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Quote of the Day: Make Your Life Matter
“Our obligation is to give meaning to life and in doing so to overcome the passive, indifferent life.” — Elie Wiesel
Elie Wiesel, the brilliant writer and survivor of the Nazi concentration camps, never lost his will to fight for truth. In part, he wrote to inspire people to embrace their lives, since he knew only too well how short and fragile life could be.
In these times, it’s easy to simply drift through life. If you are given everything, first by parents, then by the state, what’s the point in acknowledging trite phrases like “the meaning of life?” But in fact, life calls us to be engaged, to build relationships, to lead the moral life, to help others. Each of us, through our jobs and families, can strive to make a valuable contribution, whether it’s in bringing our expertise, or exuding pride in our work, or simply being a reliable co-worker. For those of us who have retired, we have the chance to make a difference in the lives of those whom we meet or spend time with, whether it’s smiling at the clerk at the grocery store, being a sympathetic ear to a friend, or something as simple as making a favorite meal for a loved one.
The key to living a meaningful life is that when life seems ordinary and routine, step back and look around. See those folks around you? Any one of them might need your help, your acknowledgment, your smile.
Don’t let that moment pass by.
Published in Religion & Philosophy
I’m just here as a bad example to others.
You always crack me up, @arahant, and I will proclaim to everyone on Rico that you are one of the best men I know. Your compassion, intellect, spirit and wisdom go a long way to making other people’s lives better. Mine included. Thank you.
Just don’t tell @spin.
See, you’ve drawn attention to the comment, and thus caused me to see it, which you clearly did not want. You’ve been too clever by half, as the saying goes.
Exactly. A bad example. Doing what shouldn’t be done. Totally to derail the thread, I saw a guy who looked a lot like you in a Thai restaurant last night.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program. Proceed.
You gotta get out more, Susan.
@percival and @rodin, I’m trying to have a serious post here and you guys keep making me laugh! Okay, deep breath, serious face . . .
That was your first mistake.
@arahant: Doing the jobs the rest of Ricochet just won’t do.
Excellent, and serious post, @susanquinn. I think the paragraph above is the key.
Thanks, @she. At least someone is willing to take me seriously! ;-)
Actually I love the kidding around, and it connects beautifully with this post. Spreading joy and laughter, being playful and silly, are ways to give our lives meaning and help others.
Arahant, there is a really good song, “Bad Example” (by the Pistol Annies), that is a wry version of what you wrote. I wish you would look it up and listen to it.
Nice intro. I’m still listening.
Edited to add: Yep, that’s a right feisty little song, Kent.
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Got it. Back in 2013, I did this post on my personal blog over at RushBabe49.com.
Making a Difference Every Day
Beautifully written, @rushbabe49.
Hey, that’s a pretty nice quote of the day in itself! Can an explanation of the QOTD be a better quote than the QOTD? LOL.
Of course, this might become an endless self-reference paradox.
How sweet! Thanks, @manny.