How do you stay inspired when so many things around you are falling apart?
You might think about your leaky faucet or the peeling paint, your arthritic knees, current events, or money problems.
As I write this, I’m sitting in my little Mexican Airbnb suite, run by the family who lives below us with their three children. As I ruminate on what to say in this column, little three-year-old Sam (a sweetheart most of the time) is screaming over and over. I think it’s significant, in light of what I’m writing. There are many moments these days when we just want to throw our heads back and scream, too.
There is so much going wrong in the world today, and as my Facebook friends have expanded, I’ve learned of even more events and issues that people are struggling with.
So much to be fixed. And perhaps, in your lifetime, you’ve had the opportunity to fix some things—while watching other things fall apart.
Some people wonder how they can keep going. I don’t mean to be a downer. Instead, I want to give you hope, focus, or a goal to aim for. You can still have a life with purpose—a life that brings you and others joy, or at least some respite.
Whatever your age, your life can still be of service—not just to others, but also to yourself.
While in Mexico, I could look out from our rooftop patio and see a variety of scenes. There were mountains and the ocean on either side, showcasing the beauty of the area. I could also look down and see garbage piling up on the street. I could focus on the empty lot next door, with weeds growing wild.
I’d see the many little entrepreneurs making a living selling fruits and vegetables, confectionery items, tacos, beer—or I could complain about the noisy vehicles. I did complain to my husband about the people gathering outside the beer shop next door, partying into the night and disturbing my peace and quiet. But when we walked past them on our way home, those same people would greet us and invite us to join them.
You see, no matter how hard things get around us, there are always things we can cheer for, appreciate, and be thankful for.
There are little things we can do for others that won’t change the world—but they might change one person’s day.
When I was a teenager, I read a book about Corrie ten Boom, who was in a Nazi concentration camp. She made it her mission to focus on what she could do to make even the smallest possible difference each day. I have never forgotten that.
Norma was an 80-something woman who lived in the seniors’ residence I operated. She would sit in the window and hold up signs that said, “Hello” or “Have a Good Day,” and people hurrying by on the busy street would stop, look up, and smile. Even years later, when people find out where I worked, they still tell me about Norma and how she brightened their days. I want to say: be a Norma. Be a Corrie. Be someone who finds small ways to brighten your own day—and someone else’s. Accentuate the positives and share them (no matter how big or how small) with those who need them right now.
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Laurie Mueller, M.Ed is retired and living in Victoria with her husband, Helmuth. She recently published The Ultimate Guide on What to Do When Someone You Love Dies, available on Amazon. More about Laurie can be found at www.lauriemconsulting.com or on Facebook.