Wonderful essay, Jane. Really thought-provoking. Thank you. I myself sometimes use the word “calling” rather than “mission” or “purpose,” when I’m pondering these questions for my own life. (And believe you me, I definitely ponder these questions!) What is my calling in life? What do I feel most called to do in life? What is my contribution to the world around me? How do I make my mark on the people I come into contact with, or on my larger community? What is the unique gift/skill/talent/passion that I have, that I offer to the world? Perhaps I think that using the word “calling” makes the concept somehow less intimidating than “mission” or “purpose”? 🤷♀️ Who knows. The pondering continues. Thank you for the powerful prompt!! (And I really appreciated the investigation into the most appropriate French translation!! My nerdy perfectionist-leaning language-learning heart rejoiced!) 😊
Love all these beautiful questions Melissa! Thank you for taking time to read. I do love the word 'calling'....again, another indication that the ocean is so deep on this topic. It means something different to each and every one of us. The important thing to me is to ponder - to ask ourselves questions - you can only do that when you are present and reflective.
Re the French translation - lot's to think about there! I'm not sure I got it correct, but fell upon what felt best to me....but I guess that is the moral of the whole story!
This really hit home. A much needed reminder of why we chose this path to France in the first place. When things get tough (and let’s be real, they do), I come back to this: we didn’t just move here for the baguettes and scenic views. We came to reclaim something. To live more intentionally, more simply, and more meaningfully after years of chasing corporate paychecks, promotions, and prestige that never quite filled the tank.
I hope my purpose now is to give back and to share what we’ve learned along the way, the hard-won lessons and the ridiculous missteps alike. But also to live the kind of life we once only daydreamed about: slower, richer in connection, and grounded in what actually matters. Most of all, to be the best parents we can be to the now very-French daughter we’re raising here—giving her roots, wings, and a life that feels full of joy, adventure, and love.
Thanks for sharing and the thought provoking post. :)
Love everything about this Rich! Thank you for reading. Thank you for responding. Thank you for all the beautiful thoughts you have shared. I’m touched by everything…especially your last sentence. My mother always said that she would give me roots and wings. Haven’t seen or heard that in a long time. Reading it from you gave me a big warm heart!
Jane, another thoughtful prompt, thank you! I’m working on this as have been for some time and I’m taking a melange from the French and US questions. More to come as I sort through some thoughts, reflecting on this prompt. Thank you!! 💌
Thank you Marcey! I just loved exploring this...lot's of fun fodder for thought. From how different cultures approach the same topic, to what does it really mean to each of us! I appreciate you reading along and cannot wait to see what you come up with!!
Years back, I settled on my direction: to help people as best I can. “Help” is fluid. It might mean through a news article or my books. It can mean actual help, in providing elder care to my mother and my aunt. It can be advice to my mentees and reassurance to friends going through rough patches. And, cookies for my mail carrier and my neighbor. I don’t expect any of it to pay off in great wealth, but like you, I do it because I want to.
Love all of this, Michelle - and I think it proves that purpose is in the small acts, particularly those we do for others! And I’d love to be on your cookie distribution list =)
Merci Karen! It was fun to play scientist and go on a discovery! I’d love to have time to really see if my observations between France and the US hold up! How intriguing!
This really resonated with me today. After a life-changing medical emergency, one tends to re-examine one's priorities and I'm taking steps to put myself back on the path of the treasure hunt of life now.
So well said, Mardi! One thing that struck me as I did a rough poll was not just the complexity around defining 'purpose' - but the sentiment that it is fixed. And as you say, priorities can change (for good and difficult reasons)...
In the end, I love to think of it as an eternal treasure hunt. And rather than being daunted by trying to find it, which it seems that so many are, be in love with the hunt!
This really resonated. I was exploring a similar thread last week and it’s always such a gift to see how others experience it from their corner of Paris. Thank you for this.
Thank you, Pamela, for reading! It was a fun little dive into such a big topic, and the real fun being the confirmation that there are no set answers. The beauty is in the search!
I did have to laugh though while reading about coffee with your French friend. Is it me? Or am I correct in thinking that worrying about purpose just isn’t much of a French preoccupation? Being ½ French, I only have ½ worried about it… instead I’m preoccupied trying to understand the malaise presenting itself from time to time. Once I understand where that comes from, the path forward makes itself clear. And I tend to follow it.
It’s never about money, or fame or notoriety. It’s always about curiosity, passion & belonging.
Does this feel where I belong?
Sometimes, even when feeling a bit out of sorts, where I’m headed just feels right.
Here is a question for you: Is purpose tied to work, career & monetization? Or can purpose simply be about “being”; enjoying life and feeling at ease?
Thank you for reading! It was a fun diversion digging into this vast topic. I'd love to see if my rough search on France vs US really holds up - but as I say, any data is great if it makes us pose questions!
And what a great question you end with—I don't have an answer, except I suspect yes - all of the above!
For some people, work, career, and monetization may indeed be one's purpose, depending on their circumstances (for example, if someone is in a difficult financial situation and needs to care for their family, those might be very high on the list!). Ultimately, I think it is contextual and ever-changing for each person—and that is perfectly okay, too!
I think the fun (and challenge) is being present enough to allow yourself to explore and find it!
