Not to make millions, but to make millions make it

"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

~ Robert F. Kennedy, an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil-rights activist.

Once upon a time, there was a wise man. He used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?" The young man paused, looked up, and replied: Throwing starfish into the ocean. "I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man. To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die." Upon hearing this, the wise man commented: "But, young man, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!" At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

Life, for some, is about making millions, in terms of money, and nothing else. "Would that I had: O for a million!" is their daily prayer. If they occupy their waking hours, making millions, and more millions; they spend their sleeping hours dreaming of the accumulation of millions, and millions more. The manner of such making, is a different subject altogether.

However, life is not about making millions. It is more about making the millions, the millions of people the world over trying to make it to the next day, make it: at times, even to the next moment. The purpose of life is not just happiness for thy self. Solitary enjoyment, delight, and pleasure, becomes boring with time. Sustainable happiness is found in being useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference to someone - even just one, if it is the limit and extent of your capacity, your capability. It is then that you have lived and lived well. One is not born into the world to do everything, but to do something that is within one's ability. "It is the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there will be any fruit. But, that does not mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result" said Mahatma Gandhi.

Never forget that you are one of a kind. Never forget that if there were not any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you would not be here in the first place. And never forget, no matter how overwhelming life's challenges and problems seem to be, that one person can make a difference in the world. In fact, it is always because of one person that all the changes that matter in the world come about. So be that one person. I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do something I can do; ought to be the belief of, every person who wants to make life worthy. Let me quote William Arthur Ward, author of Fountains of Faith, and one of America's most quoted writers of inspirational maxims: "Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work." If we practice this advice, then, in a gentle way, we can shake the world. The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better for your brethren. In that way, you make life worthier for your self. "No work is insignificant. All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence" said Martin Luther King Jr., an American clergyman, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement.

Happiness, per se, is good, but well overrated. A man drifts along with little to contribute until something agitates him enough to make a difference, whether for himself or for his communities. To create passion for something of great significance or for that matter of minor importance in this world is vital for everyone. However, it does not make sense for others to direct your altruistic activities. In other words, do not go by the arousal of pity drummed up by external elements.

They may have their own agendas to awaken your pity, and gain by it by making you the scapegoat of their diabolical scheming. In any case, Pity: the feeling of grief or pain awakened by the weakness, misfortunes, or sorrows of others; in its embrace, strangles respect; and is, twined with disgust, even if joined with a desire to help or relieve. Rather than acting out of pity, incited by others; be compassionate on your own. Compassion, like pity, is exercised only with respect to the suffering and the unfortunate. However,

it combines with the tenderness of pity, the dignity of sympathy and the active quality of mercy. Thus, even to help make others make it, one needs, wisdom not to fall prey to the manipulations of others in the arousal of pity. Be compassionate, do not pity, if one is convinced of the need to help.

I am fond of this quote by the Buddha. I have used it before, but never tire of repeating. "A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity." The quest for wealth is only a tiny aspect of our lives, nevertheless important; but it never assures happiness; helping the needy, does.

Hence, life is not to make millions, but to make millions make it, even if you start with one of a million. People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be, forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and your conscience.

See you this day next week. Until then, keep thinking; keep laughing. Life is mostly about these two activities.

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