Making a Difference

Most mornings, I pour myself a cup of coffee and then check my email, the headlines, and Facebook to see who’s having a birthday today so I can send well-wishes. Much of that routine has become grim during the troubled times in which we live.

I noticed today that of my four friends with birthdays, two are no longer with us. That’s half!

My generation reached the age, quite some time ago, when the road ahead became increasingly shorter than the trail behind. I, myself, am well past the halfway point.

I remember when, in my early twenties, I told my aunt that I aspired to do something great someday—not for fame or fortune, but to make a difference for the better in the world. Looking back over the intervening half-century, I know I came up short in the “something great” department, but I’ve learned that making a difference doesn’t require greatness.

Making a difference comes in many shapes and sizes. It can look like reliability—being there when needed or expected, and pitching in. It is knowing when to step back and let others shine.

Steadfastness can make a difference: keeping on keeping on, despite exhaustion and disillusionment. Sometimes it can be just keeping my head down and not becoming part of the problem.

Generosity almost always makes things better for both the recipient and the giver. It’s not all about money. We can share the material goods we have, and be generous with our time and attitudes, too. Being a good listener is one of the greatest gifts we can give to others.

Time marches relentlessly on. I’ll keep trying to make a difference in my own small ways.

#MakeADifference #lifejourney #steadfast
AI image created with Microsoft Copilot