There are a lot of mushy ways to define meaning.  As a lexical semanticist, I can think in starkly academic terms the meaning of...meaning.  But as a human being, there is a lot more weight to the word than can be lexicalized.  At least formally.


So let's consider for a moment what I mean when I say "meaning."  When I apply the term to the overall human experience, it pertains to something that gives a moment, a period, or a lifetime something of importance.  Thus, meaning to me is considered at least in part to be temporally relevant.  It is as temporally relevant as the fact that when we walk, there must be one step that occurs after each step, and ongoing until we decide to stop.  It doesn't matter how far we can break down our experience over a lifetime, the meaningful things are always there.


Finding meaning is perhaps even more difficult than defining it.  Perhaps it's one of those "I don't know what it is, but I know it when I see it" kinda deals.  The good thing about this approach is that it relativizes what is meaningful to a person to the person itself.  Thus, there are many approaches to life, and meaning comes to everyone in unique ways, as it is uniquely defined by that individual.


Regardless, I still feel as though meaningless acts and lives are not uncommon.  Perhaps it is difficult, even impossible, to judge fairly the way people search for meaning in their lives.  Regardless, if one didn't have some notion of what they felt was a waste of life then they wouldn't be able to guide any of their important decisions, much less themselves live a meaningful life under their own definitions.


So I judge...it's impossible not to.  And it does sadden me a bit to see people sometimes surrender the desire for a meaningful life, and waste time with meaningless actions.


But these judgments are all through the eyes of ones own definitions, and are implicitly unfair as a result.  What's important is realizing this, and understanding there are many different ways people find meaning.


I'm certain someone out there after all finds the way I've chosen to live my life is meaningless and wasteful (anyone who's ever criticized me for selecting Philosophy as a course of study would agree).  Ultimately, you can only shake your head, and hope they themselves realize to see things through your eyes.


It'll never happen of course, but it's a nice thought.