The Search for a Deeper Meaning

“What is the TRUE meaning of life?”

This question popped up again and again in Sayuri’s mind as she kicked pebbles along the sidewalk in slight frustration, still yet to receive an answer. She was able to find plausible explanations for a lot of things, even if they were complex, but this seemed the most complex of all.

A few days prior, Sayuri’s grandmother passed away at their home. The feeling of sitting with her, holding her hand, fighting back tears and watching her as she took her final breaths was still too fresh in her heart. 

But one thing she would never forget were the words her grandmother left for her:

“Sayuri, this world is a vast place, and in it lies so much opportunity. I want you to have the best life possible and enjoy it to your heart's content. If you want to do that, however, it’s important that you understand the truth…the true meaning of life.”

But before Sayuri could even part her lips to ask what that meaning was, her grandmother had already departed. The one person who had years of wisdom, who could always answer any question she had was…gone. 

It hurt her soul in a way she couldn’t explain, a heaviness of some sort. Ever since then, her question had remained unanswered.

She sat on the sidewalk and wiped the tears that escaped her eyes. She wanted more than anything to do what her grandmother had said, but how could she do that if she didn’t even understand where to start?

She remained in that one spot, conflicted for quite a while. But then, something happened. 

The wind started to pick up, but something about it seemed very different. She wasn’t sure why, but in that VERY moment, something prompted her to stop and just listen. Sayuri sat up straighter, every troubling thought suddenly silenced as if they were never there. There was no one there with her, so who or what could she possibly be waiting for?

FInally, she heard it.

Her grandmother’s voice in the wind, although faint, tried to give her a message. At first, it sounded like pieces of a sentence which she struggled to make out. So she listened even closer and was soon able to decipher, “The truth won’t always come from those you know personally. Sometimes, it can come from those you don’t”. 

After what felt like a soft hand being placed on her shoulder, the wind stopped. She sat there, quiet, but taking in what she knew she just heard. Though she still didn’t get the exact answer, what she had to do to get it became clear to her. A stronger sense of purpose filled her heart, determination igniting within her. Her grandmother was watching her, letting her know that she was still with her. 

“Thank you, grandma”, she whispered, “I’ll make you proud, you’ll see.”.

With no more time to waste, Sayuri stood and started walking down the street. The further she went, the more people she noticed were out and about. It was clear that today was a rather pleasant day, and everyone wanted to take advantage of that. What that proved for Sayuri, however, was that this was perfect for what she needed to do.

She kept walking and soon, a fragrance filled the air. It smelled INCREDIBLE, like a perfect combination of endless flavors. Realizing then how hungry she actually was, she decided to follow the smell, continuing on until she made it to a small yet unique looking restaurant. Seeing it made her think to herself. 

She had lived around the area for a few years, but not once did she notice it or the lavish aroma that passed through its doors until today. Surely she could find someone to talk to in that restaurant.

So she went inside and sat down at a table near the window. Studying the place and the people, she saw it was a neat little establishment, one that from a visual perspective was worth seeing again. Everyone there looked peaceful and uplifted, almost as if they came to temporarily let themselves forget about any worries in their lives and enjoy the moment for what it was. She would have done the same, but aside from a nice meal, her objective required more. 

Maybe she could walk out of there with her answer, let alone a piece of it. As long as it moved her closer, that’s all that really mattered to her.

“Have you decided what you’ll be ordering yet?”

That voice came out of nowhere. It snapped her out of deep thought, though it didn’t startle her in any way, just caught her by surprise. Hey eyes darted to the direction of the voice, landing on a man standing beside the table. As he stood there, Sayuri realized one thing about him that automatically set himself apart from most of everyone there: he looked like he had lots of stories to tell. Maybe he did. She knew she wouldn’t know until she spoke to him a bit more though.

“No, not yet. I just got here”, she answered.

“I see,” he answered thoughtfully, “Well then, welcome to our restaurant!”

The simple act of his words warmed her heart a bit, making her feel truly welcome. 

“Thanks,” she said with a smile, “It’s actually my first time here.”.

“I could tell. I’ve never seen you in here before,” he said, curiosity evident in his expression, “I make it my responsibility to personally welcome new faces to my family’s restaurant. It helps them feel more like family, you know?”

Her eyes widened slightly.

“Your family owns this restaurant?” She asked.

“Yes, and we’ve been here for many years,” he said proudly, but in a genuine manner.

