Service to Others

I BELIEVE WE CAN EACH MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

You know when you’re driving along and somebody cuts you off? You know those feelings of rage that just wash over you? That anger that simmers inside waiting to vent at the next person that crosses your path? What if, instead of speeding up and not letting someone in to return the favor just given you, you just slow down, take a deep breath and get over it. Think about it. We can do this not just when we’re driving in our cars but at times in our own world when things are just not going right. Let’s stop for a moment and look at the people around us and imagine them in a different light. Think about the person that just cut you off. Maybe they are in a rush to get to the hospital. Maybe there is an emergency at home. Maybe they just need to be forgiven.

I believe that if people took the time to be more thoughtful and less selfish the world would be a much happier place. I believe we can each make a difference with an action, a comment, a thoughtful gesture of any kind. I believe that if we took the time to do a small act of service just once a day not only would the people around you enjoy being around you but you would also benefit. It doesn’t always seem practical to perform a service in our busy lives, but your service doesn’t have to be something huge. Your service can be something small like opening a door for someone, making conversation with someone you don’t know, writing a thank you note, or letting a driver in on a busy road. Think about how you feel when you have so much to do in so little time and you’re stressed and exhausted. How does it feel when someone does something to serve you and take the load off your back? Can you say relieved? By taking the time and showing you care for someone else it betters you as a person. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone tried to help each other out and make life less stressful for others. I believe there would be less confrontation, more free time, less animosity, less confrontation and more reasons to be happy. The list goes on and on and on!

I believe that serving others and making a difference to someone else every day would make life simpler for you and me. I believe if we all really look around us – at someone in the elevator, a co-worker you barely know, or even a family member – and see people for their good qualities and attributes we can make a happy difference to them and to ourselves. There is a saying, “to have a friend you must first be a friend.” If we treat everybody like a friend they may become your friend. There would be more love, more concern for others, and more willingness to put in that extra effort for other people. I believe that kindness is definitely contagious! Maybe you can’t make a difference to everyone – but you will make a difference to someone and maybe that someone will be you!