I am caring for aging
parents, buried an uncle a short time ago and another this week, my step-sister
is dying and in the midst of this commotion, I find myself reflecting on next
chapter. I have been so busy working as the sole bread-winner (with a 2-4 hour
commute each day) and caring for others that I have had not made time to
connect or reach out to my friends or be involved in the community. I got to
thinking what is important? Is it things? Riches? How you touch others? How you
leave the world?
I think it is how you touch
others and how you leave the world. So now, I have two goals: to be a collector
and to make a positive difference. I want to collect friends and be a friend. I
want to leave this place, my little corner, better off for being here. We never
know how what we do touches others, but if you act with integrity and
compassion you can do a whole lot.
Charles Shultz had a quiz
something like this
Can you name the five wealthiest
people in the world, the last few Heisman trophy winners, the winners of
the Miss America pageant, ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize,
Academy Award winners or a decade's worth of World Series winners?
Probably not. But I bet you can name
or remember a teacher who aided your journey through school, friends who have
helped you through a difficult time, people who have taught you something
worthwhile, people who have made you feel appreciated and special and people
you enjoy spending time with.
The point is, none of us remembers yesterdays headlines
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies...
Awards tarnish..
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
The people who make a difference in your life and the lives of others are
not the ones with the most credentials, the most money...or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who reach out and care the most. I want to be one
of those people
Shultz had it right - he got
it. I hope that it inspires us to do the same
