Day 30
I … ever notice how often you say the word I in a day? I use it a LOT in these posts … of course, it’s kind of hard not to cuz I’m writing about ME!
I (there I go again) was watching, a few weeks back on some Saturday while doing house-stuff, The Princess Diaries movie. (Yeah, I know – not exactly the History Channel or National Geo but hey – it was nice and entertaining and it made me smile … and want to go to Europe!) And oddly enough Anne Hathaway’s character (Her Royal Highness, Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Crown Princess of Genovia) made a speech about being self-centered and egocentric and all things selfish … and that instead of spending her time and energy on thinking about herself, she should think of others. Nicely put, Princess.
Made me think.
And it brought back to mind a website (www.makesmethink.com) that a friend had told me about and it was one of those “aha moments” when you realize – AGAIN – that life just isn’t about YOU.
So, here I am talking about myself (again): id (self-gratification/impulses), ego (self identity, the realist) and superego (the contradiction of id, the moral babysitter of one’s self, the socially appropriate one) and well, all things me, myself and I! Thanks tons Sigmund.
And again … it made me think … what if I did one thing every day that wasn’t about ME? What if I did something selfless? Something for someone else? Every day?
And, in saying this, I’m not saying I don’t already do these things but maybe I need to be more conscious about them and do them more often. It’s not about the huge gestures but the small things. All those random acts of kindness that make such a huge impact on someone else’s day and life.
Like the story about the starfish … (original story by Loren Eisley).
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?” The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference.”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”
So, I’m going to, metaphorically, throw some starfish back into the ocean. Do something every day that doesn’t revolve around me … whether it’s letting someone go ahead of me in line, or using less gas, or sending a note to a friend, or complimenting someone … or whatever. One selfless act every day.
I know it’ll make someone else feel better … and it’ll make me feel better. And, oh rats, full-circle, here I am back to me, myself and I!