《一条狗的使命》：你生命的意义是什么？
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老桑说
我有了新的使命，
又有人需要我了，
又一次，
又一次，
在每一段新生命里，
我都能发现新的意义，
我尝试着理解所见一切的意义，
我的这段旅程有意义吗？
意义从何而来？
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「 朋友，你好，我是老桑。 」
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=e0565w79klj&width=500&height=375&auto=0
/ 01 /
“请问你是否找到你生命的意义了呢？”
我们每个人都渴望在生活的各个方面寻找实现人生目标的可能性。
比如保持与家人和朋友的良好关系，努力寻找工作的意义以及在日常生活中做到尽善尽美。
然而，许多人一生都在追逐金钱和名利，即使他们知道这些东西都是转瞬即逝的，刹那间就可能会成为过眼云烟。
那么，为了实现我们的人生目标，我们到底应该怎么做呢？
/ 02 /
“若我能带给你幸福，我就完成了使命”
《一条狗的使命》是W·布鲁斯·卡梅伦创作的一本畅销小说，随后又被改编成了一部非常热门的同名电影。
这个故事主要讲述了小男孩伊森和他的金毛小狗贝利之间的动人经历。
他们相互陪伴，共同成长，贝利在它一次次生命的轮回中寻找不同的使命，陪伴着伊森度过了人生的起起落落。
故事中，在伊森离开校园的不久后贝利就去世了，二者间深厚的感情更加深了这一段故事的悲伤感。
然而，之后贝利一次次地重生为其他种类的小狗，并被不同主人收养，可它一直渴望再次回到伊森身边。
最后，贝利被它粗心的主人弄丢后终于重新找到了老年的伊森，二者得以重逢。
细心的伊森很快就发现，这只流浪狗在很多方面都和他曾经的伙伴贝利非常相似，于是将其起名为“巴迪”并留在自己身边。
重新回到主人身边的巴迪（也就是曾经的贝利）非常的激动和兴奋，因为伊森依然向对待自己的孩子一样对待它。
二者继续过着相互陪伴生活，一直到伊森去世，巴迪还陪在他的身边为他送终。
贯穿整部小说，贝利（巴迪）都在思考它生命的意义。
而贝利最终的答案便是给予伊森最完整的爱，是“爱他并与他生活在一起便是我生命的全部使命”以及“在他需要帮助时倾我所有”。
在伊森咽下最后一口气时，贝利是平静的，因为它忠实地陪伴了它的主人的一生。
直到那时，贝利最终于说：“I had fulfilled my purpose”（“我实现了我的使命，生无所憾了”）。
/ 03 /
“我们的生命有着不同的使命和意义”
每一个养过狗的人都能深刻地理解a dog is man’s best friend（“狗是人类最好的朋友”）这句话。
狗能够帮助我们预防危险和隐患，并可以在我们需要帮助时提供安慰，是人们非常忠实的伙伴。
怪不得在美国竟然有44%的人都养狗！在中国，养狗的人群也在逐渐扩大。
前些日子我发现在北京地铁上有一项由网易发起的公益活动，叫做“带我回家”，鼓励人们领养宠物。
在本书中，贝利经常感叹人类的生活要比狗的生活复杂的多。
我相信这是真的，但我同时也在想这是不是因为我们的生命有着不同的使命和意义。
我认为，无论我们的个人成长和职业发展会是怎么样。
只要我们的世界观和价值观都是以“爱”为基础，那么我们终将发现生命的意义，并完成我们的使命。
/ 04 /
“爱人者，人恒爱之”
成功学家博恩·崔西在《取得最大成功》一书中写到，love is the key to personal achievement（爱是实现个人成就的关键）。
他说l爱不仅仅是人的某种感受，更是一个主动的行为。
博恩·崔西在书中还告诉我们，爱是通向伟大的基础，是那些出类拔萃的人所共有的标签。
“爱”是普世的，是不分文化的。
孟子曾以“爱人者，人恒爱之”来强调爱人的重要性；
在传统佛教中，人们会被教导“应常散发慈爱心，慈爱遍及全世界”；
在基督教的传统中，上帝就是爱的象征，《圣经》中也说道“爱永存不朽”。
无论你的信仰是什么，我相信向你身边的人传递爱、关怀和宽容一定会是你寻求人生意义的第一步。
如果在你的个人成长与职业发展中，有些事情会引起仇恨、议论或愤怒，那么请注意你或许正走在一条相反的道路上；
如果你所做的事情在某种程度上能够让世界变得更加美好，这种改变不分大与小，你都已经成功了一半。
/ 05 /
“你生命的意义是什么？”
My friend，“爱”是引领我们走向幸福生活并实现人生使命的基础。
正如在《一条狗的使命中》贝利对伊森无条件的爱那样，我们也应该向身边的人传递爱、善意和关怀。
如果你每天所做的事情都能够给他人的生活带来积极影响。
那么恭喜你，你终会找到人生的意义所在，并且实现这一生最重要的使命。
（本文图片均来源于网络）
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谢谢收看《老桑说》。
给你启发，激励你上进，陪伴你坚持。
敬请期待下一集。
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「 Hello, my friend,
I’m John Smagula. 」
Have you found your life purpose? We yearn to fulfill our purpose through relationships with family and friends, finding meaning in our jobs, or being satisfied with our daily tasks. Many try to find meaning in power, wealth, and fame, even though these things are transient. So, in the end, what’s your purpose?
A Dog’s Purpose is a best-selling novel that became a major motion picture. The main story starts with the relationship between an eight-year-old boy named Ethan and his golden retriever puppy named Bailey. They become fast friends and grow up together, with Bailey being Ethan’s constant companion, through good times and bad.
Shortly after Ethan grew up and left for college, Bailey died. It's a heart-wrenching part of the story, given the bond between the two. However, Bailey becomes born again a few times as a different kind of dog to different owners. He is ultimately abandoned by a negligent owner and manages to find an aging Ethan.
