I need...

We all have needs.

I'm not talking about the basic pyramid needs of: Food, shelter and sex.

We all...need to invest in something. Immerse ourselves in something tangible or intangible.
Need to feel that at least our efforts don't go to waste. Or perhaps, to do something and hopefully see some reciprocation.

It's a way of filling the void in our lives. Most look for meaning but few find it.
Hence we search for something or someone who might just be that very filler. And it doesn't necessarily fit the bill but whatever comes close is often deemed good enough.

#1 Religion
#2 Social work
#3 Work
#4 Pet
#5 Family
#6 Football team
#7 Activity (e.g. gym)
#8 Lifestyle choice

The list goes on forever but these probably would be the most common ones.

#1 Religion



Is it a coincidence that the take-up rate among youths are relatively high in Singapore? A place devoid of culture, soul and meaning means youths are lost and looking for meaning in life.
Religion gives meaning and a sense of belonging. It provides boundaries and sort of justifies the effort put into it: Happiness, joy, community and of course, afterlife and/or reincarnation.

It doesn't matter if the god in question is real, if you have enough faith and invest enough heart into it, you'll start believing anyway.

#2 Social Work



Put simply: Social work is the best possible outlet for that compassionate streak in some of us. The innate need for helping others and feeling better has been well documented through various non-fiction works. (See: The God Delusion. Dawkins, Richard)

#3 Work
Why then, are people obsessed about work? Besides the obvious want for more money, work is where they feel most comfortable. (and in some cases, even more comfortable at home!)

Work provides an outlet, an escape from perhaps, problems at home.
It is a stepping-stone to climbing up the corporate ladder or perhaps, an opportunity to get frisky in the office store room when everyone's gone home.
People are workaholics are a reason, no one really likes work that much that they devote themselves to it 24/7.

#4 Pet
A pet is a replacement. A substitute. To fulfill a need.
Some couples can't have children and resort to owning that cute little dog.



Someone asked me once why I owned a mouse, to which I replied, "To keep me company during those lonely nights..." which wasn't really far from the truth.

Pets, are more often than not, adorable little things. We are all suckers for caring and loving something that adorable. And I seriously believe that we need pets more than they need us.
Need them so much...that we even laugh at them when they aren't even funny. (See America's Funniest Home Videos)


Family, lifestyle choice, football team and activities are straightforward options to fill a life devoid of meaning. More often than not, it is the sense of community that drives us to appreciate others around us and of course, ourselves.

Does it really matter if the chosen path might not bring about the rewards previously hoped for? Not really. Because most of us would be rational enough to either do something about it or move on.
Try as we might, not everything or everyone reciprocates but we all keep trying don't we?

It doesn't matter if God really does exist, or the dying children in Sierra Leone actually love you more than the meds you bring.
Or if your board of directors actually appreciate your 18-hour workdays.
It doesn't really matter if all your hamster thinks about is running the wheel and eating nuts, or if your family thinks of you as senile and overweight.

And frankly, I wouldn't really bothered if Liverpool didn't win the EPL for the next century, or if I never ever transform a tummy into abs.

And even if I did turn vegetarian to starve off cancer and high blood pressure and still got cancer, would I feel all the more lost and depressed?

No, they wouldn't matter.

Because at the end of the day, we all have needs.

Needs that need fulfillment. Regardless of the eventual result, it's during the pursuit of meaning where we actually achieve the sense of belonging and derive pleasure and satisfaction from the process.

We need meaning and more often than not, we create meaning for ourselves.

References::
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/images/news/2003/drc_starvation.jpg
http://religion-cults.com/belief/jesus-vel-nub.jpg
http://infinity.usanethosting.com/FunPics/MaltesePuppy_1.jpg