"I'm gonna make my world a better place.
I'm gonna keep that smile on my face." -- "A Better Man" (Keb Mo)
Life at times seems like a mystery that is never for solving.
With its ups and downs, turns of fate, misfortune and luck there's sometimes not a whole lot of sense to be made of why things are the way they are or happen the way they do.
Time seems to move too quickly on occasion and painfully slowly at other times.
Sometimes we get what we think we deserve and other times we seem to walk into land mines that we really don't feel we deserved to walk into.
What is a constant is we all have a responsibility to make our lives the best they can be. A responsibility to both ourselves and the world at large.
Too often we are focused on what we can get out of life.
We want to get as much as we can out of our time. Life can feel short after all and passes by quickly.
We strive for more.
We strive for better.
We strive for bigger.
We strive for new.
We strive for change.
Achievements are to be celebrated. Challenges met. Maybe even legacies written. This is all part of what makes life rich and fulfilling. It's fuel that drives us.
What we don't always keep in focus is what we can give back.
As much as we may take, we must look to give more back.
The Debt We All Owe
We all have a part to play in making this planet a better place to be in some small way. We all have a responsibility to be positive influences to those around us. We have a responsibility to be the best us we can be.
It should be a responsibility we gratefully embrace. A challenge we do our best to meet.
How can we repay this debt?
There are many ways but some that come to mind include:
By being a better friend.
By being a better parent.
By being a better husband/wife/partner.
By being a better son/daughter/brother/sister.
By doing our level best to be a positive influence and perhaps role model or mentor to others.
By helping and supporting a good cause.
By being a better employee.
By being a better employer.
By being a better neighbor.
By taking care of and encouraging nature around us.
By leaving less of a carbon footprint.
By accepting others for who they are not who we want them to be.
By offering our time and expertise voluntarily.
By making a hot meal or buying a hot drink for someone that isn't sure where their next is coming from.
By doing our best to smile at adversity.
By being less judgmental.
By being understanding.
By thinking of others.
Giving gives back. It's something that makes us feel pretty good inside. However, it is also a responsibility we all have. It's a debt that we will always owe this life.
Make sure you are leaving positive footprints in the sand.
Carl is the proud owner of Frictionless Living which is focused on helping readers live a simpler and more personally satisfying life. He is also the author of 22 Ways to Simpler Living. To read more and/or contact him go to his site.