Existential crisis averted

Ever wonder what the meaning of existence is? What's the point of doing anything? If you do, you may be or might have been a philosophy major in college. When you study philosophy, to paraphrase Steve Martin (who studied philosophy at Cal State Long Beach), "you remember just enough to screw you up for the rest of your life." Another comedian who dabbled in philosophy in college is Woody Allen: "I was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam; I looked into the soul of the boy sitting next to me."

I majored in philosophy in college, so I carry these existential questions around with me on a daily basis. I was also a physics major, and I believe that this discipline also carries with it a different world-view. Everyday things aren't just taken for granted -- whether it's the way light is reflecting from the tail lights of the car ahead of me in traffic to wondering whether bubbles in beer travel at a constant velocity. It's amazing, in fact, that I manage to get anything done.

If you ever feel like this, my advice is to have a child. It is so thrilling and wonderful to look at him every day. He gives meaning and purpose to my life. When Little Elvis cries, it means that he needs me and that is the only affirmation of my existence that I need. The meaning of life can be found at the bottom of a dirty diaper.