This was perfect. She was making conversation with the OWNER of the restaurant, someone who had been around tons of people from many walks of life. Surely someone had been able to teach him some valuable lessons to share. Maybe this was it. Maybe she was finally about to get her answer. 

Finally, she spoke up again.

“Sir, do you mind if I ask a question?” She asked, “I’ve been thinking about something a lot lately, and I’d like to get your thoughts on it”.

His answer was clear in his slight nod as he sat at the table across from her. He was used to this, and each conversation he had with another always turned out to be interesting in one way or another. Calm anticipation rose within him.

“What’s your question?”

“Well,” she began, “recently, my grandmother passed away. But before she did, she told me that she wanted me to enjoy life to my heart’s content.”.

“Is that so?” he asked, “It sounds like she wanted nothing but the best for you.”

"Yeah, she really did”, she continued, “But for me to do that, she said I had to understand the true meaning of life. I didn’t get to ask her what that meaning was though…so I wanted to ask you what you think it is. You’ve been around a lot of people, after all. 

He thought to himself for a moment. As unpredictable as life could be, this was a question that required careful consideration. 

He rested his arms on the table in front of him as he quietly contemplated her words. Soon, it came to him.

“Growing up, my grandfather always told me that you could find great value in helping people”. He said. “Not to get something in return of course, but to show them that there’s still goodness in this world.”.

She sat there, a bit puzzled. What did this have to do with the meaning of life? Quietly, she sat there as he shifted his gaze all around the restaurant.

“See all these people?” he asked, “They’ve all come for different reasons. To have a nice meal, yes, but there’s almost always another reason that follows”.

“Like what?”, she asked.

“Well, for starters, a lot of people come to get a break,” he continued, “A break from life, a break from being upset or angry about something, from having to make a decision that plagues them. Things like that can take a toll on a person. I see it all the time when they walk in.”

“Oh”, she said, trying to make sense of his words. She saw the meaning in what he was saying, but still, what did this have to do with the true meaning of life?

He studied her expression and continued, feeling the need to go deeper so she could understand.

“The point is, whenever anyone comes through that door, we try to help them in any way we can. We want everyone to feel loved and taken care of so they can feel better about everything when they leave. We give them good food, we listen to them when they need it. Sometimes, we even give them advice, something they can take with them and hopefully make things better. Gestures like these really make a difference. That’s why I’d say, the true meaning of life is to be of service to others and help anyone you can. You never know how a simple action can start to change the world.”

Sayuri nodded silently, thinking of what he just said. She remembered all of the things her grandmother told her growing up, and helping people was one of them. But she didn’t explain it like this. Still, it made sense, and even if it wasn’t the answer she expected, it was definitely better than nothing. Now all she had to do was figure out how.

She grabbed a piece of bread out the basket in front of her, taking in its texture before she bit into it. It was some of the best bread she ever had. It did help her, and so did that conversation. She stood quickly, looking down at the restaurant owner.

“Thank you”, she said, “I think I know what I need to do now”.

Quickly, she walked out of the door. Though what she was told was very wise, she thought it would still be best to get another person’s opinion. It couldn’t hurt.

She continued down the sidewalk, thinking so hard she almost didn’t notice what was in front of her…until she ran into someone.

“Hey, watch where you’re goin’! You blind or somethin’?”

She looked up. This man of his early 30s had an accent she had never heard outside of television, and his clothes screamed “money!”. The sunglasses that shielded his eyes looked almost as expensive as the car that sat on the side of the road. She was in awe, silenced by what she was seeing.

He wasn’t having the silence. He didn’t have that kind of time right now. He snapped his fingers in front of her face to get her full attention.

“Hey kid, I’m talkin’ to ya!”

She blinked and noticed his expression. He looked slightly bothered. It was obvious he was used to this sort of thing.

“Oh, sorry”, she said apologetically, “I was just thinking about something”.

He raised an eyebrow, wondering if this was an excuse or a way to get out of what would happen if she did that again. 

“What’s got ya out here thinkin’ to the point where you’re walkin’ like a deer in headlights?”, he asked.

“Well”, she began, “I’ve been wondering what the true meaning of life is. My grandmother told me that I could live my life to my heart’s content after I knew what that meaning was.”

He thought to himself, and a smile gradually grew on his face. This was his time to shine. He pulled his sunglasses down, looking her directly in the eye.

“From experience, I’d say the meanin’ of life is to be successful and have so much money you can do whatever ya want”, he said, proud of his answer.

