The first day is the one on which we fully realise that we came into this life for a reason. We realise that we have what Aristotle called our ‘Daimon’ – our unique mix of abilities and talents, however small or unvalued by the world at large – and our job is to express them. This expression is accompanied by the highest emotional state of ‘happiness’ that humans can experience – what Aristotle called ‘Eudaimonia’.

Which brings us to the second day, often months or years after the first. This is the day when you truly meet your Daimon – its birthday – and you begin to dance with your Daimon. You start to live your life around doing what has meaning for you. It might be the day you finally start to confront the anxiety of putting pen to paper (or these days finger to keyboard!) or brush to canvas. It might be the day you enrol in the first subject that will ultimately allow you to study what really turns you on. It might be the day you do something just for you and the people around you and the world be damned for a few hours! (You have given them way too much of your precious life anyway!)

Life is inherently meaningless – until we find our meaning. Only one person can give it meaning.  If you look for a meaning outside you, if you look to others, you will find nothing. If you do not bring meaning to your life, if you do not go looking for your Daimon, you will be confronted by its meaninglessness. On the other hand if you go looking for your meaning, the ultimate knight’s quest, you can’t help but find it … eventually. While I consider myself to be a spiritual being having a human experience, I’m not at all religious, but I know that young Matthew was speaking an old truth when he said: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.