Placing Value...

As humans we all need to be recognized, praised, accepted and feel important, but if we don't validate ourselves and place value on what we do, we will forever wonder around this world, seeking the approval of others...constantly spinning in a vortex of confusion.

Growing up I will attest to the fact that I was always thinking about what I can do that is most profound in my life; what career would be the most affluent and give me the most exposure in terms of recognition. I felt like what I did needed to be defined by society in a profound way so I needed to have a job/career or title that when people met me, immediately gave an impression of prestige and affluence. The vast majority has decided that these titles are the epitome of your profound emergence into society. This is not to throw salt on any title/job/career because I highly regard and respect every profession in this world, whether you clean toilets or have the position of Oprah, Bill Gates or President Obama.

However, as I live and learn, I'm realizing time and time again that if I don't place my own VALUE on what I do and I wait for society to validate me, I will never feel whole.   In today's society people are more educated, but cognitive thinking seems to be at a distance, people have more material things, but have more debt than ever before in history.   Even more frustrating, every other person you talk to hates their job/career and is always looking for a way out.   Truly something in our society is innately wrong and people's priorities are misplaced.

How many times do you come across people who LOVE or even enjoy what they do? I remember years ago, I was in Manhattan waiting for a bus and there was a shoe shine stand right behind me. As I stood waiting for my bus, the gentleman shining shoes caught my undivided attention. He was singing while shining shoes and I had never seen that before! The guy sitting in the chair had the newspaper covering his face while this man was putting his ALL into shining the shoes of a person who could care less about him! As he whistled and sang, he was moving the rag across the guys shoes briskly and he was getting a thrill out of bringing out the most brilliant shine in a pair of shoes....when he was done, he stood back, admired his work and smiled! I wondered at that very moment, why is it that I don't feel like that when working at my job at a reputable TV station! I wondered what was it about that man that made him so happy shining a pair of shoes...a job that VERY few people would be proud to share with the world. I admired him! I was so engrossed in watching this man that I almost missed my bus! I carried that memory with me to this day and finally after about 5 years, I finally learned what he possessed...he placed VALUE on what he does and he could care less about what society thinks about him! He was being the best shoe shine guy that he can be!

I have learned over the years that title has very little to do with our journey on this earth. As long as what I do makes me happy and incorporates motivating and helping people, my life is complete. Whether you are shining shoes or running the biggest corporation in America, as long as long as you place value by holding your job/career/business etc in high regard and enjoy it...nothing anyone says really matters.