JUST DO IT!

The purpose of this blog is to help bring peace and hope into the lives of those who may be suffering emotionally and/or physically, to those who are feeling alone or neglected, and to those who are looking for greater meaning in life.

I don't pretend to be perfect, or to know everything about everything, and can't say that I have experienced everything that life has to offer.  What I do bring to those that will read this blog is intellectual honesty and a desire to lift others with words; and perhaps help them find greater meaning to life by embracing a way of living that brings true joy and happiness.  What I will write, I know to be true because I have tested it in the laboratory of MY life and as I have counseled others I have seen these truths bless their lives too.

The basis of much that I will write and how I live my life is a thought communicated by President Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States.  He said;

"When I do good, I feel good.  When I do bad, I feel bad..."

That's not to say that the reason we feel bad, or we feel down or depressed is because we have done something bad, although that is sometimes true.  The overriding point I take from this quote is that we can feel good when we do something good, when we look outside ourselves and serve others.

The antidote for what ails me is found in service to my fellowmen.  Service to others is the balm that binds my wounds and the brace that bears me up.  

It is said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  Truly souls are saved and lives are changed by doing, not dreaming. The challenge for us is to look outward rather than inward as we ourselves are suffering.

Phillips Brooks once made this significant observation: “How carefully most men creep into nameless graves, while now and again one or two forget themselves into immortality.”

It is a natural law as true as the law of gravity - that peace, joy, fulfillment, and even HOPE come as we reach out in kindness to help others.

"A sign in a shoe repair shop read; “I complained because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet. " The most effective medicine for the sickness of self-pity is to lose ourselves in the service of others."  

What I am talking about are not heroic acts of courage like saving someone's life, but small acts like a kind word, a heart felt compliment, giving of your time to others, listening intently, writing a meaningful letter or email or a host of other kind deeds.  If you need ideas of ways to serve of others follow this link Random Acts of Kindness and look under kindness ideas.  One of the most effective ways to serve others is to just to slow down and be observant. Today there are opportunities to serve all around us.  As the popular Nike ad once admonished:

"Just Do It!"

May you find joy, peace and hope as you look outward and serve others in kindness this week!

I encourage readers to comment on this blog post for the benefit of those that will read this at a later date. Share how service to others has brought you joy, peace and hope.  In fact doing this is a form of service to others in and of itself.

Go to this article for the Great Read of the Week!