Throughout my life I carried a persistent question I could not shake: what is the point of my existence?
What is the meaning of life?
I refused to accept that life was merely a repeat of eating, sleeping, working, cleaning and repeating it all again, so I kept searching for an answer.
Note: If this sounds extreme, I’m not alone—many people search for this question each month, and it’s a theme explored in films and literature.
My Childhood Years
Raised Christian, I grew up believing life was a test determining our place in heaven or hell. Around age 12 I accidentally sent a golf ball through the stained glass of our church. The reaction felt like public shaming, and without any proof of an afterlife I turned away from religion and dismissed it as misguided.
At 18 I thought I’d find answers abroad and briefly considered living on a kibbutz in Israel. Instead I fell for a charismatic man who seemed irresistible at the time. Seven years later, after discovering his infidelities, I left and booked a last-minute trip to Turkey.
My Arrival in Turkey
This was the place that finally felt like home.
After just a couple of weeks in Turkey I felt a profound sense of belonging. Some friends blamed a local romance for my attachment, but it was deeper than that. I was drawn to a different pace of life and to escaping the materialism and rules that had felt stifling in the UK.
I returned to the UK briefly, quit my job, and moved back to Turkey for good.
My Life in Turkey
Life settled into a new routine. I worked in Marmaris, spent time in Kusadasi and eventually made my home in Altinkum. I worked as a travel rep, sold property, married and later divorced, became a Turkish citizen, formalized my business and navigated the tax system. I even faced a frightening accusation from a bank that made me fear for my freedom.
Yet the question about the meaning of life lingered. I talked about it with friends—expats often teased me, while Turkish friends had varied responses. Some suggested faith, others worried I might need help. I considered traveling deeper into the region in search of answers but ultimately stayed in Turkey.
At one point I downloaded dozens of self-help books and tried meditation, time management and stress techniques, but none resolved that core question.
Then an advertisement for a local hypnotherapy program caught my attention. The course promised practical tools to manage thought and mindset. Skeptical but hopeful, I signed up for a six-week intensive program.
Could this program finally answer my question?
I promised myself this would be the last self-help attempt. Under the guidance of the facilitator, I committed to the exercises with an open mind. After about two weeks, things began to shift: my relentless questioning eased and a new clarity took hold. By the end of the six weeks, a simple answer had emerged.
My question: What is the point of life?
The answer: Whatever you want it to be.
Sitting now at my desk in Turkey, I feel certain I am where I’m meant to be. The sense of belonging remains strong:
- I wanted to live in Turkey, and I did.
- I wanted to be creative with words, and I write.
- I wanted independence, and years of living and working here shaped who I am.
- I wanted knowledge, and I gained it through cultural, historical and personal experiences.
For years I searched for a single definitive answer, yet I was living and shaping my life all along. The realization that meaning can be chosen—created through thought and action—changed everything.
That is the power of thought, the point of life, and the reason I remain in Turkey.
If you have thoughts to share, feel free to leave a comment below.
