More Than Numbers: A Life Worth Living

I read this today from Brianna Wiest’s’ “101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think”

Aspire to be someone who gives things meaning, not who seeks things to give them meaning. Rather than chasing “success”, chase kindness. Rather than believe wealth is the mark of a life well lived, believe that intelligence is, or kindness is, or open-mindedness is.

This made me think this morning about the arbitrary number I am continuously chasing. Trying to ensure we get to do the things we want to do and we pay down the debt we have. It made me think about my goals and what I am trying to achieve with my podcast and businesses. It made me think about why I do the things I do and if it’s about my version of success or helping people or giving other people good experiences. I think if I looked at life through this lens more consistently I would lead with a different attitude. I thought this morning was a goal would look like that was “help 5 people a week”, whether that was listening to someone on the phone that is having a hard time, lending a hand to a person over a patch of ice on the sidewalk, helping someone get unstuck in their business over a zoom call. That sounds like a lot of kindness to me and a life worth living. If people literally knew you as the person who helps whenever they can, sounds like a good stamp for a gravestone? Even if you are trying to be sneaky about your mission.. it would be a really fun way to live.