We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms– to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. Viktor Frankl

Every material comfort can be taken away. You can be left with nothing– or worse than nothing. And yet you still have your mind and your heart. And through these you give meaning to your life. You choose how to think about and respond to your circumstances. You can choose to be generous with what you have left to give– even if that is only smile or a kind word.

What remains of you, when everything else is gone, is your ability to give.

Never underestimate your ability to make someone else’s life better– even if you never know it. Greg Louganis

Sometimes you can see exactly the difference you made in someone’s life. But often you can’t.

Maybe that’s because you’ll never see this person again, but your random act of kindness just restored a little bit of their faith in people.

Maybe you said the right thing at the right time and while it feels like a small thing to you, it changes how someone’s thinks of themselves forever. You couldn’t have known what they needed to hear, and you can’t imagine what’s possible for them now.

Maybe your gift’s impact will grow in depth and strength in ways that takes generations to appreciate, because helping a child get an education can change forever the opportunities that child has when she grows up and the opportunities her children will have.

Maybe you won’t see all of the ripples you create that go on to touch more lives. But that’s ok. You don’t have to see the results. You just have to know it’s possible.

“What is it all about?”

“What is my purpose?”

“Is this all there is?”

These questions plague us incessantly.

For some, it creates a dull discomfort in the back of their mind that drives them to find a distraction, maybe in t.v. or video games, food, work, drugs or alcohol. For others, it develops into a profound sense of loneliness and hopelessness that prompts them to stop trying and lower their expectations.

All around us people are sad, anxious, angry, hurt, addicted, and lacking direction because they haven’t found the meaning of life– as if it’s a place that can be arrived at with your picnic basket in time to enjoy the sunset.

Meaning is not a place. Meaning is not a goal. Meaning is a result. And it results from meaningful actions.

If our work and our daily actions are meaningful….
If we experience meaningful encounters with other people….
If we transcend our own struggles to help others….

Then we are living the meaning of life.

The question, “What is the meaning of life?” can serve to remind us that the sands in our hourglass are rushing out and that we must act now before we lose our chance.

What are you giving of yourself to create meaning in your life?

The unexamined life is not worth living. Aristotle

True. We need a certain amount of self-awareness about who we are, what we want, and why we do what we do. But at a certain point, enough is enough.

What good is all that awareness if you don’t do something about it? Too much self examination keeps you from actually living.

Give, because life is made of up of your actions. The higher the quality of your actions the higher the quality of your life.

I see trees of green…….. red roses too
I see em bloom….. for me and for you
And I think to myself…. what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue….. clouds of white
Bright blessed days….dark sacred nights
And I think to myself …..what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow…..so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces…..of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands…..sayin.. how do you do
They’re really sayin……i love you.

I hear babies cry…… I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more…..than I’ll never know
And I think to myself …..what a wonderful world

“What a Wonderful World” written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss

It is indeed a wonderful world with its clouds of white and dark sacred night. Our relationship with the world is a balance of give and take. We take in the stunning sights of natural beauty. We take nourishment from its plants, water, and air. We take pleasure in the sights, sounds, and bounty or the Earth, and in return we must give. We give thanks that the earth’s beauty and abundance makes our lives better. If we want that beauty and abundance to be available for the next generation, we need to give time and energy to creating a sustainable life. We need to give our voices and our money to protecting it.

The human heart is also wonderful world. It’s not just friends shaking hands and saying I love you. It’s the million ways we express love and courage in big ways and small ways. Again, the human heart is about give and take. You can give people a smile, directions when they’re lost, and a hand when they need help. But you must let others give to you. In the same way you take pleasure in helping someone, they take pleasure in helping you. So take their help and their compliments, because you’re giving them the gift of making your life better.

Give, because your giving makes and keeps this world wonderful.

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world. Mr Rogers

A disaster brings out the best in people.

When the bombs at the Boston Marathon went off, instead of running away, many people ran towards the explosion– so they could help. Carlos Arredondo was one of those. He ran to help Jeff Bauman, tied a tourniquet around the young man’s leg and escorted him to an ambulance. Both of Jeff Bauman’s legs were amputated, but Carlos’ swift help very likely saved Jeff’s life.

Marines, who had just completed the 26 mile marathon with 40 pound ruck sacks, ran to help.

