To me, 'moments' are the purpose of life. Often only split second occurences/remembrances that cause an inner sigh, or at the best a tear of happiness to well in your eye's. These moments of sheer clarity and insight(happiness), are what bring you out of the mundane everyday affairs, and make you glad to be among the living.
Living happy, living free, is an exercise in respect. I have come to believe that abuse, criminal conduct, war's, fight's, breakdown or loss of love, is all a symptom of 'loss of respect'for life, or all it's manifestations. (simplistic to say the least, but it is imo the root of all unhappiness)
The animal kingdom display's this trait, with an almost instinctive inclanation. Human's have a hard time with the concept.
Mankind from birth to death, is bombarded with racist, religious, scientific, educational bias as to who deserves respect. Catagorizing every living thing, in some box or value rating.
I fight my own demons of past learned bias, everday of my life.
But as I ponder(moments/occurenences)of happiness, I have had and will have, these biases and lack of respect, are fewer and far between.
What is the purpose in life? Perhap's it is to grow (as long as one is allowed)in respect for life and all it represents.
Whatever the future holds, life has a purpose when you show respect for it, and when you are held in such a view by your fellow man.
BearMusings
Ps Then there is always Dave's eternal question 'why nipples'? I respect them very much, and enjoy sharing them with my lover, in they'er adulation and worship, whenever I get a chance. Moments man just the moments!