“Ruminations, Reflections...”

As we face the start of a brand new year, I keep thinking about the wisdom of a wonderful quote by Abraham Lincoln: “It’s not the years in your life that matter, it’s the life in your years.”

This, in turn, reminds me of a former high school teacher I know who, rushing between classes one day was stopped by a student who asked him in all earnesty, “What is the meaning of life?”  My friend, for once speechless, told the student to meet him after the next period although he had no idea what he would say.  When he saw the boy again, without even thinking he heard himself reply, “To me, the meaning of life is to live a life of meaning.”  I love that story!

But what, exactly, is a life of meaning?  The answer, of course, varies from person to person.  Life holds so many options and choices.  We who are fortunate to be able to pursue our dreams are both grateful and ambivalent about having the luxury to ask ourselves, “What should I do?  How can I be of best service both to myself and others?”

Themes related to the human condition, challenges we face, and transitions we go through – both our uniqueness and interconnectedness – fascinate me.  Perhaps it’s my background as an educator and life coach that’s led me to ponder, both inwardly and with others, philosophical observations and questions about human nature and what motivates us to make the choices we make at all stages of our lives.  We constantly face forks in the road and wonder if we should change course.  Those of us who wish to contribute to society at large may ask ourselves what we want to be remembered for.  “What imprints do I want to leave behind, so that I can feel that my life made some kind of a difference, however small, for the greater good?”

Sometimes it’s planned out – when college students think about choosing a career, when adults decide (or are forced) to change careers, when retirees think about how to fill the next chapter of their lives… even when school children and teens get together in groups to work on projects of community service.  Sometimes it's spontaneous -- those "random acts of kindness" we hear so much about.

Some people find meaning in giving of themselves directly – healing the sick, raising the young, caring for the elderly.  Others find meaning in advocacy or charitable activity – promoting the health of our planet, participating in social and/or political action regarding causes important to them, or even amassing enough material wealth to be able to contribute substantially to philanthropic organizations.  The question for each of us is: “What is MY calling?  Is there a little voice in my head urging me to get involved, to do more?  Is it time to heed that inner voice?”

Not to say that it’s easy to determine what path to follow, what type of mark one wants to make.  But small as each of our individual “legacies” may be, each is important and creates unimaginable ripple effects.  I invite anyone who’d like to explore these topics further to join me in this ongoing and fascinating conversation.  One never knows how the sharing of insights and experiences can lead to greater understanding all around.

In the meantime, I’d like to wish a Happy 2013 to all, and to thank my followers for joining me in my own journey of the past year.  I hope to get to know many more of you in the coming year!

~ Lisa Marian Ames, M.P.S., CPC