The Pursuit of Meaning

We spend so much of life chasing milestones — the next promotion, the medal, the big achievement that proves to ourselves and the world that we’ve “made it.” And when we get there, it feels incredible… for a while. But if we’re honest, those moments fade.

What doesn’t fade is the meaning we create when we allow others to be part of our story — and when we step into theirs.

I was reminded of this last year by my mum. At 88 years young, she dressed up as Catwoman for a Halloween party. Not just a token pair of ears or a black outfit — the full look. People laughed, clapped, and asked for photos. It wasn’t about winning a prize for “best costume” (althought I am sure she would have liked to!). It was about the way she lit up the room, how she gave everyone else permission to have fun, to embrace silliness, and to celebrate life without worrying about judgment.

Her story that night wasn’t about her. It was about how she made everyone else feel. That’s meaning.

When we think about legacy, it’s easy to point to our personal achievements. I’ve done it too — the medals, the championships, the milestones. But I’ve come to see that those things, as thrilling as they are, pale in comparison to the impact we have on others. Meaning multiplies when it’s shared.

So perhaps the pursuit of meaning isn’t about happiness in the traditional sense. It’s about connection. It’s about the laughter and joy in the room when an 88-year-old Catwoman walks in. It’s about how we choose to show up in the lives of others — and allow them to show up in ours.

Because meaning, unlike medals, isn’t meant to sit on a shelf. It’s meant to be lived together.

When was the last time someone surprised you by showing up in a way that created joy and meaning for everyone around them?