For many of us we live in a privileged world – I know oftentimes it seems like we don’t but rest assured, no matter what problems challenges or disasters have befallen you, your family or friends there is someone, somewhere who is worse off.
You could be driven by rankings and where you appear with this recent listing making for some sobering reading
This chart depressingly ranks everyone (even you) by wealth, and it's a snapshot of inequality #economics https://t.co/exMKpn4H6C
— Nick van Terheyden, MD – "Dr Nick" (@drnic1) October 15, 2019
But the better option is focusing on what is good in your life and finding ways to contribute to others. That can seem hard to reconcile when tragedy strikes but I have always found it the path to happier acceptance. As a young junior doctor, I faced death every day as patients would die despite our best efforts, some as part of the great circle of life and others at an unexpected point in time when everyone was least expecting it. They were young, old and everywhere in between and each muted me extinguishing my personal fire inside my belly that kept me going. As someone described to me the pain of death and grief with this visual
On the left side of the box is a red “button” that activates the grief and can hit you at any time (Lauren Herschel tweet). I found solace and lighting of my fire with volunteer work for a charity that would take sick and terminally ill children on a trip of a lifetime to Disney. I’d come back crushed but renewed by the experience and the humbling interactions I had with terminal children whose wisdom remains with me to this day. These days I find myself making small donations to panhandlers around my area on a regular basis as my small incremental step to reconcile my privilege and fortune with those that surround me with less. The simple act of giving always helps me center myself and maybe shrinks the ball a little more in the box above and you can find your path to a smaller ball too.
Students Helping Honduras
Both my daughters have worked for the Students Helping Honduras charity set up to build schools in Honduras – the second poorest country in the world. The premise is simple – provide schools and an opportunity for education for the children in villages and you open the future to them. This year, my youngest is going on the annual trip in January – her third year attending. She managed to raise over a thousand dollars that contributes to the construction cost of building the school with her regular fundraisers in Washington DC selling donuts to commuters coming out of Metro stations, social events and auctions. But she needs to raise money for her own trip and as I do every year I make a one time request for sponsors to help her fund the trip. You can find the donation page here
Last Years Trip Volunteers
So many family and friends have helped over the last 8 years with small and large contributions – each and everyone gratefully received and offering not just a path to helping young children to find an education but helping those who volunteer to re-light their inner fire and bring this back to our world here.
If you can dontae and help out thank you
No matter your personal circumstance I would remind you of these words from Albert Schweitzer:
At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us
Albert Schweitzer
Which I posted recently in my daily attempt to find positive starts to each and every day.
At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us#MondayMotivation #mondaythoughts #quote
Albert Schweitzer pic.twitter.com/SAWCUxwEvR— Nick van Terheyden, MD – "Dr Nick" (@drnic1) October 14, 2019
