"It's not the getting.... It's the GIVING!"


In the later evening on Friday, when the day had already become Saturday by a few hours, I, as usual lately, was still awake.... by choice. As I was awake, I decided to put in a movie, sit down, and watch a good story unfold before me. I enjoy good movies. My selection of choice -- "Patch Adams" starring Robin Williams.

Watching the film though, got me to thinking again on a line of thought that has crossed my mind often, saddening me in the process. Our society these days is so much about getting this, getting that, gaining this for ourselves, or going out of the way to have the best of that. We seek money. Power. Notoriety. Fame.... But where's the giving. We always want, want want. When was the last time you let your competetor have that promotion. When was the last time you sought hapiness while choosing to give up that powerful new status in life. When was the last time you stopped to help that guy with the stalled car along the side of the road? Most of us probably can't recall that time.

But watching "Patch Adams" only reinforced that thought. It is indeed better to give than to recieve. Happiness is better shared. Laughter is the best medicine for any ailment. Joy grows with the sharing. It expands and multiplies when we stoop from our high pedestal to the level of others less fortunate and choose to stay there. Hey, let's face it, we're all human, and we all started out at the same place -- a hospital bed, in the arms of our mothers, unfamiliar with this world outside of our mother's womb. How then are we any better than the person next to us?

Some of us have since risen to greatness. Others have chosen simple lives. Still others have been less fortunate. So, why is it that when we rise to greatness -- in any capacity -- power, wealth, or presitige becomes more of a friend than our own fellow human being? Patch Adams (yes this movie was based upon a true story), decided to help others at the risk of his own skin. He faced struggles. He triumphed because helping others was something he believed in, and so others learned to believe in him.

You can grab power, and step on others to do so, but trust me, you'll be lonely at the top. I will be one of those less likely to be your friend, and honestly, I could care less about you and your need for power. I can find other friends among those willing to give of themselves. And, as much as I hate to say it, I'll probably end up with a greater base of friends than you. Power is not a loyal friend. A loyal friend can only be found among those you willingly give of yourselves, just because they want to.

I am always frustrated with politics, high-level business positions, careers of power, influence, and prestige. Most people in those fields love giving the orders. They also tend to be married to their work, at the expense of family and friends....

You know, since I am a Star Trek fan, an episode of the Voyager series comes to mind as an example. It's one of my favorite episodes too....

... A man discovers a way to alter time, and sets his efforts to correcting the things that, in his mind, went wrong in the past. He seeks to expand and grow his species territorial boundries, when in reality, they are small and peaceful, and not in need of change for the better. Possibilties however, exist for greater power, wealth, and dominance over enemies. So, this man begins to change time around him, seeing relative success. However, he also becomes so engrossed in his efforts that he alienates his wife and family. He shuts them out of his life, seeking to right what never went wrong. ....

Then, one of his efforts to grow his species' empire, results in the death of his family he was begining to forget. He realizes what he lost, but too late. He becomes obcessed no longer with the power or the greatness, but rather, reclaiming the family he had ignored. But, despite his years of calculating the perfect remedy, the past can never be fully corrected. He lives out the rest of his life, coming so close to fixing where he chose wrong, but always failing in his attempts.

Now, what would have happened, had he not decided to seek that greatness? Odds are, his life would be simple, spent among those he knew. He would be happy, in a home with his wife and children. His original discovery would remain undiscovered, and his simple life of giving would have enriched both himself and those around him.

Live a little.... Choose to be simple. There's nothing wrong with it; success does still come to the simple of mind and heart. Be willing to love. Share. Learn to trust others. And most of all, remember, it's in the GIVING, not the getting that true happiness and contentment are found. Power is enticing, but love and family, are rare. Seek them out. The sweeter success will follow.

Too bad only a small minority in the world realize this.

Your always-thinking blogger friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 6:17 AM  I   I  0 comments