There are over 75 million baby boomers alive today. This group is searching for many things including, but not limited to happiness, life balance, adventure, long life, friendship, financial freedom, spiritual connectedness, career independence and stress-free relationships.

There are over 60 million X&Y generation folks. Know what they are searching for? Yep, the same stuff. How about the generation younger than these two? Dont know what to call them as I have read no fewer than ten labels describing this group. They want the same stuff. We are talking here about over 200 million people all looking for essentially the same things. My questions are:

-Will they ever find them?

-If they find them - will these things make them happy?

-If they dont find them - are they doomed to life their lives in frustration?

-If they do find them - how long will the satisfaction last?

-Are these things temporary and will they be replaced with others in the next few years?

I believe that the basics for inner peace, lasting happiness, contentment, harmonious relationships and the ability to leave a positive legacy behind are really quite simple. You can agree or disagree with the list, agree or disagree on the order, agree or disagree on their importance, but in the end whether you agree or disagree will determine the quality of your life while you are here and your legacy after you are gone. The purpose of the list is not to persuade you or change your opinions. It is only shared with the desire to ask you to think about your own personal list and how that list is driving, supporting or facilitating your life day in and day out.

So heres my list:

-Belief in God and His purpose for your life and your willingness to follow as He is leads and guides you.

-Your intimate family spouse and children.

-Your immediate family, siblings and parents and their offspring.

-Your extended family of in-laws.

-Friends and the desire to surround yourself with people who believe in you and accept you.

-Your mentors, personal coaches or spiritual counselors.

-A support network of people who can facilitate your life journey

-Career and the ability to generate adequate income to create a satisfying and rewarding life.

-Personal interests and hobbies.

-Your career relationships.

-Your acquaintances and the ability to have social interaction, enlightening discussions.

Is it necessary to have people, activities or beliefs in all of the above areas to have a fulfilling life? Is it important to be cultivating each of the above with consistency and purpose? Can you lead a rewarding life with an emphasis on only one or a just a few of the above?

It depends.

I know people who would answer yes and no to all of these three questions. So does it really matter what your list of items includes or what your order is? I believe that it does. For example;

Can you have a rewarding life if you never marry or have children?

Can you have inner peace if you do not believe in God?

Can you have a satisfying life while working in a less than satisfying career for forty years?

Can you have an estranged life with family and still be at peace and happy?

Can you live a joyful life without interests or hobbies?

These questions are limitless and the answers depend on any number of factors (I think there is a book here somewhere!)

At different stages of your life different areas above will be necessary or helpful. During different circumstances it might be beneficial to have some of the above.

So Tim, where are you going with all of this? Remember, I am only asking you to think about this stuff and your life process and destiny and not necessarily buy into it.