Affect/Appeal/Instinct

How do we define who we are? What turning points in our lives determine our individual pathways to adulthood/maturity/understanding?

My question begins at the core of humanity. The individual. Unless we are able to define ourselves as individuals we will never fit into society. We will never be content. Our lives will serve no purpose and will have no direction.
Some people define themselves by their success or accomplishments. However, I think that a life worth living is one of love and sacrifice. What else do we look forward to other than giving to others and loving others? There is no satisfaction in success if it is not shared with other people.

My life is nothing extraordinary or unexpected. I am a student who gets good grades and lives life from day to day. Homework, school, family, friends. Nothing unexpected. But my life is validated by the love and compassion that I harbor for other people. I am defined by my character and my acts of service and love. And despite my apparent lack of notable success, I find no dissatisfaction in my life.

I first questioned my own purpose, when my little brother was born. I was five and I had a notion in my head that my purpose in life was to be the youngest and to be the baby of the family. But upon the arrival of a new baby boy I was forced to redefine myself. After staying home with my mother for a few days to take care of him, I found that I loved my new brother unconditionally and that my purpose was not to be the baby but it was to love people, to care for people.

For me, many of my most memorable moments have been when I decided how I would NOT define myself. In junior high, I chose not to smoke or drink or do drugs and throughout high school I have had to remake those decisions and continually redefine myself to others and me. I decided from a very young age that my life would have love and laughter and would be void of the harmful and self destructive material possessions of this world.

I have more to live for.