There's people who say "Life's a bitch and then you die." I like to substitute "a bitch" with "fun."

I actually had kind of the opposite experience. I sort of realized that we're here to live, not to adhere to self-applied restrictions (aka rules) that we don't like. There will always be problems, there will always be solutions, and it's best to live for the happy moments rather than losing faith in life.

I think it's up to each individual to determine their direction in life. The best people devote their lives to making other peoples' lives more enjoyable. To say there's no aim or direction in life is a bit short-sighted. You can choose your own direction.