From:    Phil Planto

Bo: Do I have to publish my question on the internet to have a conversation with you? Am I allowed more than one question? Will you give me a call? I am losing my hair too, should I get a hat? Will you answer my question without asking me another question? If you don't know the answer, what would Plato say? I don't think Plato was into hats, but only because they weren't around then, which means he would definitley recommend the hat. Everyone is more interesting with a head. It is a mode of personal expression. So yes on the hat regardless of the hair issue. Thank you Bo. I really don't need to hear from you now.

Hi Pete

The answers to your questions are: No, yes, yes, yes, yes, I don't know. Nice to hear from you.

Bye Phil

bo

From:    Pete Harms

Bo. What is the meaning of life?

Hi Pete

Sorry to take so long to get to your question, but quality computer time has been scarce for me the last few months...that's the way it goes sometimes while I'm on the road. And these days I'm always on the road, which is how I like it. To quote a song, "We're only at home when we're on the run..."

Count on you to ask such a question! I don't even know if you're being serious or humorous, so I'll treat your question both ways. If we consult The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, we find that the ultimate answer to the ultimate question about life, the universe, and everything, is 42! Unfortunately, due to a most unusual sequence of events, we never quite discover what the specific question is, but still...at least we know the answer! (If you've got some time to kill and like to read, Douglas Adam's "Hitchiker's" Guide trilogy is recommended reading. WARNING: Whether you knew it or not, some trilogies can go past three.)
There is actually a movie called The Meaning of Life. It's by Monty Python, and there's lots of educational and entertaining stuff in there...entertaining if you have a Pythonesque sense of humor, and educational if like your education in the form of clever songs like "The Galaxy Song." Unfortunately Pete, I don't think your sense of humor will agree with Monty Python's, and you may decide the movie is stupid and silly. (Perhaps the grossest movie-moment of all times takes place during this movie, so beware.) At any rate, when all is said and done, the best answer Monty Python can give to the question, "What is the meaning of life?" is, "We don't know!"

And you know, this is the most honest and accurate answer any human could give to this question. People who tell you they know the answer to your question are deluding you, themselves, or both. The answer is different for each person's life. So one of your goals in life should be to determine the answer to the questions: "What is the meaning of my life? What am I here for? What should I do, and who should I become?" You can get clues from others and from your own explorations, but only you can put the clues together to come up with the answer that's right for you. If your question was serious, I don't want to disappoint you by simply saying, "Bo don't know," so I'll leave you with a couple of clues.

Clue number one: Learn love. Learn to love your life, love the fact that you're alive, that there's so much life all around you...people, animals, plants...that the world is so alive in so many amazing ways. Love your wife, your family, your friends, the people you don't like, the people you've never met, even the ant that bites you. Love the fact that you can be in a state of love; then attain that state, and try your best to stay there every waking moment.

Clue number two: Regardless of your religious beliefs, take time to read Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7 from the Bible.( <<< CLICK HERE)
It is here that Christ gives his disciples some guidlines for living their lives. (This is the longest quote from Christ in the entire Bible.) The guidelines he gives them are fitting in their time, and they are guidelines that still are appropriate today. You can live by them, or use them as a foundation from which to choose the directions your life will take.

So there are some clues. Go exploring, and next time I see you, I'll be asking you what is the meaning of YOUR life.

bo

From:    Joe Ruder

Why didn't you teach me more when I was a kid?

Joe Ruder

From:    bo