Short story: When is meaning, really meaning?
By emptychair
@innertalks (23830)
Australia
October 11, 2026 9:33pm CST
John had been looking for meaning in his life, and he brought this up, when he went to see his counsellor, Judith.
John said that he was always looking for something meaningful to life, and to feel more alive in the doing, if possible
Judith replied:
"Ah, the key to a life. What has brought you meaning in the past?"
John responded:
"I have never found any real meaning that satisfies me, but I have chased it through a few useless pursuits, that didn't really bring much meaningful meaning to me, anyway."
Judith then said:
"What about you finding meaning in what is already present, in your life now?"
John thought thinkingly, and replied:
"Yes, some things stare us in our face, as present, but what is the point of meaning coming from anything, anyway. Perhaps, all meaning is merely wishcraft, illusory garbled thoughts."
Judith said:
"but, we construct our own meaning in a way, don't we?"
John answered quickly:
"No, I do not think so."
Then, John added, somewhat philosophically:
"Real meaning sits behind our own veneer of meaning; any constructed meaning is fantasy, at its best. Meaning is like truth, reality, mostly out of our reach, and behind all else, but only seen when we stop searching for meaning, and see beyond it, to truth."
Judith brought John back down to Earth with:
"So, where does that lead you?"
John mused back:
"To nowhere fast, demotivated, and forever searching for non-existent things in life, feeling lost to life, and viewing it as mostly just a waste of time, and as useless effort."
Judith threw back:
"So, if you were to stop searching for meaning, do you feel like it would feel less grim?"
"Yes, just doing what's at hand might work better for me, without the overthinking."
John answered.
"So, just taking it as it comes? What are you planning to do after our session, today?"
Judith said.
"Go home, have a sandwich for lunch, and a milo,"
John said.
"Oh, Milo! Its been too long, haha. I hope you enjoy your lunch."
Judith laughed.
"Ok, thanks. I do not drink coffee, so drink milo, another hot drink."
and with that, John paid Judith his fee, and as he had just said, he drove himself home to find some meaning in his lunch.
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
Some people can even find meaning in their coffee cup. John never could!
5 people like this
4 responses
@crossbones27 (54012)
• Mojave, California
12 Oct
You know what I say that is nonsense. You do nonsense till something meaningful pops up. If it never does, you have lived a blessed life and if it does not but you tried to answer the call you have lived a bless life.
Life is just life, no use destroying it because you thought a higher calling was happening. Most people prefer no calling. Its peaceful that way.
3 people like this
@crossbones27 (54012)
• Mojave, California
12 Oct
@innertalks Bingo, said it right, follow closely. Ai and AI that is not going to fix what we all thinking. Where is the meaning?
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (54012)
• Mojave, California
12 Oct
@innertalks Says that again, yet they keep shoving it down our throats, tell them that and perfect explanation. 
2 people like this
@innertalks (23830)
• Australia
12 Oct
Life certainly is just life, and so meaning can be a hindrance to just living life.
A tree just lives, and so does my dog, to a point.
Us humans, though, sometimes, feel we are connected to something else, like to a God of some sorts, and this then creates some type of an ulterior meaning for things being what they are, rather than just accepting it all as just life, which makes life easier, as you said, and yet perhaps, our ever thinking brain is still not satisfied with a life, with ultimately no meaning to it.
@innertalks (23830)
• Australia
12 Oct
Yes, I have always tried to find the meaning behind things, as I assume that there always is one there to find, as life would not be worth living, without any meaning behind it, for me.
@Shiva49 (28781)
• Singapore
12 Oct
The real meaning in life is to look inwards and live from our hearts.
The mind is like a monkey jumping from branch to branch - gets carried away by the sights and sounds around us.
The present life has to be lived to keep our body and soul together but with an awareness to enrich our ride with heart and soul connection.
My way is to take life as permanent so that we continue from here truly enriched by our experiences.
That way our moments become meaningful and with readiness to embrace whatever in future.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23830)
• Australia
12 Oct
"When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” — Lao Tzu
In fact more than just the world, God connects to you too, as you realise you belong to God, not just to the world. Real meaning only ever comes out of our making this connection. Nothing lacks from you as meaning is included in it all too.
Each moment comes alive with God in it, and our hearts beating to his tune, which gives the only real meaning to life, and to existence too.
@innertalks (23830)
• Australia
12m
@Shiva49 It can be hard at times, as the state of the world affects most of us, demotivating, and depressing, us at times too.
We have to try to keep shining our light out of ourselves, despite the darkness all around us then.
@Shiva49 (28781)
• Singapore
5h
@innertalks Yes Steve, never forget the vital connection to our creator but live fully to enrich the society we are part of. There are some hitting others below the belt, especially some big leaders, with nary a thought for the well being of the rest. So we have to shine our light brighter in the all pervasive/pervading, darkness.
Yes, as Lao Tzu said so eloquently, why accumulate those that are superfluous to our existence, and forget to enjoy so much out there that are free. Why set artificial boundaries to divide us when we are from the same source? Sharing is caring.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23830)
• Australia
12 Oct
Yes, thanks.
Taking the step, next there to take, is often the best way to live life, and involves a certain trust in life, our inner self, and God too, that all unfolds always as it should do so in life for us.
Meaning then comes out of life to meet us, instead of us trying to meet it.
