You’re Not Lost—You’re Living
When Lightning Strikes (or Why I'm Writing at 2:30AM)
I’ve never been great at using the word acquaintance—so forgive me if I call everyone my friend. If we’ve crossed paths, shared a moment, or exchanged stories, you’re in my circle.
A few days ago, one of those friends shared a vulnerable post about a hard season he's going through. I meant to reach out, but—life. You know how it is. Still, what I wanted to say stuck with me like an earworm, looping in my brain until it finally demanded to be written.
At 1AM last night, I woke up. I tried to roll over and go back to sleep, but the words kept tumbling in my head, asking to be polished. Like I said in The Frequency Pit - lightning strikes when it wants to. So here I am at 2:30AM, drafting a blog post.
Survival, Struggle, and the Question of Purpose
About six months ago, my friend was in a horrific accident—one of those where doctors and first responders are left saying, “We don’t know how you’re still alive.” And while he survived, he didn’t come away unscathed. He’s relearning to walk. Recovering every day. Healing. Processing.
His story isn’t mine to tell, and I wouldn’t do it justice even if I tried. But in a recent post, he shared something raw and real:
He was struggling to find the purpose in his survival.
“Why was I spared?”
“What am I meant to do with this life now?”
He even wondered if maybe it was survivor’s guilt talking. And while that may be true, I think it is something more universal.
The Myth of Monumental Purpose
We are taught that our purpose must be massive.
World-changing. Revolutionary. Life-altering.
Something that lands in headlines or history books. Like we must cure cancer, invent teleportation, or achieve world peace to be worthy.
With such standards, we all struggle to find our purpose.
But sometimes, our purpose shows up in whispers, not roars.
I once read something (and forgive me for forgetting where—if I find it, I’ll give credit) that said:
‘Sometimes, your purpose is found in the tiniest act.’
That one kind gesture. That smile. That story you shared that made someone feel less alone.
The Ripple Effect (and Why the Little Things Matter)
There was a commercial once—a ripple-effect chain reaction. One act of kindness inspired another. A stranger held the door. Someone smiled. A child watched. A seed was planted. That energy passed on, unseen but powerful.
It reminds me of the butterfly effect—a concept from chaos theory that suggests something as small as the flap of a butterfly’s wings can cause a tornado on the other side of the world. It's a poetic way of saying:
Small actions can create massive, unforeseen outcomes.
You may never know how your words, your presence, or your help shifted the course of someone else’s day—or even their life.
Maybe you compliment someone’s earrings without knowing they made them and were ready to give up on their art. Maybe you listen when someone needs to talk.
Maybe you hold the door open for someone who’s been invisible all day.
Maybe you survive—and in doing so, show someone else it’s possible. Maybe you write a blog at 2:30AM because a friend’s vulnerability reminded you that words matter.
Maybe… your purpose is simply to live.
The Forgotten Impact of Everyday Moments
I remember once in high school, I spent an entire class period doing a friend’s hair for a dance. She wasn’t going to go—but the confidence boost got her there. I don’t remember the style. I probably forgot by the next day. But years later, she told me that moment stuck with her.
We don’t always recognize the impact we have. We never know how we ripple. We don't see them. But they’re there.
And in a world that constantly pressures us to do more, be more, achieve more, it’s easy to forget that existing with intention—living with kindness, authenticity, and heart—is enough.
When the Little Things Are the Big Things
Yes, chase the big dreams if they call to you. Walk toward your “higher purpose” if you feel it in your bones. If you feel called to something greater, pursue it. Build it. Run toward it with open arms.
But don’t discount the sacredness of the small things. The smiles. The shares. The showing up. Don’t think that just because you aren’t moving mountains every day that your life isn’t purposeful.
Heck, this blog? I joke I’m writing for all two of my readers (hi Dad). But it’s not about numbers. It’s that quiet voice, that nudge in my gut that says: Write this. Someone needs it. Maybe even just you.
You might be that person for someone else.
You might be the reason someone gets out of bed tomorrow.
You might never know the full story—but that doesn’t make it any less powerful.
Living in Purpose, Not Chasing It
The people we often revere in history—revolutionaries, leaders, artists, healers—didn’t always set out to become icons. They weren’t necessarily chasing fame or legacy. Most were simply following what felt right. They leaned into conviction, pursued justice, or gave voice to something buried in their soul.
They didn’t find their purpose as much as they lived in it. They followed the spark placed in their heart and let it guide their actions. By existing authentically in that truth—by standing up, speaking out, or creating something honest—they became the people who changed the world.
The Cosmic Joke, the Sacred Number
In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a supercomputer calculates the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. That answer? 42. A number, offered with no context—hilarious, absurd, and oddly profound.
But maybe it isn’t random at all.
In angel numbers, 42 is seen as a divine nudge—a reminder to seek balance, cooperation, and alignment with your soul’s purpose. It encourages you to grow spiritually while tending to both material and emotional needs. (Angel numbers are repeating or significant sequences, believed by many to be messages from the Universe or spiritual guides, since numbers are the universal language.)
In sacred geometry, 42 is connected to the Seed of Life, the geometric foundation of all creation. In Buddhism, it’s the age at which one can reach nirvana, full spiritual enlightenment. In Kabbalah, it’s the number of divine acts by which God created the Universe.
So maybe that number is the answer.
Maybe the real joke is that we keep looking for a single grand meaning, when in reality, purpose reveals itself in sacred patterns, small moments, and the choice to live each day in alignment with what speaks to our soul.
Your Life Is Enough
So to my friend—and to anyone reading this:
Don’t feel pressured to find your purpose.
Just live with purpose.
Life is fragile. Life is miraculous. And life is meaningful—especially when we collect it one small, intentional moment at a time.
You don’t have to move mountains. You just have to move honestly—with courage, kindness, and truth. That’s how revolutions start. That’s how healing begins. That’s how history remembers.
Be here. Be honest. Be you.
How you live is your purpose. And it might just be the thing that saves someone.
Even if that someone… is yourself.
But check back with me on my purpose when I turn 42—apparently that’s when the Universe drops the answer.
With love (and too little sleep),
Lauren
P.S. This blog was brought to you by emotion, insomnia, and the word “Ripple” stuck in my head to the tune of “Sexy and I Know It.” Sorry if it’s in yours now (not really—suffer with me).
