Inktober Day 21: For No Other Reason

I was talking with a young woman recently, and she mentioned why she was doing something. She said, “I like doing it. I find it entertaining.” I listened as she spoke about what interested her, and I silently thought of this quote from Mitta Xinindlu. Funny how as we progress through our own experiences and the years our motives for doing what we do changes.

The best people I know are the ones who do what they do for other people, to give back, to make the world a better place, and to even pay it forward. Their motives have grown beyond doing something for themselves; they do, spend, invest, learn, grow, teach to heal others who are in need. They may not all end up with viral posts on YouTube, Facebook or Instagram; their efforts changes lives one at a time.

As I spent more time with that young woman, we talked about her future and what she wanted. THAT is when I could see and hear her passion for helping others. She had a plan that involved medical school, kids with cancer and helping to heal the world. Such big and fantastic goals. So much energy and vitality. So much passion to give back and change the world one sick child at a time. She was smart enough to know that her goals would take her far from home. She also knew that things change and plans evolve. AND, she knew that as long as she focused on helping other people live better lives, her efforts would never feel worthless.

So why do you do what you do? How is what you are doing making the world a better place? Does someone other than yourself benefit from your efforts? Would you continue doing what you are doing, putting in all that effort EVEN if no one knew you did it? HHHmmmm…makes ya’ think, doesn’t it. I was both refreshed and schooled as I spoke to someone on the verge of making big plans. It made me think about the plans I have AND why I am doing what I’m doing. Sometimes ya’ just need a dose of good, old fashioned eagerness to set you straight. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are on this earth to make people’s lives better, no matter how we do that.

Let me encourage you today to do what you do to make people’s lives better, for no other reason than you can!