Action

In life we come across thousands of people.  Individuals sometimes enter our lives and stay for many years, others just for a few.  Occasionally these people leave us too soon, while other stick around for much too long.  How much power do we have to change someone else's trajectory in life?  If I had befriended one acquaintance and been of some influence, would he have not drowned in his own puke after a night of excessive partying?  If I had pushed someone in a different direction, would he have journeyed through life without resorting to murder?

I suppose it's preposterous to think that a single person could have such an impact on the world, but I truly believe that one person can make all the difference.  The problem is that there are so many people in our lives and not enough time to invest meaningful amounts in every single one.  But then, how much time did I waste?  How many people could I have helped for the better but instead spent that time watching tv, playing a game, or writing a blog?  Ah... good intentions... what a clever trickster you are.

Goodness is found in our actions.  It's spread in our actions.  I can think the worst things about someone, but if I smile, I can brighten up that person's day.  Our legacies are born of our actions.  Life is much too complicated and insane to dote over regrets, and it is too short to try to spend every single waking moment obsessing about a single purpose if the motivation just isn't there to do something about it.

Get out.  Go do something.  Hopefully, it involves other people.  Hopefully, it's a positive thing.  And if you're too lazy, unmotivated, or stressed to do that, at the very least, lie to yourself and smile.  If you can't brighten your day, maybe you can brighten someone else's.  You might change their mood, their day, their year, or even their life.