What's the Purpose?

What's the purpose of life?
I find myself asking.
Is it merely about
Finding a mate
And having children
To further one's genes
Or is it-
-Since not everyone
Has children-
About exploring and
About learning,
Giving, receiving and
Achieving pleasure
And happiness?

To me it should be
More than doing chores:
Washing, cleaning, tidying
(Though these come
Up routinely)
And also more
Than relieving
Stress in the pub
After work.

Perhaps those who
Believe in God
Might have an
Advantage.
These people might
(Or might not be)
Deluded, but to believe
In a higher power
And purpose
Must be soothing
To some.

These five senses
We have
Must be for a reason:
The joy of music
And of reading
And talking
These senses will fade
Over time so
We ought to
Make the most
Of them, I think.

And if feelings
Of guilt, remorse
Or anxiety arise
Then they must
Be able to tell us
Something.
If we feel guilty...
We can't change
The past but we
Can learn from
Our mistakes
And become
Better people.

For me:
I suppose
I would like
To do more:
Get out.
See different places-
Whilst at the same
Time keeping on top
Of what needs to
Be done
At home.

Or perhaps that's
Too introverted
A way of looking
At things:
Helping others
Is perhaps as
Important
As self- fulfilment
Maybe more so.

Trying to manage
Life (for there is
Always something
Needing doing)
Is difficult for me.
I don't suppose it's
Easier for others-
Though I suspect
Others are
More skilled
Than I when it
Comes to managing
Things.

I suppose then
I need to
Stir from my slumber.
Awaken from my life
Of apathy:
Do things.
No more lie- ins.
It's a big world out there.

MDC