So often the trivialities of life consume us.
Societal demands cause us to live stressful lives filled with anxiety as we struggle for relevance and acceptance in this material based world. We assign value to the unimportant, while shunning those whose presence we come to discover we could never live without.
But there are some people who’ve developed an understanding of what is truly valuable in life. People with incredible strength to overcome hardships that might otherwise cripple the average human being.
Fred Rogers always carried around an inspiring quote by Mary Lou Kownacki which read simply, “There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.”
This blog has enabled me to hear some incredible stories from people all over the globe. And each one has profoundly influenced my life at a point in time when I truly needed to hear it.
Stories from those possessing remarkable strength, which continue to inspire me as I hold them near to my heart. But I’m not talking about physical strength as some might suspect. As Gandhi once said, “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
They remind me to be humble and grateful for where my life is right now – to recognize the benefits and push aside the uncertainties. They teach me that sorrow is but one part of life, and overcoming it is another.
And whenever I find myself in need of a little reminder, I’m privy to one of those amazing stories, which inspires me to remember that life is about so much more than what we simply see with our eyes.
Life is not easy. So many people face daily challenges and struggles that can overwhelm one’s existence. But know that your stories do not go unnoticed. They touch the hearts of everyone who hears them – securing a permanent place in their hearts.
I consider myself quite fortunate that I’m one of them.
Unfortunately society does dictate to us what is important early on in our lives. Most individuals go through life never having a hardship or trying circumstance that causes them to appreciate what is really important. So their lives, like you said Craig, are consumed with the stress of trying to fit into society’s preset mold.
And then there are those who have a life experience come along that causes them to question the lives they lead and what they do or do not appreciate. Some learn from it I guess, some I suppose do not.
All of us however are fortunate to have someone out there who shares their own story, meshes it together with the stories of others and makes sense of it all for the rest of us. This way, even those who haven’t had the good fortune of a misfortune still have a chance to learn and appreciate what is truly important in life.
A lot of people could really benefit from a book authored by someone who has privy to such stories and stories of their own. I’d be first in line to buy it.
Because after all, in the words of Mary Lou Kownacki, “There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.”