It’s on this planet that we’ve become self-aware of ninety-three billion light years of space, a home to more than a septillion stars.

And that’s the observable existence; what it looks like from here.
It may continue for another hundred billion light years.

But hold on, there’s more than enough here to keep us occupied. There’s sunshine; days and days of water falling, birds chirping. We have the night and it’s moon; scattering waves of crisp sensation over our feet. Then there’s me and you, enjoying each other and our time together–it’s what makes us happy, it’s our story.

(by camerakarrie)

Between the characters of stories, there are relationships. It’s from these relationships which every story is based; it develops the character. While it’s possible the character interacts with nature and the story changes with their struggle to survive, it’s a detail we’re going to ignore for now.

For those details, read The Selfish Contract.

But of these characters, it’s the others that give meaning to their life. They fulfill them and give their appreciation, love, and respect. If we think of a birthday, it’s when these feelings are confirmed, even if only for a second; we’re acknowledged for merely existing. That we’re important–a character worth celebrating.

Then we must stand to reason that we’re responsible for giving these feelings to others; our attention and affection. It’s beyond a doubt the single most important factor to our happiness, such that:

Paul MacLean (1990) suggested that substance abuse might be an attempt to compensate for a lack of the satisfying biochemicals stimulated by positive relationships.

…

Relationships and addictive drugs both modulate the levels of neurochemicals in our brains, making us feel everything from misery to ecstasy.

The Neuroscience of Human Relationships

We’re responsible for giving meaning to each other’s lives. Without us–without them, we would have no story–nothing. Have you the stars or the sand, from where we’re born and where we’ll return: the molecular fabric of our being no different if not for them. We give sensation–kisses and warmth–a world within the consciousness, forever cherished. We’re the tears of their eyes–the salt of the sea; wave by wave coming back to them in the eternal oceans of their mind!

We are the purpose of existence; the meaning of it–that, because of us, they exist.