Keeping the Peace

“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.” — Marian Wright Edelman

Accomplishing big achievements and meeting major milestones are events that are worth celebrating. How often have you reached these significant goals in one giant leap? Most of us get there one step at a time. Or at least you start out with some smaller steps. An idea forms in the back of your mind, maybe you spring into action right away or maybe your start is a bit tentative, then as the goal becomes more tangible, you can almost see it and touch it, you know it is within reach and your steps become larger and more confident. But don’t discount the value of those initial small steps. It is these first small steps that lead to great things.

Now let’s take a look at small steps or small actions from another perspective. What about the little things you do for other people? One day a friend of mine was walking down the street in a downtown area. A man stopped him and asked him if he could shine his shoes. He clearly needed money, but he would not accept the money without providing the shoe shine. My friend really did not need a shoe shine and really did not want to take the time for the shine, yet he saw the bigger picture. If he stopped and spared some time and money for the shoe shine, he could help someone in need. For my friend the choice was obvious. He stopped, he was a few minutes late to his meeting and his shoes were extra clean. He asked the man how much he owed him for the shoe shine. The man said whatever you want to pay is fine with me. My friend reached into his wallet and handed the man some money. The man jumped up and hugged my friend. Why? The amount of money exchanged was the exact amount that man needed to be able to pay for an evening at an inexpensive room and board location; it meant a night off the streets, a night in a bed and not on the sidewalk. To my friend it was a small transaction, to the man who shined his shoes it was a sign that his life was turning around.

Some weeks we accomplish big things, some weeks we don’t. Every step you take in the right direction counts, so keep moving forward. All the little things you do count. Whether it is on a work project, a personal project or the assistance you give to family or friends everything YOU do can and does MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

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