2012 – Most Philosophical 7th Grader in America

Morgan Lemner, Minnesota.

What is the Meaning of Life?

Confucius once said, “Life is really simple but we insist on making it complicated.” Showing that we all put forth a meaning in this world. As humans we keep looking for this one meaning for our lives, and we insist that we all have the same meaning. We’re really just making our lives complicated. I believe that our meaning is simple; each person must take their own journey to find his or her own meaning.
It was July 4, 2009; I was at Valleyfair watching the fireworks blaring in the sky. Everything was great about that night, except when my mom got a phone call. My dad was currently in hospice and wasn’t doing well at all. She had then told us he was in a lot of pain and that he wanted to be taken off of his life support. Right then I could barely breath it was like I was regretting every moment I didn’t spend with him and all the times I didn’t listen to him. I then realized that life is ever so precious. How could something as simple as having fun turn into something as serious as death? Tomorrow I would be going to see him for the last time.
It was July 5, 2009; I was at my dad’s hospice care center. I went into his room to say my last goodbye. They had given him medicine to put him under so he wouldn’t be in pain. I remember just looking at him not knowing what to say. Then I heard a very quiet “I will always love even when I’m gone” coming from his mouth. I burst out in tears. You never know what you’ve got till it’s gone. If I could rewind time I would, to before he was sick. Time is ever so precious and our lives even more.
It was then that very night at 10:50 p.m. I watched my dad take his very last breath. Then I walked over to him kissed his forehead and walked out of the room never looking back. I ran into a chair and cried for about an hour till I was forced to leave. That night had to have been the most painful night of my life. Family is not the biggest part of my life. Right then that night I knew I found my meaning; to live every breath to the fullest and never regret any of them.
Sometimes I wonder if my dad ever found his meaning of life. I would want that for him. In a way I was fortunate to have that experience because it made me give a hard look at my life. I’ve found my meaning of life. The journey may have been complicated. However, the meaning, once I was willing to accept it, was simple to find.

Kids Philosophy Slam Home Page