#Defining moments in life zip

The moments that define us to ourselves, often unnoticed by others, are manifold, but below are the ones that strike me as most influential, as most defining: 1.

If we know we’re a fraud or a fake we’ll never be comfortable in our own skin. But what defines us to ourselves? This is an important question for it is what lets us sleep at night and gives us daily happiness. In fact, these moments often define us to others. These moments are often public, to be shared with others. There are the capital “M” Moments that define us like weddings and successful businesses and all that listed above. Or perhaps it’s our intentions? Is it our thoughts, our attitude, or maybe just our day-to-day outlook on life?

#Defining moments in life zip

And yet we zip through life trying to get to these big defining moments – our degree or wedding ring or job title - too often forgetting what the in-between steps - the steps that really define us.īut what exactly does define us if not a trophy on our mantle or a framed degree on our wall or a ring on our finger? Some say it’s our actions. The idea of legacy is a difficult concept to grasp, but it is the implicit driving force behind so many of our decisions and actions. We want to define ourselves with something lasting, be it a published book or a successful business or simply goodwill towards others. Plato privileged writing above all other forms of communication for it is the most permanent. Whether we’ll admit it or not, all of us, to a certain extent, want our lives to be indelible, our existence to be remembered. We’re attracted to people who are passionate, who get animated when talking about what they love be it politics or fashion or van Gogh or the French New Wave. Indeed, people are happier when they have something that they’re living for even if it’s just the next baseball game or piano recital or chance to go out and take photographs. We dress a certain way to fit in (remember emos?), we play sports or pursue an artistic hobby. From a very young age we search for something to define us.

Life has its obvious defining moments: graduation, our first house or apartment, falling in love and getting married, seeing loved ones pass, fighting illnesses, memorable trips, finding success, experiencing failure.