I recently had a conversation with a peer who is exceptional. She is so full of talent, joy, brilliant ideas, love for her community, passion for her family, commitment to God… I can’t say enough about her. We have known each other for nearly twenty years. We were talking about all the feel-good, pump you up, inspire you sites, groups and events that are popping up. The question was whether or not I feel it is, or will be, a ‘saturated market’ in the coming years. The timing of her question was funny, as I am launching a live event tour this summer, a brand new organization for women and have just registered for BSchool with Marie Forleo {follow her and tell me you don’t want to do/be/think more}.
Here’s my thoughts on this question…
I believe we are all created with a variety of gifts that we are meant to share. The list of what those are is endless. As a mother, I struggle with the world we live in and the images that surround our children. There is so much ugliness, danger, impending threat, and what feels like a huge delta between the good, generous, valuable, compassionate activity that also happens daily around this big ole world. There’s a rapidly growing culture of voyeurism that is focused on a prism of outrageous, unhealthy and negative behavior. People fight over everything. And anything. The sense of community that so many of us were blessed with as children is largely absent. We live in an era where baking a pie for a new neighbor is met with skepticism and fear. We criticise each other for everything. We’re too fat. We’re too thin. We’re too involved. We’re not involved enough. We try too hard. We don’t do enough. We’re ignorant. We’re smarty pants. Too pretty. Not pretty enough. Too ambitious. Lazy. You’re an opportunist. You’re missing the boat. It’s ridiculous. SO, enter the people who have decided that it is going to take more than Mother Theresa, Oprah and Ghandi to save the world. To each of you, I say “Thank You!” Thank you for believing in the goodness in each of us. Thank you for investing your time, energy and gifts to better your community. Thank you for being brave enough to put it all out there and be vulnerable, knowing that there will be critics and naysayers. For those who do what you can, with what you have, to make this a better place to live, love and thrive. It is because of the pioneers of this movement of faith and goodness that this new generation has a foundation to build on. In what feels like a morally corrupt world, these people are choosing the be a beacon for those who also believe in a better way of everything. Can it be a ‘saturated market’, this “help anyone you can, teach what you know, share what you believe” movement? God do I hope so! Of all things to be a part of. Of all the networking groups, marketing efforts, social media push(s), let’s let the big, positive, kind, gracious wave of doing our part to help others be the thing!
For those of you who are numbers people, those who doubt the viability of the business of helping others, here’s a number for you: 7 billion and counting. Every single person is a potential client, student, partner. Until this world is free of hate, self-doubt, neighbors shooting neighbors, children being sold into the sex trade, 1 in 4 children isn’t starving in the richest nation in the world, every human on the planet has access to fresh water, small farmers prevail and return to being the most valuable speaker on the hill, every person is paid/treated/loved equally, bullying is eradicated, media driven negativity is replaced with positive showcasing, small businesses can stay alive and/or get off the ground because they have access to the information they need, people know their neighbors and treat them with care, children can go to school, play on the playgrounds and go to a movie without fear of being shot, kidnapped, raped or buried alive, parents don’t feel so desperate that they take their lives after taking their family’s…. until this world is safe and healthy and can operate from a place of goodness {for the most part!}, there is a space for anyone to shine their light and lend their hand. Let’s all be in the business of being | doing | giving more.
Tags: a Beautiful life, authenticity, Good Life, lifestyle advice, Opportunity, soul food
