you are making a difference

She was maybe 8 years old when she would come to the house for violin lessons. Every week, this shy little girl showed up at the door and for an hour or so would listen intently to her teacher, taking in every bit of what was shared with her. They played together, talked together, practiced together and at the end of an hour her mom would pick her up and she’d go home. This was the schedule for about a year and after that, both student and teacher moved on. Some 18 years later that little girl, now a grown woman, raced across the room to see me and to ask about her teacher. She said that the loving kindness and care that she received during those brief visits meant all the world to her, was the only reason she continued with the violin and even today she feels the influence of the patience and kindness she received as she struggled to learn. She feels like her brief time with her teacher was a gift in her life. I conveyed this message to the teacher, who was deeply moved and genuinely surprised to hear of the impact she’d had on the young girl.

Every day we have an impact on the world and the people around us. In every situation there is a different interpretation of a shared event and different points of view. In every moment, we bring with us our perspective, our gifts and we impact the people and the world around us, even if we’re unaware of our influence. A smile or kind word to a stranger can turn that person’s day around just as an aggressive moment of road rage can ruin a person’s morning. Taking a moment to move a turtle from the middle of the road to the adjoining field makes a difference. Picking up the piece of trash from the trail when you’re walking through the woods is a hugely positive, impactful thing to do. To clap and cheer for the performer who has taken the time to practice their craft and then share it with the audience is to offer a positive affirmation and appreciation of their effort.

We are not here to take whatever we can from the people and the world around us for our own benefit. We are not here to pillage the environment and take advantage. Our mission, the reason we are here, is to offer our gifts to the world, to see how we can help and to make a difference. Our challenge is to tread lightly and remember always that every kindness we offer changes the world – whether ultimately we know it or not.