People Matter

One of the sayings that my kids say is, "I don't matter".  It's in referrence to the fact that we ask them if a certain person gave them permission to do something and they respond, "I don't matter".  What they are really saying is, "the person says it doesn't matter if I do it or not".  We have to keep correcting this slight miscommunication.  But each time we find ourselves emphasizing, "you do matter".  I found this simple statement, "I don't matter" to be a very profound and thought provoking statement.

In the last year or so we have seen bank bailouts, recession, unemployment, war, controversy and more and more bad news.  People have talked since I was a kid that they feel like they are a number.  Governments get bigger, corporations get bigger and people keep feeling... smaller.

The fact is that even if a large corporation or a goverment leader doesn't know your name... somebody does.  You do matter... to that person.

REM had a song with a simple message, "Everybody hurts... sometime".  It's a simple message but cuts to the heart of every human being.  Everybody does hurt... sometime.  Maybe not today...  Maybe not tomorrow...  But sometime...

There was a story of a very sucessful wrestling coach who was admired by many.  He had a great young family and great job.  But one day, just before Christmas, something happened.  I don't know the particulars.  Maybe an argument.  Maybe not.  But something sparked something inside him and he killed his family, lit his house on fire, and killed himself.  It was a shocking story of sadness.  It didn't have to happen that way.

Many people in this holiday season are struggling with loss, pain and frustration.  It has been a difficult year for many.  Some it's a job situation, or lack of one.  Some it's seeing their hopes and dreams desimated by the recession.  Like sandcastles being washed away by the sea these dreams seemed to just erode over time.  Others it could be a personal loss, like a loved one that died.  But the simple truth is that there are a lot of people hurting...  A lot of pain.

It's easy to paint on a smile...  We, as humans, can sometimes go about normal life like actors on a stage... We put on a good show... Sometimes its just enough to get through another day...  But one of the points to this blog is to simply state to those dealing with pain, loss and frustration: You do matter.

Even if you only touched one life in this world... you brought joy... you brought something special to that person...  You do matter!

When you go about the hustle and bustle of the holiday season try to give someone a smile.  Maybe wish them a Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday or just to have a great day... or anything else that you like to tell people in this time of year.  A smile is like a rainbow after a stormy day.  You can't imagine what a kind word can do for someone aching inside.  Try to give a listening ear to someone who is crying out for some attention.  There have been many times that I have found that people just wanted sometime to listen.  You can be that someone.  This time of year should be less about us and more about others.  And remember:

People Matter... I matter.. you matter... we're not numbers... or faces... or just names on lists... We matter.  People Matter.

J.W.B.