While working on my first college degree, I minored in Geography. Yes, human was one that I took. So, in part of that learning, along with what other classes were teaching, I liked the parts that said to leave the world better than you found it. So, yes I have always loved learning, laughing and exploring. Also, on of the psychology teachings, one is that if you use the rod, like the bible says to do, on your children it can star the psych for life.

It is so obviously easier to believe in Loki. As i do.

When you consider the utter vastness of the universe, and that earth is but a tiny insignificant spec in this vastness, it is pretty obvious that there is no grand plan or purpose for us individuals. We as thinking empathetic human creatures must find our own purpose for life. No one else will, and I refuse to accept that my purpose is to serve some invisible magical sky wizard.

For me, it is to hopefully to leave this place a tiny bit better than I found it. That involves doing the best I can to support, mentor, and provide for my family and friends. And to do what I can to help others. Part of being a "good person" for me is helping others with no expectations back.I have donated time to the Habitat For Humanity, I have tutored many students in math and computer science for free. And I give to many charities on a regular basis. It is not much. Insignificant really. But I hope my legacy is that I helped others in some way with no obligation. I am at total piece with this.

I've always thought it depends on the scale of observation. I did a geology degree, and you spend a lot of time dealing with 1 million years being an eye-blink. Of course, a human life on that scale is insignificant.
But on the human scale, my decision to snap at my child or take a breath and give a hug can be monumental.

I consider myself an existentialist, but not a nihilist.
Sure we might feel small and insignificant in this endless universe. So what? To my humble knowledge, the universe goes from the infinitely large to the infinitely small. From the infinite past to the infinite future. At a speed somewhere between the infinitely slow and the infinitely fast. Knowing all of this, I simply focus on what I can feel and what I can understand from my humble human point of view. I believe there are so many wonderful things in this material world, I don't see no need to make up any kind of super-natural stuff.
Also, the universe is at the same time orderly and chaotic. It spans from the infinitely cruel to the infinitely kind. So what?! Just don't be an ass!

when one faces up to the fact that our lives have no more meaning than the existence of a protozoa our insignificance becomes unavoidable.

I do not believe it has any meaning whatsoever, and if you consider the fact that 1000 years from now, if man happens to still exist, what we have done here will be of no more significance than what was done in the year 1105. I do not need meaning, it is just one more thing the man tries to invent to clutter and complicate things with. Beyond that, I lead my life in a way that tries to help others, defend the weak, and punish those who exploit others.

I think it's more useful in life to seek value rather than meaning. Meaningfulness is just a subjective feeling you get when your life has enough value to suit you. One must remove things that don't contribute (or that subtract) value, and add things to your life that provide value.

When religion subtracted more value from my life than it added, I ditched it, for example.

I’m either a nihilist or a realist. Either way, my meaning(if there is one) is just being my best self, because I can. When I’m on my deathbed, I’d rather know that truth than to have regrets of what I did or didn’t do, when it’s totally my choice.
This is my chance. Why waste it?

There are many confused people in this world.