Personal Pride

Sit down and think about life. It seems that we are nothing but a statistic in this brave new world of ours. Back in the day, people were classified by their profession; hunter, gatherer, blacksmith, and so on. Today, we are defined by our hobbies. Instead of being known as the hunter who brings home dinner every night, we are now defined by what we do for pleasure. It seems that our lives are so boring that we must be defined by only the things that bring us pleasure. For example, a close friend of mine is known for being a reader and a writer. Both hobbies that don't help others; they simply bring him pleasure. Another friend is known for being good at and taking pride in his golf game. Another loves to go fishing. Another sells drugs, and another is an avid sports fan. What I am getting at is that society today is drastically different than it was in the time of the Native American Indians.

On another, less depressing level, we are not just bricks in the wall, but rather we affect the entire environment around us in big ways. If not for our personal existence, this world would not be the same. Although it may be hard to see at times, we affect every single person we see. Simply saying hello to people as we pass by them on the street can make such a large impact on their life. When somebody hears an insipiring story, that person may go on to do something positive not only for himself, but also for others. I recently went on a roadtrip with a good friend for two weeks and I can say that some of the stories I heard from people we met in bars or in national parks were quite inspiring. It is obvious that the deicisions that those around us make create an impact on our lives. Which brings me to the point of this whole post: Although at times our lives may seem small and worthless, we will always have a place in this world among those whose lives we directly, or indirectly affect, whether we know it or not.