Give Until You Are Rich

There are people in this world who can see child abuse and elder abuse and and animal abuse, and look the other way, or even say, well he/she is my friend so what can I do, and just let it go on. I cannot do that.

There are people who do not realize that what they do, even though it appears to make another person happy, is really hurting that person. They, somehow, cannot see that today may change the rest of that person's life in ways that will make it so much more difficult in the long run. I cannot wear those blinders.

There are people dying in this world because others are greedy, or do not care enough to do those things that must be done.

I realize there are things I cannot change no matter how much I try, no matter what I do. These things haunt me on long dark nights when I hear the cries of the suffering in my dreams.

I know what it is like to feel alone in a roomful of people. I know what it is like to feel worthless and useless. I know what it is like to feel mistreated and alone. I have been there. I have been to the edge and back again many times.

I'm tougher now. Seasoned and annealed by a lifetime of living, but it has only made my heart more tender. It is one thing not to know, but something else altogether to know. To know and be unable to make a difference is hard.

It is odd that my life should be so simple and good and beautiful now, when there is so much sadness in this world. Perhaps the only way to come to terms with this is to do what I can to help others, to know that I am doing the best I know how to alleviate some things and that I must salve my ego by understanding that there are others who feel the same way.

Those of us who are more fortunate must help those who are less fortunate. We cannot count on a trickle down effect. Instead we must pour ourselves into our own worlds and flood it with what we can. Everyone has something to offer and the funny thing is, it is the offering that often brings us the most.

So give until you are rich.