If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, “Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” : Martin Luther King

There’s something precious and unique about each and everyone of us. We are all worthy human beings; we are all smart and capable of achieving many inspiring and wonderful acts. You came here to perform a very important role, and who you are matters.

The world needs all of us, so let’s have a look at what  we have said over the generations about living a  life that matters:

1. Looking for someone else to provide this within you heart will not work if you are not there as well.

2. Jon Freeman studies split second social perception – how we use facial cues to categorize other people into social groups and perceive their personality traits and emotion. This makes is so important that we have a  healthy self image as in these days of this style of perception we don’t get much time from others: You matter to Me.

3. Remember, it’s not what people say, it’s in their actions.

4. In the end it’s what you think about yourself that counts. What others thinks is their personal perception: Perfect.

5. We don’t tend to remember the church or the valley we walked through, It’s the people we were with that counts.

 

6. My friend Emeli rescued a woman from an abusive situation because she cared, she met her on the side of the road when she had given up. Where in you life have you done something similar by caring, giving a shit: Chasing Cars.

7. Giving for giving sake, what would you do in life that you don’t need to be paid for.

8. If we only remembered these deep lessons we read in the books of our younger years. Dr Seuss provided one here: Need you Now.

9. The way through those experiences is not to wish they would go away, It is to enter them and accept they happened and have the control they have over you lessen.

10. When you get up in the morning, look in the mirror and say, I’m allowed and I matter: Welcome Back.

11. Another piece to this puzzle is why are you who you are, what do you jump out of bed in the morning for. If you get a chance watch Simon Sinek’s brilliant TED talk on the subject of Why.

12. Over our lives people move in and out of them, don’t stay too long if you are no longer a match: Time to Leave.

13. William James was one of the leading thinkers of the late nineteenth century and is believed by many to be one of the most influential philosophers the United States has ever produced, while others have labeled him the “Father of American psychology”.

14. Simple Acts of Kindness: Good People.

15. And a final message from the lorax – care a whole awful lot, you matter.

We all have something to contribute to life. If we cling to our fears and doubts our part of the puzzle will never be complete. Remember look in the mirror – I’m Allowed and what I do matters.

The Music – Bruno Mars doing a kids song, Jack Johnson classic Good People and a Pink number.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.