The meaning of life is something that has eluded us for millennia upon millennia – or at least as long as humans have been capable of coherent thought. While the answers to the many mysteries of LOST span a mere millisecond in time by comparison, they are just as elusive. As hard as we try, as much as we research, no amount of brainstorming has gotten us very far in our search for the answer to either question.

We search through life trying to find its meaning within ourselves, yet we never succeed. Those who are lucky among us find contentment and peace within their lives, which is the closest they come to an answer. Is the answer just being happy? Could it be that simple? We work, we go to school, we live and we learn, and then we die. Is simply being happy the meaning to it all?

Well this sounds oddly similar to our favorite castaways, doesn’t it? In life, they went through the motions, trying to find something that was elusive to them: happiness. They worked, they went to school, they lived, loved, learned, but they weren’t happy. Yet on the island, a place filled with strife and unknown dangers, they are happy and they found happiness away from their normal lives. Eerily for them, the pattern so far has meant finding happiness or contentment means death.

While we can take some solace that we won’t die in real life just for finding happiness, we should look at these characters and see the biggest clue staring us in the right or left or even glass eye. Happiness doesn’t come from the things in our lives, it comes from within us.

Look around you now. What do you see that you think brings you happiness, but that you could live without? Your tv? Your computer? (Of course, I would pick the two things essential to a LOST fan, wouldn’t I?) How much of what you have brings you true happiness?

When I look at the Losties or even real life victims of disasters such as this atrocious 2005 hurricane season, I know that I am truly happy with just my husband and my cats. None of my material possessions matter in the grand scheme of things. My job doesn’t matter. School doesn’t matter. We could pack up, leave tomorrow, start over, and I’d be happy. I would be happy and content on that island with him. Sure I would miss the things from my life, but when I step outside my own life and look at what I have, I know the only thing I need is him.

I think the key (which supposedly Brandon took) is to stop searching and just treasure what you have that makes you happy and look at the rest as filler. Filler can make us more comfortable or uncomfortable, but it’s the stuff that life is full of. Filler can bring us happiness or stress, but it’s important all the same.

Maybe we aren’t meant to know the real meaning of life, but happiness is a good start. What if we did know the answer? Would it matter? What would we do that knowledge? Would it change the way you lived your life?

Similarly, what would we do if we did figure out LOST? Would we continue to watch? Would we like what we learned? Would we even continue to enjoy the series, knowing the answer even as we watch?

What if we stopped freeze framing and researching? Would we enjoy the show more? Maybe, maybe not. The phenomenon of LOST is wondrous, but the best part about all the researching and brainstorming is that we get to meet people from all over the world.

I have made many friends through this weird little show. I have learned much more than I ever needed to know about magnets, meningococcal disease & its vaccine, airplanes, and Robert Anton Wilson. Will I stop looking for the answer? No. I’m having way too much fun sorting through all the clues and research with my friends.

I guess it just shows that while we can learn a thing or two about life from the Losties, we can’t learn everything. Yet, hopefully, someday one of us will find the answer we seek. It may not be the meaning of life, but for many of us, it’s the only answer we need.

Me? I stopped looking for the meaning of life a long time ago. I’ve found happiness and I’m focused on enjoying my life and being content with what I’ve been given. What I’ve been given includes all the little details and clues scattered through my favorite show, LOST, so yeah, I’m going to enjoy my life while trying to figure this show out! ^_^ Kat