I have to thank one of my good friends for putting this question out into my world; he is infinitely more perceptive than me. Whilst deep into one of our many Facebook conversations he put forward an idea that really, truly made me think.

You see, he asked me, what my purpose was in living. What reason, or small list of reasons, was keeping me focused on life. What do I want to achieve in my short lifetime? My “Bucket List”. My friend is a very honest person, and he said that after he thought about it, he came to the conclusion that he would want to live his life in a fulfilling way, enjoying each day, even though the easier option is to pick a sensible career and settle into its pattern, allowing this entity to shape his life.

This really struck a chord with me, because I remember what it felt like to not have a reason; to question my very existence. I guess my answer to this meaningful question is that I’ll only be content to die once I know that someone, somewhere in this world is living a better life because of something I did, or something I said. I understand that this is a rather far-fetched idea but it is the reason that has the greatest pull on me.

We live in a world where, sadly for a vast group of people, picking a university degree that pays its own ridiculous debt and the equally ridiculous mortgage afterwards is more important than completing their bucket list, but you see, picking a sensible degree doesn’t mean you are more likely to survive and live out your whole life. It doesn’t make you immune to the horrible tragedies that tear hundreds of families apart each day. Very sadly, this is highlighted in the new BBC programme ‘Before I Kick the Bucket’. Don’t get me wrong, the fact that we are fallible is no excuse to be a complete cabbage, but it is an excuse to do something that makes you happy, each and every day.

I wish we lived in a world where the people who possess life-changing ideas didn’t wake up in the morning and begrudgingly drive to their 9-5 office jobs, but hey, the only people who can change that are the people right here, on these streets, in these cities. Us.