What IS the Meaning of Life?

While on the trail, I was once asked by a fellow hiker what I think the meaning of life might be and although I don't think I articulated my thoughts all that well at the time, the rest of my train of thought finally came to me as I got closer to finishing the trail. I had been asked this in New Jersey and the answer started firming up in my mind in Connecticut when I ran into Baby Chicken, Optimistic Dreamer and Gung-ho at a shelter. For whatever reason, a conversation started that afternoon that lead to me to share my history and I started realizing yet again that my desire to help children stems from my own experiences...I want to be able to help others through some of the same things I went through. To me, the meaning of life is about giving meaning to your suffering by turning around and helping other people reach the light at the end of the tunnel or at least showing them that there is a light to go toward. We give our lives meaning by doing so and that's empowering. This is my goal in life and I've taken a 2,189 mile scenic detour already, so hopefully the next chapter will lead me directly there. Hah.