No, it's not a trick question. It's an antidote to the "why are we so stupid" BS...

We're not stupid. People are magnificent. People have tremendous courage in the face of life's challenges. If we could actually see ourselves as we truly are, we would see the very beauty of angels in the making.

And it's also a thread to encourage some good humour at the same time.

Cynicism and negative thinking are their own punishment.

You know, it works this way for me:

1. When you're a kid, you seek play and fun, and try to please your mother (in all probability). The last part is tricky, cos it sometimes conflicts with having fun! :-)

2. When you're an adolescent, you seek to fit in with your peers, survive school, and investigate the other gender.

3. When you're a young adult, you seek a mate (temporary or permanent) and a role in life.

4. When you're an older adult, you seek to master the challenges of mating and dealing with your chosen role(s) in life.

5. When you're still older...if you have enough wisdom...you begin to look within. You seek greater wisdom. You seek innner peace. You seek a love that is larger than love for just one other person or just your mate and children.

6. If you become quite wise, you seek enlightenment. If you find it, all the rest becomes clear.

*****

Some people never get past steps 1, 2, and 3. That's up to them. One can get stuck at any stage of the above process and think that that is "all there is".