The Cafe on the Edge of the World: A Story About the Meaning of Life

by John P. Strelecky

“Each day there are so many people trying to persuade you to spend your time and energy on them. Think about just your mail and email. If you were to participate in every activity, sale, and service offering you get notified of, you’d have no free time. And that's just mail and email. Add on all the people who want to capture your attention for television time, online activities, places to eat, travel destinations….” She paused, “You can quickly find yourself living a life that’s just a compilation of what everyone else is doing, or what people want you to be doing.

“‘The challenge,’ he explained, ‘is to realize that something is fulfilling because we determine it’s fulfilling. Not because someone else tells us it is.’”

How much of my definition of success, happiness, and fulfillment had been determined by people other than myself?

“You can’t fear not having the chance to do something, if you've already done it, or you're doing it every day,” I said to myself.

I think if I figured out why I’m here, and I was doing what I determined would fulfill that—I'd probably be a lot less concerned about money than I am.

Then there’s some people who because of their upbringing or environment, don’t believe they have the right to try and fulfill their PFE.” He paused, “Even people who feel they have a Purpose For Existing, and do believe they have the right to fulfill it, sometimes don’t believe fulfilling it is as simple as knowing they can, and then doing what they want.”

‘Just like no one really cared about where I hit the golf ball from except me, in life only you truly know what you want from your existence. Don’t ever let things or people drive you to the point where you feel you no longer have control over your own destiny. Be active in choosing your path, or it will be chosen for you. Just move the golf ball.’”

Now, whenever he encounters something and isn’t sure what to do, he just tells himself—move the golf ball. He said merely speaking those words reminds him to do what he wants and not be afraid.”