It’s my honest opinion that we all want to leave our mark on this world. Some of us may not recognize this urge, but we all want to change something, to alter things, to create something that will last longer than us. Even if it is a scar. Yes, there are plenty out there who just want to inflict pain, because that’s the only thing they can do. Or the only thing they think they can do.
SOURCE: We all want to change the world « Cristian Mihai.
Once again my young Romanian blogging friend got me to thinking on a deeper level and that is a good thing. I think one of my major laments is that what I accomplished in my working life is already on the dust heap of time. Technology has moved generations beyond what I developed so my mark on the world of thirty years in the corporate sphere has already been erased. You might find some of my inventions in museums but that is about all.
I am still holding out hope that I will put at least a small dent during my existence. Who knows where that will come from. From my recently started series here on “Don’t Get Stuck” it might be showing myself as an example of how not to do things. Or maybe it will be at least on occasion will be something that others deem wisdom and take to heart. Wouldn’t that be something from such a simple guy as myself?
Most of us want to leave a mark on the world but some, of which I know one intimately, just want to get by with as little notice as possible. I’m sure that approach makes life easier and maybe even more joyful. Most of us just want to be noticed. Unfortunately there are those who accomplish notoriety by some horrendous act. Many with their gun of choice. Since guns are so freely available to any of us in this country that becomes too frequently the tool of choice. They will go down in history and it probably matters little to them the context of the note.
RJ's Corner 
I am hoping to change it to a more verbal, less fist, world- one child at a time. Right now I am working on my grandchildren 🙂
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Way to go Janette. That reminds me of the quote by Gandhi about doing seemingly little thing. It is the little things compiled together that make the big differences in the world. One child at a time works for me…
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I’m not sure, but I think this desire to leave a big mark on the world is more of a male thing. Women tend to leave their mark in smaller ways. We want to be remembered for what we were to our family, to our community, to our gender, etc…not so much on a grand scale as you men. Janette is doing this as a teacher and an involved grandmother. I have my small family and a couple of community volunteer roles where I think I am valued. Maybe that seems to you as tho we don’t want to be noticed. So be it. We are the quiet strengths in the world and we matter.
So, R.J., I think you underestimate your own impact. I have no doubt you will be remembered as the diligent volunteer at the soup kitchen for example. You will be remembered for your beautiful furniture that will outlast you for sure. You will be remembered as a prolific blogger and “opinionator” on the web. In short….you have changed your corner of the world for the better….what better legacy?
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Thanks again for the beautiful compliments Jane. Maybe you are right, at least to a degree, that we men look on a grander scale for our accomplishments. We want to CHANGE the world. But you and Gandhi probably got it right. That is pretty good company to be in ;).
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P.S. I forgot to add that you do all this as a deaf person. Yet another accomplishment to add to your list! So don’t say you haven’t left a big enough mark on the world, buster! You have.
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I agree with Jane on wanting to leave a mark on the lives of people around me – an accomplishment that I am not always sure is necessarily positive but one that will far outlast “any other thing” that I “accomplished” in my life. And I also agree that your perspective, RJ, has a far wider reach than you realize and you lead many of us to think deeper on issues of wisdom.
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Thanks Mike. It is nice to know that I am appreciated.
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