Sayuri stood there. Not once had she ever heard her grandmother say such a thing. But considering he had things that most didn’t, she was willing to hear him out some more. Besides, she wanted an answer, and it would be rude to blow him off just like that.

“Why do you say that?” she asked.

“Because”, he continued, “Money makes the world go ‘round, you see? Very few things in life are free, but all other things cost. If someone doesn’t have enough money to do somethin’, they miss out, right? But if they DO have money, they NEVER miss out. So when someone has the means to do WHAT they want, WHEN they want, and without anyone there to tell them “No”, then life can be enjoyed with nothin’ holding em’ back.”

Once again, she thought to herself. How in the world was she going to make a lot of money? Did she really have to do such a thing before she could enjoy her life? Could this really allow her to do WHATEVER she wanted? Why had no one ever told her this before now? 

“I see”, she said, contemplating, “But how do I even get started with something like that? Won’t it take forever?”

“Not necessarily”, he answered, “You just gotta be smart about it”.

As he started to go into detail, his phone rang. He grabbed it from his pocket, looked at it, and realized he had no choice but to answer it. He quickly turned away, conducting his conversation quietly as she waited, hoping he would continue when he finished his call.

But as he ended it, she knew he wouldn’t be able to. He looked at her a bit apologetically, a complete contrast to the character he had displayed moments before.

“Listen kid, I gotta bounce”, he said, “Just put that brain of yours to work, I know you can figure it out, and if not, just come back around here. I’m in the area all the time”. 

Before she could say anything else, he was practically already in his car. She watched as he sped down the street, disappearing as fast as he had appeared on the sidewalk. Her shoulders slumped in slight disappointment. 

She wished he would’ve at least been able to explain how to get started. But now, she had to figure out how to help people AND make a lot of money? BEFORE she could enjoy her life? All of it started to feel like a bit much, especially for a young person like herself. The weight of her objective pressed a bit harder on her shoulders, so she decided to sit in the park and clear her mind.

She crossed the street and made it to the park, starting on the concrete path lined in front of her. She wanted more than anything to get the full answer she was looking for. She hoped for something simple, at least a bit simpler than what she was told. 

“I don’t want to let you down, grandma”, she thought, “I wanted to make you proud, but I had no idea it was this hard. If I fail, I hope you’ll forgive me. I didn’t mean to make you upset”.

Sayuri walked until she came across a bench, and with a sigh, she sat down. She was so preoccupied by her thoughts that she didn’t even realize there was an older woman sitting next to her, feeding some birds.

The woman noticed the conflict in Sayuri’s face. It always hurt her heart to see someone so young so troubled, especially when she was used to seeing them so full of life most of the time.

“Is everything alright, child?”, she asked with genuine concern, “Is something weighing heavily on your mind?’.

“Actually, there is," Sayuri admitted, “I’ve been trying to find the true meaning of life. I’ve been asking people all day, thinking I would find a simple answer. But turns out, it's actually harder than I thought.”

“How come?” she asked curiously.

“Because everyone gave me a different answer,” she replied, “One person told me that the true meaning of life was centered around helping people, but then another person told me that the true meaning of life was making so much money that you never miss out on anything. The worst part is I don’t even know where to start with either of those, and if I never figure it out, then what? I never get to enjoy my life?”

The woman pondered on Sayuri’s words.

“It seems to me you took their words to heart”, she said.

“I mean, of course”, Sayuri responded, “Those were the answers they gave me”.

“But what’s your answer?” the woman asked her.

This question caught her off guard. No one ever asked her this before. She sat there, quietly, unsure of what to say.

“You said everyone’s answer was different,” the woman continued, “What they told you was based on their own experience. They value different things, and that’s why their answers weren’t the same. It doesn’t make one more right or wrong than the other. Maybe they just don’t match you”.

Sayuri was at a loss for words. She never once considered that. To be honest, it was the last thing she thought about.

“What does that have to do with the meaning of life though?”, she asked.

“It has everything to do with it,” said the woman, “because life is what you make it. You don’t have to spend your life helping everyone if that’s not what you want, and you definitely don’t have to make a lot of money. Think about what you want to get out of it. That’s the true meaning”.

That was it. That was what she needed to hear. She didn’t have to do things she didn’t want to do. She could do what made her happy, that’s how she could enjoy life.

Finally, someone was able to answer her question:

“What is the TRUE meaning of life?”