Fame…fortune…glory!
None of these matter. The importance of measuring against anything arbitrary that has no relevance to my basic human needs are…well…unimportant.
How wealthy am I compared to the Joneses? Irrelevant, since wealth, in and of itself, buys services and material things. It doesn’t buy me affection, though it can buy me the appearance of affection or love. Wealth is but a tool, like a wrench is to a mechanic. A wrench, in the hands of a mechanic can open or tighten bolts, and in the hands of a violent man, can kill.
How healthy am I compared to athletes or even John across the street? Once again, irrelevant and unimportant if my level of health does nothing to make the people around me more secure and relieved. After all, my health may elongate my life, or it may shorten it if I take it to the extreme. What matters is whether my state of health helps me achieve my lifetime mission, while ensuring I don’t become a burden to those I love…including the society at large.
How much fame do I have or need compared to the beautiful people on TV? How much should I care if people think or even believe I’m important or relevant? It’s unimportant, if my fame is a self-serving goal. If my existence isn’t benefiting my family and mankind by providing them with the love, stability, and care they need, then it’s as important and useful as crack cocaine: momentarily satisfying, but the cause of a lifetime of addiction that can only lead to a downspin.
What’s important then? More clearly, what’s important and relevant to me? What makes my infinitesimal existence worth anything?
Words of Gandhi come to mind:
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
So, how can I serve others? What skills can I bring to bear so that my life’s no longer about me, but about the change for the better I bring to the world. I’m reminded of another Gandhi quote:
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Though I may know that I wish to serve others, I’m still uncertain how. What change do I wish to see in the world that I must first bring about in myself? I don’t know the answers yet, but I know my journey continues and every step brings me closer to the path I wish to make.
