This picture is of my son when he was 4....reminds me to lighten up!
How will I be a contribution today? What a though provoking question and I love it! After reading Chapter 4 of this book on Being a Contribution I understand why I think the way I do. Somedays I feel like this author did at the dinner table each evening with his family. What did I do today? What did I accomplish today? Somedays it feels as if I accomplished nothing. However, when I think about it as How will I be a contribution today, it brings up so many ideas. How did I contribute to my family, my work, my school, my community.....
Rule #6 is a rule that we all should live by! Having a sense of humor in life is so important. Life can be so serious most of the time and things can get depressing, sad, especially in today's society where unemployment is at it;s highest and the economy is in a sad sad shape. It is so important to remember to lighten up sometimes and have a sense of humor. This chapter came at a perfect time for me and reminded me to lighten up and not to sweat the small stuff!
I love the picture of your son! It completely illustrates the points in the book about not taking things so seriously and lightening up. I too struggle some days with knowing if I’ve contributed to society, to other people, and sometimes to myself. Like you said, I think being able to let loose and not sweat the small stuff through Rule Number 6 can help us open our eyes to how much we’ve truly contributed. I know deep down that the quantity and quality of my contributions are more than I play off, it’s just allowing myself (ourselves) the recognition that’s difficult. I think having dialogue at the dinner table about accomplishments made during the day is a great idea. Not having any kids in my house, I’m curious how different the responses would be between the children and the adults of a household. That just gave me an idea! I think incorporating some kind of journal at the end of the school day listing 1-2 contributions/accomplishments could help students build their self-esteem and innate motivations to learn!
ReplyDeleteHi, Amanda. Wouldn't it be great if the expression on your son's face could be the way we respond to "the small stuff" that comes our way in life..? You're right when you say that life is serious and that it can be quite easy for us to become depressed about what's going on in the world or in our personal lives (which is quite relevant to our next reading in Zanders' chapters 7-9). Many times we can surmount our present circumstances if we had a good dose of laughter! It promotes a healthy heart and heals like medicine (Prov.17:22)
ReplyDeleteAmanda,
ReplyDeleteI used the photo of your son on my blog post. I couldn't resist! I hope you don't mind...He's adorable even when he makes faces! (How old is he now, by the way?)
It's such an important unasked question: how will I be a contribution today? I guess that means that we have to have a relationship with those around us and not just go through the motions. All of which balances nicely with the notion of not taking ourselves too seriously (a la your wonder image of your son pulling a weird face). :-)
ReplyDeleteJust saw this Natalie! He's 6 now :) Such a character!
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