Today, Tomorrow, 50 Years From Now
Published on January 16, 2015
What you do matters. Trying to put our lives into perspective is tricky business. I think one of the aspects of how we view ourselves is that we see our lives as just our lives. There is so much more to it than just that. Truth is we all live in a village. We are in effect the village and what we do and what we don't do impacts others in ways we often are not aware. There was a date that will forever be imprinted on my mind and the minds of millions around the world. 50 years ago I was the only student in grade 4 in a one-room school house in the country. That morning my mother walked the ¼ of a mile or so to come and tell our teacher President Kennedy had been shot. We sat in school all day listening to the events unfold on the radio. The voice of Walter Cronkite cracked as he delivered the infamous words. "At 3 minutes after 1 o'clock, President Kennedy has died". Everyone cried. Everyone sat in silent disbelief. We were all exposed to sadness and tragedy and perhaps the first 24/7 news cycle ramming tragedy into our very souls. It has often been said that it was the end of Camelot. There is a new book out called "If Kennedy had lived". The possible implications are staggering. If he had not been shot that day there is a better than average chance there would have been no war in Vietnam. With no war there would not have been the uprising of youth and the counter-culture and violence and excess drug use in America. With no war perhaps the U.S. would not have started down the road that has led to such hatred and distain for them around the world. The tens of thousands of soldiers would never have come home battered and beaten and scarred so horribly. Perhaps they would have go on to have extraordinary lives rather than becoming the largest body of homeless in America. Here's what this all means I guess. What happens in our lives matters. Beyond the instant impact on ourselves we have to know that the ripple effect on those around us will be more profound that we can ever know. Does a parent set a great example for their child who becomes inspired and goes on to greatness themselves? Do we lift others up or walk over them in pursuit of our goals? Will the effort we put into ourselves create skills that leads to a change for future generations? We were all gifted to live in this country. To be given opportunities and the raw materials that allow us to live extraordinary lives and yes change the world. Know this, "Today, tomorrow and 50 years from now. What you do matters". Have an excellent day.
Be well,
Randy Taylor
