By strange coincidence, watching the old Seinfeld series. George is a poor example picking up the theme in how we look younger now since he was regularly portrayed as doing what he wanted and this included not working so hard (if at all).

Perhaps, apart from all the various pieces of science, we are reinforcing meaning over purpose in life and living the life.

Your own tale of woe reflects this - plenty of seeming purpose fulfilling life. But, with time to stop reflect, refract and invigorate, any of us can find fresh purpose if not real meaning in our lives.

The luxury to do this, sadly, is not something so many of us can achieve as we are caught in making ends meet rather than having the tools available to meet our desired means to fresh ends.