The Forgotten Stories Of Many
“The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” —William James
There are certain names that when mentioned, strikes a chord in our minds because we have heard of them one too many times. Though they died decades or even centuries ago, their great accomplishments still resound in our minds till date. From Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo, Nicolai Tesla, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Albert Einstein, Mother Theresa etc. The stories of these people have been retold, documented, filmed, and even archived. For example – Martin Luther King Jr. was a human rights activist who dedicated his life to fight injustice against the black man in America. He was a selfless man who could have lived a quiet life with his family, but he chose to stand for the millions of people in his country and the world at large. His story was of a man who was resilient, unafraid, and influential. His speech – “I have a dream” which was given several decades ago till date still resounds in our minds and hearts. Interestingly, he was not the only black man that was born in USA on January 15, 1929. I bet several other able-bodied men were born, but their stories never went beyond their community.
We will all die someday, and the question is what will you be known for when you are gone? You do not have to be a celebrity to influence people or change the world. The fact that you are on earth means you have a purpose, and your job is to find it. How do you find your purpose and leave your mark in this world?
- BE YOURSELF: You can only make a difference in the world if you are true to yourself, and you know who you are. You do not need to be the smartest person in the room, or the most handsome or the most beautiful person, you just need to be you! Do not try to be like anyone else. Look within, find your gift and your talent, and figure out what you can do with it.
- BE READY TO SERVE: You need to be willing to rather serve than be served. You should ask people how you can be of help to them, instead of asking how they can help you. There is no better way to leave a mark than rendering acts of service to anyone who is in need.
- HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE: You must have a thankful heart. Every day is a gift. There will be bad times, but there is always something to be grateful for. Look around you! Spread love and happiness, even when you do not feel like it. Your energy plays a huge role in the world.
- BE PASSIONATE: Find something you believe in and be passionate about it. Only when you are doing something you genuinely enjoy; will you be able to stand your ground and be determined to make a difference. Whether you are receiving benefits should not matter. It is not about being seen; it is about your little contribution making a huge difference.
As Barack Obama once said “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”. Your role models have influenced you one way or the other, now what are willing to leave behind for future generations? How will you be remembered when you are gone?
Xo.