How Do You Measure a Life?
A journal prompt from the Winter Writer's Sanctuary got me thinking.....
I’m part of the Winter Writer’s Sanctuary with
. Today’s prompt was fitting for New Year’s Eve as we look back on the year. But what about a lifetime? Looking back, how do you measure a life? We had 10 minutes to write — streaming, conscious writing. It’s never the big thing. It’s the consistent small things that up to a great life according to my stream of conscious writing.Did you make the world a better place while you were here?
Did you lessen the burden of days on a friend, family member, a group of people who needed your help, anyone?
Did you make people smile?
Did you bring hope when someone felt despair?
This is the measure of a life. It doesn't need to be audacious and bold. It can be quiet and anonymous. You could smile at the check-out clerk and ask them how they are (and mean it), and that may be the interaction they so desperately needed to hang on one more day.
Did you save a life by being kind? That is the measure of a life.
Were you selfish or selfless?
Were you unkind or kind?
Did you do all the proper things to do as a person? You know, the minor things that are simple basic human niceties. You know, like putting the cart back after grocery shopping. Telling someone they dropped money or anything of value or not of value. Did you hold open a door, hold an elevator, hold a story in confidence and with compassion?
Did you live an authentic life? Do you stand by your convictions? Were they convictions worth standing by?
Did you listen, really listen, to the people in your orbit when they needed to be heard? Did you listen without comment, gaslighting, pontificating? Did you simply listen with love and compassion? Without thought of what you needed to say next.
Did you reach out and offer apologies where apologies were needed? Did you own your mistakes? Did you own your unkind words expressed out of exasperation, frustration, or fear? Did those receiving your apologies feel your sincerity?
Did you offer solutions to challenges instead of only complaining about them?
Did you get involved? Did you help people who needed help? With time or talents or both?
Did you change laws that were unjust or oppressive?
Did you read? Did you learn? Were you curious? Were you open-minded? Did you consider others points of view? If you still disagreed, did you do so respectfully? Without condescension or judgment?
That is a measurable life.
