Ponder the following six questions. You don’t need to come up with the actual answers – you’ll get the point:
- Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
- Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
- Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
- Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
- Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
- Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.
How did you do? I couldn’t come up with many of the answers. While all of the above achievements are great, their impacts on our individual lives are generally quite small.
Now, another quiz:
- List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
- Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
- Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
- Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
- Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Much easier, eh? The people who made the greatest impact on your life aren’t necessarily the richest, strongest, most beautiful, brightest or most celebrated. They’re the simply the people that cared the most.
And so it doesn’t matter if you’re not Mitch Hewer or Mark Zuckerberg or Carlos Slim; your ability to leave this world with a little more love hasn’t been diminished
1 comment:
Once (this was a few months back), I was riding the train (as I am wont to do) and I counted how many people could fit in one car. Then, I mulitplied that by the number of cars per train. Then I mulitplied that by how many trains probably run per hour. Then I thought that this was only one out of nine train lines through the city. And I almost cried. It was that cliched, quitessential moment of realizing how big the world is. And it depressed me.
I love your thoughts on the importance of interpersonal relationships, or being a kind and genuine person, and of real meaning. It reminds me that I can still make an impact in the world even if I never become the next Diana Krall or if I never even become anything, really.
Much love, dear.
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