Special Gift

I’ve always felt that everyone has a “special” gift to offer the world. You, your neighbour, the mailman, that weird guy who eats his breakfast at the bus stop, all have something to add to the world.

There are many in the world that their “special” gift is obvious. The Dalai Lama is here to point out that the true purpose of our lives is to be happy. Of course being happy is different for everyone and the Dalai Lama is here to help us find a way. Mother Theresa was here to ease suffering and bring that suffering to the attention of the world. The good politicians are here to guide us with compassion and to smooth out the difficulties that arise when people try living together.

Some people can play sports in a way that is almost magical. They bring joy to many millions of fans and in a way their success becomes our successes. The same holds true for entertainers and you know how special the gift is if you have ever tried Karaoke. A gifted writer can transport you to other worlds and an actor can make you believe that the world is a place where good always wins over evil.

Finding the “special” gift for most of us isn’t very easy at all. We spend our time going to work and raising families. Nothing special there! Well, maybe there is after all. It isn’t easy earning the love and respect of other humans, which is what we do every day with our co-workers, children and friends.

I’ve been searching for my special gift for many years now and have yet to find it. I do have a gift of making time disappear and I am able to say at the end of the day that I accomplished nothing but I was busy all day doing it. There are several things I am good at if I were to stay focused on those things. I suspect that my true “special” gift goes hand in hand with the Dalai Lama. Not for the millions of people he touches, but for the few hundred I will touch in my lifetime.

I like to think that people enjoy life just a little more when I am with them.

I like to think that people laugh just a little more when I am with them.

I like to think that people think of others just a little more when I am with them.

I like to think that people don’t take life so seriously when I am with them.

I like to think that people become somehow better when I am with them.

I like to think that when I am gone the world will have become a better place because of me.

I’d like to think the above is true.

It would be nice if the great ID would allow me to reach more people, but I am content with the way life is using my “special” gift.