Yesterday, I talked about priorities. Today
is a new day.
“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” - Winston Churchill
This was an interesting one to
think about. Having things can be nice. It gives us more options and
freedoms to do things with our free time. Going from drawing only
with pencils to getting a set of markers is like night and day; you
can do so much more when you have more things. At the same time, the
things we can do, or the living we make with what we have doesn’t
always translate to how happily we become.
When it comes to living happily,
more doesn’t always mean better. I think it also has to do with
what we give back to the world – the legacy we leave behind. One of
the most common regrets the elderly report before dying is not being
able to contribute and give back more. As I’ve gotten older my
goals have changed from becoming filthy rich to being able to
pay-back my parents and helping others.
In my case, giving to others has
made me more fulfilled. The ego plays a big role in receiving
satisfaction from knowing that we’re able to make an impact on
things outside our life directly, but it also just feels good when
someone thanks us for doing things. Whenever my students thank me it
warms my ice-cold heart ever so slightly. Knowing that my work is
appreciated and is helping others grow is its own reward and is
helping me make a life that I can genuinely enjoy and be proud of.
That’s something no amount of designer clothes, watches, or cars
could ever do. Giving to these kids has given me back a life that is
pretty nice.
Peace
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| You don't need to live in luxury to enjoy life. |
Today’s assignment: Give something “for your life”. Let yourself receive that giving.
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