Some Days I Succeed. Some Days I Begin Again.
How to Find Meaning and Purpose by Choosing to Start Over Every Day.
I think quite a bit about the time I have left. I don’t want to fritter away my days. I want them filled with love, joy, meaning, fun, and—if I’m lucky—a deep sense of purpose. I want to dance at my grandchildren’s weddings. To do that, I have to live a long, healthy life. My grandchildren are 7, 4, and 1.
Building a rich and fulfilling life requires discipline. I am a disciplined person, and I struggle to do the things I need to do. My wife Heidi always tells me,
“If it’s hard for you, it’s really hard for most people.”
My solution is small steps. I add one thing to my routine that is helpful, and when I have internalized it, I add another. No rush. Progress is all that matters.
In my quest to build the life I desire, I contend with what I call realities to face and problems to solve. I want to be healthy. One challenge is high cholesterol and heart disease run in my family—that’s a reality to face. But it’s also a problem I can work on. I take medication, listen to my cardiologist, and work out with a trainer.
I used to criticize myself for needing that help. I now see it as an act of self-love.
Taking care of myself physically is comparatively easy. The harder challenge is managing my emotional and mental distractions. I’m easily pulled into social media rabbit holes that leave me anxious or outraged. Thankfully, my Jewish faith helps me return to center.
Each morning I feed my soul through meditation and prayer. Each week I read stories from the Hebrew Bible about flawed humans wrestling with real-life struggles—moving from slavery to freedom, anguish to hope, isolation to connection. These stories are thousands of years old, yet they feel relevant today.
On Friday nights, Heidi and I attend services and join in communal prayer. I love it. I feel connected to those around me, grateful for my blessings, and compassionate toward those who are suffering. I sense a divine light within each of us—and hope that together those lights might help heal a fractured world.
When I connect to that love within and around me, it’s easier to be generous with others and with myself. My angst softens. In its place, joy and contentment arise. I can relax and enjoy the moment.
Meaning doesn’t require a grand plan—just a willingness to notice, to show up, and to care. Meaning-making opportunities abound: telling a young father his children are adorable, encouraging a friend through a rough patch, or donating to a food pantry whose shelves are empty.
Purpose, though, is a tougher nut to crack. I define it as using your intrinsic wealth—your time, talents, wisdom, and character strengths—to do something you feel called to do. What makes your heart hurt? What might your gifts help to heal?
Purpose rests on a foundation of connection, courage, and strength. Connection reminds us we’re part of something larger—that every living being carries a sacred spark. Courage lets us step into uncharted territory and use our gifts in new ways. And strength helps us get back up after we stumble, learn from our mistakes, and begin again.
My own search for purpose is ongoing. This blog is part of it. My heart aches when I see good people who have achieved financial success yet still feel something is missing in their lives. I see others in need who would benefit from the wisdom, compassion, and generosity of those same people.
Wealth & Fulfillment is my attempt to bridge that gap—to help readers use all forms of wealth to bring more joy and meaning into their lives and the lives of others.
It hasn’t been easy. I hired a writing coach to help me become a better writer. The process has been both invigorating and humbling. I’ve learned that finding your voice—on the page or in life—requires discipline, vulnerability, and the willingness to start over when you lose your way.
I wake up each day trying to live the life I write about—one filled with purpose, connection, and joy. Some days I succeed. Some days I just begin again.
Until our next conversation,
David
Small Steps & Worthy Questions
Your path to an exceptional life will look different from mine. Ask yourself, what does an exceptional life mean to me at this stage?
Feed your soul daily. Set aside ten minutes for prayer, meditation, or reflection before turning to your phone or the news.
What makes your heart hurt—and how might your time, wisdom, or resources help?
Look for small moments of meaning. Each day, notice one opportunity to offer kindness, encouragement, or gratitude. Notice how that makes you feel.
Where in your life do you need more self-love?
If you love this, share it with your friends, foes, and even perfect strangers. Let’s change the way America thinks about money.
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Two thoughts from this rich post:
I’m not a fan of Nietzsche, but I agree with his statement, "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” Meaning and purpose are tightly bound, and finding soul-tugging purpose may be hard, but it always carries meaning.
Also, you’ve highlighted (without pounding it) the importance of community. Family, friends, faith fellowship, and the wider circles of people around us provide unlimited opportunities to find purpose for our limited time here.
To me, having a purpose in life keeps us moving forward without looking back with regrets, or fear for a better future. Our fallings teaches us to try again by seeking a new path to grow in wisdom. Life is a beautiful journey if we know that the main goal is not survival, but to leave a legacy of faith, integrity, compassion, resilience, and the acceptance that we all have unique strengths and weaknesses, and that therefore, we are all under God’s grace.
I love your writings because invites your readers to accept their humanity. - And that is the wealth that can’t be eaten by moths.