We all have problems getting our priorities straight.  We often get so wrapped up in the struggle to earn a good living that we concentrate more on the work than on the living.  If we do this too much, and for too long, we will discover that most of our life is behind us and we have not yet begun to live, in the sense that we had always planned.

We all need to set aside a little time on a regular basis to think about life and to evaluate how well we are spending our energies and time.  We need to reflect on what we have done with our lives in the past, and we need to contemplate our futures.  We should give serious thought to what we think our purposes in life are and consider whether or not the route we are taking is the best route to accomplish those purposes.

We tend to get too caught up in our struggle to acquire more material things.  Too many of us seem to think that life is a race to see who can accumulate the most wealth and attain the most fame during our lifetimes.  We somehow seem to think that, if we have acquired more of these things than others by the end of our lives, we are winners.  But what have we won?  Have we won as many friends as we might have?  Have we won the love of our family and friends?  Or have we neglected these very important things because we were so busy seeking fame and fortune?

We all want to leave our mark on this earth.  We want people to have positive memories of us after we have passed from this life.  But most of us will never have a physical monument  built in our memory.  Our monuments must be in the hearts and minds of those we leave behind. Even the very famous, whose likenesses are captured in stone in an effort to keep their memory alive for as long as possible, gradually are forgotten as the centuries pass.  If we can make a difference in the lives of those we touch, and they do the same for others, there could be a ripple effect through the generations. We can't be sure that this will happen, but does that really matter? Shouldn't we be content with the knowledge that we have done everything in our power to make a positive difference in the world during our lifetimes?  Think about it.   

Copyright 2014 Allen W. Smith

TB—121—Posted—07/10’2014\\