The meaning of life in 2 simple wordsBy Lisa Earle McLeodFriendship and creativity. Who would have thought a geeky-looking professor of quantum physics could sum up the meaning of life in two words? But the second I heard Dr. Casey Blood, the author of “Science, Sense, and Soul” (Renaissance Books, $16.95) offer those succinct words to answer life’s big question I knew he was right. We’re put on this planet to learn how to connect with each other and to use our talents to create something special. Intimacy and ultimacy are universal human quests. Our deepest desire is to be cherished on this Earth and to make a contribution that outlasts our stay on it. The concept is simple. It’s the execution that’s hard, and the biggest challenge is all those other crazy humans out there who want the same thing. They plague us with their unrelenting demands, they don’t love us the way we’d like, and they insist on bringing their own quirks and ideas into the equation. Ahh, if only they would see things our way, the world would be a perfect place indeed. Friendship and creativity are simple words, but the full context of their meaning is huge. Friendship means love, acceptance and unconditional support — things we strive for in all of our relationships. And creativity isn’t limited to the arts; it’s the core of any meaningful contribution. Every task provides the opportunity to create. Whether you’re a painter, publicist or parent, your life’s work is your legacy. And whether you do it with your hands, your mind or your heart, creativity ultimately expands when you have help. And that’s where the conflict comes in. In a perfect world our relationships would stimulate creativity and creating together would deepen our relationships. But in the real world we often lack the time and patience to work through the process. I often find myself thinking, “This project would go quicker if so and so weren’t involved.” And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been convinced my parenting partnership would work better if only my husband would adhere to my edicts. Alas, such is the nature of the human ego. Our souls want to be part of something bigger than our selves, but our ego keeps telling us those other people are standing in the way. Enter the cheap, no-work pop culture solutions — TV and shopping. We can create, we can connect and we never have to put up with real people. Want to experience the satisfaction of pulling together something great? Forget toiling over a garden or cranking out a big, multi-department project. You can surround yourself with artsy furniture or get a fab new outfit today. Craving some witty repartee? Forget your family with all their boring woes. Get TIVO and the “Friends” down at the coffee shop are available 24/7. Invest in a big screen and Jennifer Aniston is nearly life size. The beauty and the curse of television is that it satisfies our desire for intimacy with no emotional work or responsibility on our part. And consumerism feeds off our need for creativity. I’m no Earth mother. I’ve got a closet full of shoes and I can recite the words to several “Brady Bunch” episodes. But I also know the meaning we crave can’t be found in pop culture solutions. Discovering your true purpose isn’t always easy. It takes intention and the discipline to turn away from the quick fixes being marketed to the masses. You’re also going to have to make an emotional investment in the people around you. TV and shopping aren’t cheap substitutes for the real thing. They’re expensive ones. You deserve the real deal — friendship and creativity. It’s really that simple. And it’s really that hard. Lisa Earle McLeod is a syndicated columnist, a nationally recognized speaker and the author of “Forget Perfect™: Finding Joy, Meaning, and Satisfaction in the Life You’ve Already Got and the YOU You Already Are.” (Penguin/Putnam) She has been featured in Real Simple, Essence, and The New York Times and seen on Good Morning America, Lifetime and FOX. Contact Lisa at www.ForgetPerfect.com. Editors: If you’d like to run Forget Perfect™ in your paper contact Lisa@ForgetPerfect.com. Column must include byline and photo. 
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