The Importance of Small Things

This life thing is far more complex then I had imagined it would be as a young idealistic boy. In a way though it is also more simple. Idealism was a flop — it’s not about some pie-in-the-sky idea. Pure pragmatism misses the point, the essence of life — we are not machines.

It turns out that it is the way that we do everything that shapes the character of our souls — who we are, what we are all about, why we do anything. It’s not just about the few important highs and lows in our life that matter, it’s about every little thing that happens, every little thing that we experience and do.

That is something I understood as a child, but then forgot as I grew older and began to acquire the responsibilities of adulthood.

I thought life was about the big questions: What is the meaning of life? Will I ever find true love? Can I save the world? Will I ever be rich and famous?

Turns out all those things aren’t necessarily all that important or interesting. What is more important is this: What can I do for someone today to make their lives better? Can I demonstrate my love through my actions? Can I take care of my own piece of the world to make it better? Can I make money doing something that I love day after day without complaining?