A very engaging discussion which glok has brought up for us this Sunday.
Princess has tuned in late to the discussion, thus will re-read the above posts before making comment on above posts.

I only know that "all of this" was of considerable personal work for myself and my peers during our thirties and into our early forties decades. This perhaps was closely correlated with helping to steer midlife the course of work/further education/career, to reflect more of our values and aspirations, changing at midlife reevaluation.

By now, we are in our early sixties. For most, family is by now for many their purpose, even if it was not so two decades ago. Peace Corps friends chose to adopt and have a family at mid-forties.

In my experience, what is my purpose has changed through time.
It is especially difficult to ascertain at this late age, stage, debility . . . changes in age, health, circumstances, income/finances, resilience, capabilities, etc. what can possibly be my purpose beyond how I may live with a sense of dignity, meaningfulness (enjoyment also) and not simply how I may survive these times and my own challenges.

As I think someone mentioned above, nowadays my life's capacity and purpose is consumed with how to survive the traumas in my mind. Stretching myself to imagine 'beyond the door' my life as I would have it be is no great pie in the sky; simply what I/my life was when I was still whole last year.

Even then, my 'purpose' evolved and changed with the changing needs of those friends, beloved elders of my community. I made my purpose within my little coastal community to be the 'Go To Gal', a nexus, if you will. It was a small, good, satisfying, happy life.
I greatly miss that sense of purpose in my life.

Thanks for the food for thought here, folks.