small

Sometimes being a hero to the smallest person is better than being a hero to a thousand "big" people.

MQ

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.
Helen Keller

Life is not easy. There are times you can lose track of the bigger picture: who you are, what you stand for, what you believe in. When the earth shifts, it's easy to lose your balance. We all have moments like these, moments where we feel a bit foreign, even to ourselves. In such times it's often critical to have a good friend or family member who will not judge, but merely remind you of the value you bring to this world, of the unique something that you add to it.

It often troubles me to think that there are people out there who do not have this social fabric to keep their hearts warm when it gets cold outside. Because regardless of whether or not they have this recognition, it does not change the fact that we all add that little something extra to the world. Recognized or not, the beacon of humanity still loses something when one of it's lights grows dim, or falls out.

MQ, you called me to tell me you were considering suicide. I know only a small part of how difficult things have been for you, I see a great deal more in your face. I hope you feel better after chatting today. And however unlikely, I hope that, some day, you stumble upon this tiny, unknown blog post of mine. I hope you see what a difference you have made in just one person's life. If nothing else, I want you to know how my life might turn out without you in it, if I tried to do what you do. Just consider ten small things...

1. I would not be witness to the incredible pride of workmanship you demonstrate every day.
2. I would have no idea what's it's like to have more brothers than the population of China.
   
3. I would smash more innocent fingers under the face of my hammer.
4. I would curse at more things I don't understand how to fix, but try to anyway.
5. I would scare off considerably more children with the kind of frustrated expressions that comes from me breaking the very things I am trying to repair.
6. I would have no one to steal interior design ideas from.
   
7. I would have no one to translate what an increasing number of these applicants are try to say to me.
   
8. I would do all the work myself and have less time to spend with close family and friends.
9. I would be so busy doing what I don't enjoy, I might miss out discovering what I really do.
10. I would have no one who appreciates the value of Boston Market after a long day on the job.

There are countless things you do, that I and countless others, will never comprehend. Skills and abilities that are a mystery to everyone but you. They are your gift. You can keep your gift to yourself or share it with the world. Your choice. I hope some day you understand this. If you can have this great an impact on someone at your lowest point, how great an impact can you have on this world at your best?

Just find it, friend.

irony 1

There's something terribly ironic about calling the phone company and getting a busy signal.

Reframe

Two things,

1. The impossible is often seductive.
2. We cannot be great at everything.

In life, each of us encounter difficult circumstances that we let become monsters within our mind. They start small and grow big. They are often the result of our ego or pride getting in the way of our reality. We know we cannot be great at everything, yet we push on ahead anyway.

On the other hand, there is something terribly seductive about tackling the impossible. It is not enough to be simply difficult. The impossible is something different. It tests our limits. It pushes us beyond our comfort zone. In hindsight we often see that the process of tackling the impossible was the true reward.

How do we resolve this?

The answer, of course, is simple. Steven Covey calls it thinking win-win. Others simply say, give enough other people what they want and you can have anything you want.

The reality is that some things other people can do much better than I. If that's the case, perhaps my very difficult thing is difficult for other people too. Perhaps this a very good thing. For in difficult, lies opportunity. So perhaps this very difficult thing could make another person very successful in his/her own right - if he/she could solve the need. Perhaps that is worth my time to pursue. Because, perhaps, by first helping someone else, I am also free myself up to do other things I am good at, better, and more often.

This is more than just between me and you. Our perspectives define our reality. Now, more than ever, we live in a world increasingly connected. There is no better time to collaborate with others to solve local and global issues. In this age, I believe we need to encourage greater creativity in our choices. We need more and better solutions to challenges that arise. We need not take the easy path and fall back on defaults.

In challenge... in difficulty... in the impossible... lie infinite opportunities.

Question. Reframe. Resolve.