Although the premise for this post came to me as I reflected on a good day - yesterday - some folks might find it unsettling to speculate on their mortality. If that's the case for you, stop reading now. No chance of me getting offended; I have no way of knowing.
I'm not claiming what I did yesterday improved or altered the world in any fashion. But the fact that I did no harm, combined with the positive energy I felt while delivering a music class, spurred me to consider how that energy could easily be directed toward larger aims if I were purposeful about it. All that need happen is for me to occasionally keep that question above front and center. If I did, isn't it possible that over time some modest action of mine might make a tiny difference? More important, how could keeping that question on my radar all the time be anything but beneficial for me and the world?
These thoughts made for a peaceful night's sleep. For that alone, I'm grateful.
I too feel like it is worth pondering this question - at least periodically. I would like to think that I made a positive impact. When I was working, it was in my interactions with colleagues and now it is interactions with family, friends, and teaching. I can relate to your feelings after teaching a music class. I have had similar feelings after some of my classes.
ReplyDeleteInes; Thanks for the comment. Those teaching moments can be magical, can't they?
ReplyDeleteYes, and the times when people have told me that I "made a difference."
DeleteHey Pat. Let me start by saying... Wow! Very thought provoking. I am not philosophical in any way, or at least I try not to be, but very interesting to stop and think about this one. Saying that I try to live a good and honest life is an easy answer, but it is something that I honestly try to do. I do not always succeed, and probably don't succeed anywhere near as much as I would like to or think that I do. But, and I don't think that this is a bad thing to say, I do try. I look to my son and my daughter and the lives they are leading - families of their own, good jobs, hard working, making a difference. I see that and I think I must have done something right. So I'm good with things. Again, not perfect, but good. And good isn't bad,
ReplyDeleteBe well,
Bob
Bob; The two comments I've gotten so far on this post are especially appreciated because they came from you & Ines, my most reliably regular commenters. I'm glad this provoked you if for no other reason than the impetus for publishing it was squarely aimed at getting readers to consider the important question therein.
Delete