It’s easy to get lost in a crowd. What if in the midst of others we actually rediscover purpose and find ourselves?

The story is told of how a recently rehabilitated ex-con, drug addict, and gang member—Jack, a pseudo name—riding a subway points a person presently caught up in gang violence to the same place he received help and a fresh chance at life. Fellow bystanders who observed this transaction nodded in approval and smiled at Jack. In the light of his own painful and abusive childhood at home and community, for Jack this was the first time ever he felt affirmed and acknowledged by anyone, leave alone for doing something good.

This story is significant because it illustrates out how a little love and recognition goes a long way. 

To do, 

Look for an opportunity to offer a smile or nod of affirmation and recognition to someone who might seem as if they are from another world without expecting anything in return. 

Consider,

What often hinders people from doing good is because they have internalized the expectation that nothing good is possible from them and even if it were, it wasn’t going to make a difference to anyone. This is creativity stifled.

Offering recognition and acknowledgement even when it isn’t due or deserved could go a long way to restore a broken social economy and even strengthen existing cultures at work and home. It builds a bridge for trust, which is a mutual and a multi-level/track transaction: person to person, persons and society in general, and persons, society, and creation-at-large (environment). 

A creative ecosystem is rife with possibilities and rich with potential. It only takes a few to start making a difference. When Jack retold the story of his crowded subway experience, he told it with tears in his eyes. In offering direction to a stranger, Jack was living into his purpose. In offering Jack public recognition, the city was living up to its calling.

#MondayMooring