Marathoners, instead of finishing their 26 mile race, ran to Mass General Hospital to donate blood.

Let’s not forget the first responders. Firefighters and police officers put their lives on the line everyday to protect and serve. That day they didn’t know if another bomb would go off and if they would make it home to kiss their kids good night. But that didn’t stop them. They helped.

Boston residents created a website that helped connect residents with a spare bed with people who needed a place to stay.

So many people helped. They didn’t think, question, or second guess. They acted. They helped.

These people remind us that human beings are capable of great and inspirational acts of selflessness and bravery. They return our faith in the good of humanity and give us hope that the world will be a better place someday.

Give, because when you act to help, you stand with all the other brave men and women who put the needs of someone else above their own. You are in good company.

P.S. that part of you that shines in a disaster is always there. Don’t save it just for disasters.

Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life. Bertolt Brecht

I used to live life close to my chest. Like in poker, I didn’t want other people to see my cards. If they saw my cards, they might judge me, and god forbid I should be judged.

As a result, I confined myself to what felt like appropriate avenues in life. I contained my enthusiasm and other emotions to what felt like appropriate levels and hid the ones that weren’t appropriate at all. I played it safe.

If you’d ask me about it at the time, I would have denied it. I would have said, I don’t know what you’re talking about.

But I can recognize it now. I remember feeling closed in. I remember letting my Democratic friends think I was a Democrat and my Republican friends think I was a Republican. I recall being afraid of lots of silly things there was no need to be afraid of. I remember distracting myself with pointless T.V. shows so that I didn’t have to ask hard questions about my life or feel the pain of not fully expressing who I was, what I wanted, felt, hoped for.

I lived a mild form of death that could go on indefinitely until my body stopped functioning.

But not anymore. Now I want to experience life before death. I want to use all of my senses and emotions and talent, and leave this life thinking, I gave it all I had.

And I can tell you, it feels so much better.

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr.

What do you want out of life? To be happy? To make a difference? To sing? write? teach?

Whatever you want in life, you’re going to have do something about it. It’s not going to come knocking on your door looking for you. It’s not going to jump in your lap, and announce, “I’m here!”

Nope, you’re going to have do something about it.

But what? Maybe what you want is big. Maybe what you want is complex. Maybe you don’t know exactly how to get there. That’s ok. You don’t have to know each step of the way.

You only have to see the first step.

The first step is to give something. You want to be happy? Maybe the first step is forgiving yourself for a past transgression. Now that you know the first step, what’s the next step? If you must forgive yourself, maybe you need to stop a behavior that’s causing that pain. Once you’ve stopped that behavior, maybe the next step is to make amends to those you’ve hurt. If you must make amends, maybe the next step is to apologize.

As you take each step, the next step can materialize. So have faith, take the first step and give something to yourself or of yourself that will take you in the direction of the life you want.

What’s your first step?

It’s more rewarding to watching money change the world than to watch it accumulate. Gloria Steinem

I used to watch my savings account and retirement account balances. I used to project how much money I’d have in retirement. Then I’d compare that to how much I think I’d need. Then I’d compare that to how much I’d want. And then I’d compare that to how much other people would have. My calculations left me depressed and envious.

There was no such thing as enough money. No matter how much money I had, no matter how much I could accumulate, I would always want more. There would always be nicer houses, more luxurious trips, and more fabulous lifestyles than I could afford.

Accumulating money was not rewarding for me at all. I’m not saying that it’s not necessary, only that it’s not rewarding.

But giving away money is. When my donation helps a young woman sold into sex slavery escape and start a new life, that’s rewarding. When my donation helps pass legislation that protects the environment, that’s rewarding. When my donation helps a veteran get treatment for PTSD, saves a dog’s life, or gets a child life saving medical care, that’s rewarding.

Give because it balances out accumulating and leads to a more rewarding life.

If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to go far, walk together. African Proverb

You can go it alone, and you might go very fast. But how far can you go alone?

How long until you run out of energy? If someone is there to cheer you on, you might be able to find those last reserves of energy to make it a few more miles.

How long until you run of of desire? What if you get bored, lose focus, or no longer see the point? Someone walking with you can remind you of your purpose and inspire you to recommit to your journey.

And in return, you do the same for them. You give them hope, inspiration, encouragement, support, and insight.

Where we need to be heading isn’t a place we can get to fast. It’s a place we get to together.