On the wall of my office at home, I have a powerful quote that I took from the Facebook page of someone who’s name escapes me.
I can’t remember why I was following him, and other than this one particular quote, I don’t think he ever said or posted anything that I found particularly valuable or insightful. Yet I wish I could remember who he was, and thank him from the bottom of my heart.
Because that one post has made such a difference to my life.
He was a younger guy, and had been very successful in business, and yet at an age where most people would be trying to make more money and save for the future, he was instead selling his whole business to his partners because he had discovered a truth. The truth was found, as it so often is, after a very deep and profound question.
Which went something like this…
“If I looked back and reflected, and if this was my life’s work, would I be happy with what I have accomplished? Would I feel like the work I did had deep meaning and purpose, and would matter years from now?”
I marveled that someone so young (I think he was in his late 20’s) could have so much wisdom, and so much courage, that he would give up something that he had worked so hard to build, so that he could go and do something that felt to him more meaningful. And yet as I sit here, writing the pieces of whatever this work is becoming, I can understand exactly why he did what he did.
Because in the end, doing something that you feel is meaningful is the greatest work you will ever do.
As I close in on 600 individual pieces of this journey, I marvel at the fact that so many of you have been kind enough to share your thoughts about how this work has touched you, and helped you. I won’t lie and say that this is easy, or that I know exactly what I’m doing (spoiler alert – I really don’t yet), and yet I do it because this is how I find meaning.
Because you mean so much to me.
Chances are I don’t know you personally, and yet to me, you are sacred. I've lived long enough, and seen more than enough, to know that the only truly sacred thing on this earth is the consciousness inside of each of you. Human beings are the most profound, frustrating, wonderful, challenging and ultimately divine beings I have ever seen.
And to have the chance to connect with any one of you is a joy, a privilege and a blessing.
I once heard the Indian greeting of ‘Namaste’ described as ‘the light in me bows to the light in you’, and the older (and hopefully wiser) that I get, the more I come to understand that interpretation. One of my favorite quotes from all of literature is the simplest declaration of the sacredness of every person on this planet. “Sin is when you start to treat people as objects”.
How I wish you could see you as I see you.
I get that you may feel broken, or a failure, or not good enough. I’ve been there, and still struggle not to stay there sometimes. But the truth that I have come to understand is that to stand in the presence of anyone is to be in the presence of the divine.
Whatever you feel like you have done, or said, please, please, please know that you are sacred.
A person who was touched by this work and a conversation we had about 3 years ago, reached out recently to thank me. She told me that the knowledge that I believed in her had carried her through some dark times, and that she had found a way through her darkness and was doing better than she had ever done. She thanked me, and yet I don’t think she understands how deeply I want to thank her.
Because in allowing me to help her in some small way, she showed me my path to find meaning.
Whoever you are, reading this work, I want you to know that you have my respect, my admiration and my belief. As a person you might have flaws, but as a human being you are sacred.
And you are very special to me.
May you find peace and joy on your journey.
Always.
— Dr. Alan Barnes
@maddrbmusings