“If you look around and think the world is missing something, it is probably the gift you were supposed to be bringing.” — Julie Cuccia Watts
I was browsing some random quotes and found this one. It caught my eye, with the way life’s moving along right now. I honestly try to fit this kind of philosophy into my day-to-day life, as often as I can remember to. If I feel like everyone around me is angry and we need more joy, I try to find something positive to share. If I feel like more drivers should be courteous, I let a few people get in front of me throughout my day.
Believing in karma helps, too. I believe we get what we give, so it only makes sense to take some time to do for others while I can… because sometime in the future, when everything’s being hellish for me, someone will hopefully do the same for me. Reflecting back to my previous blog, you get a certain reputation. It’s not just honor, or loyalty, but simple kindness and generosity. You get to be seen in a positive light by simply being that thing you felt was necessary.
I’m in a mood. I’d like to wash my hands of a large portion of my little local world, but I realize that I’m part of the thing that was missing, the hole that was created and caused a mess when someone finally fell in. I have the guilt, the bad karma, the dishonor (if you will) of having played a part in someone losing their career and their livelihood. I am no innocent little lamb; my words had life, my actions had meaning. It’s a hard lesson to learn, that one’s words and actions (big and small) can be life-changing for others, as well as oneself. I’ve been in a similar situation before, which has taught me some caution. But that doesn’t absolve me of my wrong-doings.
At the same time, I can also claim some of my honor back in my attempts to undo my own damages. It’s one thing (and an easy one thing, I might add) to do a bad thing and apologize or feel bad later. It’s a whole different thing to claim responsibility in your heart and then do what you can to repair the misdeeds you’ve done. Responsibility for one’s actions versus regret. One’s useful, the other useless.
I want to be the change I wish to see, the joy I want to experience, the peace I want to live in.
Larissa Lee 