What are the two most important days of your life?
The Two Most Important Days?
Mark Twain tells us that the two most important days in life are the day we were born and the day we find out why! I have an anniversary of the day I was born fast approaching. But I’m afraid that 53 years away from the first important date, I’m still waiting for the second important day to happen.
I’m not sure there is that one defining day when you find out the reason that you were born. I certainly can’t think of one.
When I think back to my Catechism classes, I remember the answer that we young Catholics learnt in response to : Why did God make you? God made me to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this life and to be happy with Him in the next. I can honestly say that I’ve tried to live out this belief that I learned in childhood.
How Am I Called To Serve?
The puzzling question always for me is how am I being called to serve? Sometimes, I would imagine that it’s some big achievement or the creation of a lasting institution. But somewhere down the line I’ve realized that it is not that for me.
If there’s one thing I am called to be is a wounded healer – a person who despite all my brokenness is called to listen to others and help them find their way in the world. I’ve had some success and failure with that. But I know that many people tell me they feel understood when they share with me. The challenge for me is to not attempt to rescue people and listen and understand without needing to find solutions for them. I need to allow people to find their own way – that is true empowerment.
The other thing I know I am called to do is to write from my heart. If my writing can help even one person understand herself better, I know I have my reason to be.
Are you clear about the reason why you were born?
I’ll leave with you something I really love (often wrongly attributed to Emerson) – a definition for success that I’ve tried to live by:
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
#FridayReflections
Friday Reflections is a link up hosted by Shalini at KohlEyed Me and me, Corinne at Everyday Gyaan. We invite you to join us every Friday to share a good cup of tea and your reflections.
Here’s how #FridayReflections works :
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Prompts for 3 August 2018
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- Do you have quirky or interesting relatives on your family tree? Describe one or two of them. (via The Write Shop)
- “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”Mark Twain
- Photo prompt via Pixabay
Like you, I hope that my writing inspires someone to do better, learn more, take the next step, etc. In a way, it’s a replacement for my previous career as a manager. I used to coach Reps and Supervisors to further their results and in a way, I continue to do that as a blogger.
Now this writing is not only therapeutic, inspiring and empowers the mind. The reason we are born and the reason for writing that makes your USP as a healer giving power to your readers. A superb post to read on self and the identity as a person.
Hey Corinne we seem to be sailing in the same boat although following different journeys. I too wonder about my place in the world, my reason for existing and then reach out for that chocolate and feel better. You are doing a lot though you may not know it: touching lives of strangers in the blogosphere and beyond. You do make a difference to so many strangers, offering them the comfort and wisdom of your words. Your Sunday School teacher will definitely be proud of you.
I liked your thoughts on this…esp the ending verse. My take is a little different, and maybe a whole lot hopeful for the ones who haven’t yet discovered what they were born to do! 😀
The poem about the definition of success is great and I completely agree with this. Personally, I never thought why I am born but as poem said, if I can make a kid happy or make someone smile, I am successful. Since I am teaching dance now, If I can teach my students well and let them perform and get appreciation, I am successful.
Isn’t the path to the destination meant for enjoying? I believe in this and so I go ahead, a day at a time, enjoying that shows up to me and crying at times as to why and then again getting back to normal pace. I used to wonder about the purpose of my life. This purpose seems to be hiding somewhere and I am the “den” or “it”, searching for it!
Its been long thus that I have stopped finding it out. And if it still haunts me, I assure myself that God has created me with one sole purpose, enjoy life! Let the purpose find me. Role reversal is not that bad, isnt it?
Corinne thanks for sharing the definition of “success”. I read and re-read it! Every time I read it, I found a new dimension to it.
Knowing what you have been born for is so wonderful and empowering. I like that you touch so many lives with your kind and generous heart and meaningful writing, Corinne. I am so glad that our paths crossed. ♥
I’m successful and I didn’t even know! I love that quote at the end.
I am not sure about having one defining day either. I find questioning why a lot keeps me stuck in rumination.
Great post and prompt.
Late.y I find myself tussling with this question too Corinne and am so glad inr ad this post. The being phrase has given me so much strength and I am using it to not only look anew at myself but also people closest to me.
I have often wondered why I was born but don’t quite know. Maybe it’s the search to find out why I’m here, rather than the sudden realization of it, that is the answer. Perhaps I will find it when I am experiencing the beauty of life. It could come to me, without my even inviting it in.
I found my purpose for existence after I started writing. Sometimes I wonder why it took me so long to discover this but I’m glad it happened at 36 and not much later.
Interesting definition of success.I agree with this.Happy birthday Corinne I think you are right about gour super power.