The elder Ethan soon figures out that this apparently stray dog is very similar to his old friend Bailey, names him Buddy, and keeps him as his pet. Buddy (a later incarnation of Bailey) is thrilled to be back with his original owner, whom he still refers to as his “boy.” When Ethan dies, the dog is at his bedside, sending him off.
Throughout the book, Bailey reflects upon his purpose. He concludes that his purpose is to love his owner, that “loving and living with the boy was my whole purpose in life” and “to comfort the boy whenever he needed me.” When Ethan breathed his last breath, Bailey was at peace. By living in loving loyalty to his owner, he said, “I had fulfilled my purpose.”
Anyone who has raised a dog understands that a dog is man’s best friend. They are loyal companions who can help prevent against danger, detect illnesses, and offer comfort in times of distress. No wonder 44% of Americans own dogs, and dog ownership in China is growing. I just saw a public interest campaign on the Beijing subway called “Take me home,” encouraging us to adopt rather than buy a pet.
In the story, Bailey often remarks how human lives are more complicated than dog lives. That sure is true, but I have to wonder if our purpose isn’t similar. Regardless of how we grow personally and professionally, if our world view and value system is grounded in love, we will fulfill our life purpose.
In Maximum Achievement, success author Brian Tracy writes that love is key to personal achievement. He says that love is an active verb, not just something that you feel, but something that you do. He reminds us that love is the basis of human greatness and the unifying principle of truly exceptional people.
Love is indeed universal. Mencius said, “He who loves others is constantly loved by them.” In the Buddhist tradition, we are taught to “Radiate boundless love toward the entire world.” In the Christian tradition, God is love, and the Bible says that “love never fails.”
Regardless of your perspective, showing love, compassion, and forgiveness to those around you is the starting point to identifying your life purpose. If your personal or professional actions promote hatred, gossip, or anger, then you know you are on the wrong track. If your actions will somehow make the world a better place, on a large or small scale, then you know you’re heading in the right direction.
My friend, love is the basis for leading a happy and fulfilled life. As Bailey unconditionally loved Ethan, so can we show love, kindness, and affection to those around us. If your daily work involves sowing into the lives of others and effecting positive change, then you know you are fulfilling your purpose.
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Thank you for watching me to inspire, encourage, and accompany you.
See you next time.
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