Investing in Yourself: Saving the World One Step at a Time

Stop for a minute and think about a typical day in the life of you.  What happens during the course of your day?  Who do you come into contact with?  Do you interact with anyone?  What kind of experiences do you have through your day?  Life, it seems, is made up of many an ordinary, normal day filled with, well, everyday stuff. So how are we supposed to use that as inspiration for saving the world?

Here's my point.  Wherever your day takes you and whoever you come into contact with during the day is an investment waiting to happen.  It is, you might say, an opportunity to show the world on a minute level how you treat fellow humans and in turn how you'd want to be treated. And it's a way to use plain ol' everyday happenings as investments into the lives of others.

You hear all the time people lamenting the fact that the world is going down the tubes.  That people just don't care anymore.  That everyone is out for him- or herself.  And, sadly, there might be some truth in that line of thinking.  Does this mean you have to throw in your own towel?  Absolutely not!  Here's your chance to fight back and to prove that caring is not a dead art. 

The next time you're in line at the grocery store, take a minute to make eye contact and smile at the cashier.  Maybe even venture to add a "good morning/afternoon/evening."  When you're walking your dog around your neighborhood, wave and smile at the elderly widow who's always peeking out from behind the curtains.  At work, make it a point to give a polite greeting to everyone you meet on the way to the afternoon staff meeting.  In other words, make your everyday, typical experiences count as small investments. 

Why?, you might ask.  My answer: why not?  What do you have to lose?  If you want to take it a level deeper, you can look at it this way:  you never know how you and your actions and words might affect someone you come in contact with.  Your simple kindness might make someone's day.  It could inspire them to pass it along or "pay it forward."  Maybe it makes you feel better about doing your part. (There is scientific evidence that people who smile more are happier overall, right?)

Are you going to have days when you just couldn't care less about putting any foot forward much less your best foot?  Yes. Are you going to "slip up" and become mad and do something foolish or even hurtful? Yes.  Does that mean you should give up?  No. 

We're all human, and, as part of the human race, we do dumb things and say not-so-nice things.  It's part of our own experience and part of our ongoing life lessons.  But don't let a slip-up deter you.  Keep your eyes focused on the bigger picture: living out life in a way that boosts others and shows that you do care enough to invest in them.  Even if it is for just a minute.

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