When we look at others who have accomplished more than we have so far, it is easy to feel bad about ourselves.
We compare ourselves and see what we haven’t done while this other person has achieved monetary success, reputation and recognition.
Yet somehow, when we meet someone who has achieved much less than us, we don’t compare ourselves and say “Look how much I have done compared to them.”
Yes, many people have achieved a lot even late in life, though there seems to be something we are missing. Something very important.
When we look at what we have done with our lives as compared to someone else, what we don’t see is how we have affected the lives of dozens, hundreds or even thousands of people in small yet profound ways.
Do we know the effect of that one kind word or smile on that person’s life? Do we know the impact of that small bit of positive energy we sent someone’s way?
Perhaps it might serve us better to consider that we have made ripples in an enormous pond, and that we truly will never know what effect that has had on the world.
Accomplishment is not about the accumulation of wealth or fame, but about the energy we spread around us…
