And to give them the benefit of the doubt. 

As I write this, I periodically look down between the floorboards and their disturbingly wide cracks, to the sea breathing below. I convince myself that the builder gave his best at the time of construction … 

As I have said before, everyone has purpose. We would not exist without purpose. It is how we choose to use our purpose that matters.  The secret is to find one’s purpose. We each have many, I believe. They may be simple but can have profound effects. On Self, on others or on humanity as a collective. No matter how long it takes, acknowledge and celebrate your purpose. For you are a vital link in this world. 

For now, I continue to sit in silence watching the wooden fishing boats rocking on the waters in The Gulf of Thailand.  Devoid of thoughts. Filled with gratitude. Celebrating my purposes.