Many of you know that my dad was a letter carrier for the post office when I was growing up. He loved being the person everyone could count on, and he took pride in walking three miles every day to deliver the mail, no matter what the Chicago weather had in store for him. Meeting people and making connections in every neighborhood were not only the silver lining; they became the parts of the job that meant the most to him.
I remind you about my dad because this phase of his life was a perfect example of a simple but powerful truth: Purpose is not a destination; it’s a direction. My dad’s small daily choices to interact with and become part of every neighborhood’s fabric created meaning in his life. He didn’t say, “I’ll interact with everyone the day I really know my route.” Instead, he eventually learned his route because he interacted with the people on it every day. He could feel why he was doing what he was doing because of these connections. It wasn’t his dream to become a letter carrier, but these connections gave him a daily purpose.
That purpose might have been delivering a very important letter from a son who was away at sea in the Navy or a check someone was waiting for so they could buy groceries. My dad’s purpose was also brightened by witnessing someone’s little one grow each year because they ran to the door to say “Hi” every time he delivered the day’s mail. Before long, he had his favorite stops for a bite to eat and a chat. (Let’s not forget his favorite cannoli from Little Italy, his favorite Baklava in Greek Town, and his favorite pastrami sandwich at Manny’s Jewish Deli!)
You can make micro-choices that put you on a path to purpose every day. Don’t make the mistake of saying, “Oh, I’m not living my life on purpose until I accomplish X.” The journey to purpose is really what living life on purpose is all about: small choices on your path to a greater purpose. Take three minutes right now to name one thing that truly matters to you—something that lights you up or reflects who you are at your core—and think of one small way you can bring that into your work or relationships today. Need a jump start on how you might make room for more intentional alignment with purpose? Download “40 Ways to Refresh Every Area of Your Life.”
