Recently a friend of mine retired from his job as an editor at the CBC. He had worked there for more than 30 years dodging layoffs and cutbacks to complete a full tenure at the Corporation. In fact, Mark worked for an additional 3 years beyond the required service even though he was ready in many ways to end the routine he had become so comfortable in. I detected when we talked about his “new life” that there still was a great deal of uncertainty about what the future would hold. He didn’t know what he would do, and the more he was told to “enjoy life”, the more uncomfortable be became.
Mark’s work was his purpose and without purpose he knew life would be missing something important. He came to one of our seminars and was able to turn his feelings into a focused objective. He discovered that he was better suited to a new purpose and was needed more now than ever before.
Statistics show that people with purpose live an additional 10 years. That could be attributed to the satisfaction and intentionality they develop when they are engaged in something that is important and significant. It really doesn’t matter if you are retiring or if you are in mid-life or if you are just graduating and starting a career, keeping a place in your life for giving to others pays many rewards. Giving “yourself” to others is a gift that benefits the giver as much or more than the receiver.
You may have thought about purpose and giving before and wondered how you could add another activity to your list of things to do. Other people may respond with: “I don’t have anything to give”. I have heard all the reasons “why not”, but there are far more reasons to find a way to make it work, than to declare it impossible.
People of all ages have talents and strengths which others don’t have. They have wisdom and character which will help a person in a dark moment find some light. You, by your very existence, are valuable to those around you – they need you. Parents need parenting, too. Fathers need fathering and mothers need mothering at any age. Young people just starting out have problems that others have never faced, yet knowing someone is with them helps a lot.
Everyone needs a purpose. They need a place to give what they are, and have, and have learned in life to someone else.
Finding a place to connect with others isn’t hard – there are needs everywhere. All you have to do it start looking for them. There are also some really amazing things that are being done by new groups with great visions and who really need help. The smaller the group, the bigger the role you can play. It is very satisfying to use and give away the wisdom that you paid so high a price to gain.
Winston Churchill said these wise words about giving: “You make a living by what you get, but a life by what you give”. Everyone needs a vision and purpose for making this community and the world better. We can’t really “live” without purpose. If you’re not giving, then you’re not living. The purposed life is one of pleasure, significance and happiness. Find a place to give the most precious thing you have – you! It will make you, others, and the world a better place.