Wonderful essay, Jane. Really thought-provoking. Thank you. I myself sometimes use the word “calling” rather than “mission” or “purpose,” when I’m pondering these questions for my own life. (And believe you me, I definitely ponder these questions!) What is my calling in life? What do I feel most called to do in life? What is my contribution to the world around me? How do I make my mark on the people I come into contact with, or on my larger community? What is the unique gift/skill/talent/passion that I have, that I offer to the world? Perhaps I think that using the word “calling” makes the concept somehow less intimidating than “mission” or “purpose”? 🤷♀️ Who knows. The pondering continues. Thank you for the powerful prompt!! (And I really appreciated the investigation into the most appropriate French translation!! My nerdy perfectionist-leaning language-learning heart rejoiced!) 😊
Love all these beautiful questions Melissa! Thank you for taking time to read. I do love the word 'calling'....again, another indication that the ocean is so deep on this topic. It means something different to each and every one of us. The important thing to me is to ponder - to ask ourselves questions - you can only do that when you are present and reflective.
Re the French translation - lot's to think about there! I'm not sure I got it correct, but fell upon what felt best to me....but I guess that is the moral of the whole story!
This really hit home. A much needed reminder of why we chose this path to France in the first place. When things get tough (and let’s be real, they do), I come back to this: we didn’t just move here for the baguettes and scenic views. We came to reclaim something. To live more intentionally, more simply, and more meaningfully after years of chasing corporate paychecks, promotions, and prestige that never quite filled the tank.
I hope my purpose now is to give back and to share what we’ve learned along the way, the hard-won lessons and the ridiculous missteps alike. But also to live the kind of life we once only daydreamed about: slower, richer in connection, and grounded in what actually matters. Most of all, to be the best parents we can be to the now very-French daughter we’re raising here—giving her roots, wings, and a life that feels full of joy, adventure, and love.
Thanks for sharing and the thought provoking post. :)
Love everything about this Rich! Thank you for reading. Thank you for responding. Thank you for all the beautiful thoughts you have shared. I’m touched by everything…especially your last sentence. My mother always said that she would give me roots and wings. Haven’t seen or heard that in a long time. Reading it from you gave me a big warm heart!
This was so thoughtful and fascinating, Jane! Especially seeing the Gen AI searches-- lots to unpack there.
Why, thank you, my friend! I know - fascinating. No wonder we have a loneliness epidemic…
I’m in the season of posing many questions and enjoying being a social scientist =). Too bad it’s not my day job!
Jane, another thoughtful prompt, thank you! I’m working on this as have been for some time and I’m taking a melange from the French and US questions. More to come as I sort through some thoughts, reflecting on this prompt. Thank you!! 💌
Thank you Marcey! I just loved exploring this...lot's of fun fodder for thought. From how different cultures approach the same topic, to what does it really mean to each of us! I appreciate you reading along and cannot wait to see what you come up with!!
Years back, I settled on my direction: to help people as best I can. “Help” is fluid. It might mean through a news article or my books. It can mean actual help, in providing elder care to my mother and my aunt. It can be advice to my mentees and reassurance to friends going through rough patches. And, cookies for my mail carrier and my neighbor. I don’t expect any of it to pay off in great wealth, but like you, I do it because I want to.
Love all of this, Michelle - and I think it proves that purpose is in the small acts, particularly those we do for others! And I’d love to be on your cookie distribution list =)
J’adore !
Merci Karen! It was fun to play scientist and go on a discovery! I’d love to have time to really see if my observations between France and the US hold up! How intriguing!
Congratulations on all this new exploration—the journey is the treasure if you ask me ✨ 🧚♀️✨
Merci Karen!!
This really resonated with me today. After a life-changing medical emergency, one tends to re-examine one's priorities and I'm taking steps to put myself back on the path of the treasure hunt of life now.
So well said, Mardi! One thing that struck me as I did a rough poll was not just the complexity around defining 'purpose' - but the sentiment that it is fixed. And as you say, priorities can change (for good and difficult reasons)...
In the end, I love to think of it as an eternal treasure hunt. And rather than being daunted by trying to find it, which it seems that so many are, be in love with the hunt!
This really resonated. I was exploring a similar thread last week and it’s always such a gift to see how others experience it from their corner of Paris. Thank you for this.
Thank you, Pamela, for reading! It was a fun little dive into such a big topic, and the real fun being the confirmation that there are no set answers. The beauty is in the search!
An amazing post.
Thank you Christopher for taking time to read❤️
Great post Jane!
I did have to laugh though while reading about coffee with your French friend. Is it me? Or am I correct in thinking that worrying about purpose just isn’t much of a French preoccupation? Being ½ French, I only have ½ worried about it… instead I’m preoccupied trying to understand the malaise presenting itself from time to time. Once I understand where that comes from, the path forward makes itself clear. And I tend to follow it.
It’s never about money, or fame or notoriety. It’s always about curiosity, passion & belonging.
Does this feel where I belong?
Sometimes, even when feeling a bit out of sorts, where I’m headed just feels right.
Here is a question for you: Is purpose tied to work, career & monetization? Or can purpose simply be about “being”; enjoying life and feeling at ease?
❤️
Thank you for reading! It was a fun diversion digging into this vast topic. I'd love to see if my rough search on France vs US really holds up - but as I say, any data is great if it makes us pose questions!
And what a great question you end with—I don't have an answer, except I suspect yes - all of the above!
For some people, work, career, and monetization may indeed be one's purpose, depending on their circumstances (for example, if someone is in a difficult financial situation and needs to care for their family, those might be very high on the list!). Ultimately, I think it is contextual and ever-changing for each person—and that is perfectly okay, too!
I think the fun (and challenge) is being present enough to allow yourself to explore and find it!
Ever changing for sure! Which could explain the American retirement crise of a people with so little down time throughout their working life!