STILL TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE !

I can't speak for other octogenarians, but I was brought up in an environment where service to others was important. I think of my mother. During the early years when I was growing up at home I do not remember my mother doing anything other than looking after our household, and all six of us kids. On the other hand, my dad was busy running a business and serving on all kinds of local committees  - the school board, city council and professional organizations. Both parents were models of serving others. There was no doubt in my mind that my mother gave 100% to all of us,  including my father. It was a lesson I learned early in life, and so I too made an effort to do the same, both in my community and on the job.

But now that I am retired these many years I somehow continue to look for some of those same satisfactions. When dozing off to sleep at night the thought sifts through my mind, "What did I accomplish today?" Those that know me, and much of my past, might say you gave enough and you earned the right to sit back and enjoy your life.   I was fortunate enough to have employment that made me feel good at the end of the day. I came home at night knowing someone had been helped in some small way. That met my need for attention, but also meet the requirements of others who had a similar need. A win-win situation. 

Self Evaluation!

But to sit back now and rest on my past does not cut it. I have tried it, and it does not work. For some reason I still need to make a contribution...to something! I don't want to be an Albert Einstein. I would just like to go to bed at night and fall asleep with the realization I did accomplish something of value.

I suppose it might be true to say that many of us have the need to feel important. Some might want to be beautiful and hence, acquire the sense of standing out or noticed by others; we all want to be loved (I hope!) and feel worthwhile. Perhaps, as Carl Jung might say - we just have a need to feel special.

One man who capitalized on this need was Dale Carnegie and his famous book "How to Win Friends and Influence People." He suggested six steps to accomplish this goal, and he had thousands of followers.

I am not sure exactly what Edmond Burk said, but it was something like this. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." But Mr. Burke,  at what point in our life can we sit back and do nothing? It may work for some but not for me...at least not yet!

Enjoy the Super Bowl this week-end.

AND THAT'S  DICK'S VIEW OF THE WORLD THIS WEEK.