It goes by fast.
Everybody always says that and for good reason.
A thing you don’t hear quite as often is people expressing envy over people with kids at the stage where they need help with everything. But that’s pretty much what Bob Odenkirk said on Mike Birbiglia’s podcast and there’s a reason why I’ve seen that clip shared a gazillion times.
“I knew what I was doing when I had kids growing up. I was being a dad. I mean, that was my job, and I didn’t have to ask myself ‘What am I doing here? How can I be a part of this world? How can I be meaningful today?’ I didn’t have to ask that question because the f’ing answer is ‘Pick up everything between here and the door and make sure they get to school and have a laugh with them.’ Life was...I understood my purpose.”
Being at that exact stage… it’s nice to be reminded of that perspective, articulated in that particular way.
Whether it's through bringing up kids or some other form of caring for people, purpose flows from going beyond yourself. Things make so much more sense in the context of connection to other people.