In the classic Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, the angel Clarence says to George Bailey:
“Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”
Thankfully, you and I don’t need an angel to show us the awful hole we would leave behind had we never been born. Whether you realize it or not, your life does touch many lives! This time of year is an opportune time to remember that.
10 Ways You Touch the Lives of Others
- By your love
We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.
Mother Teresa
2. By your listening
Just the act of listening means more than you can imagine.
Bob Nelson
3. By your words
Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.
Blaise Pascal
4. By your optimism
An optimist understands that life can be a bumpy road, but at least it is leading somewhere. They learn from mistakes and failures, and are not afraid to fail again.
Harvey Mackay
5. By your leadership
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
6. By your mentoring
We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill
7. By your service
Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.
Peter Marshall
In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln
8. By your empathy
Empathy is simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of you’re not alone.
Brene Brown
9. By your example
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.
James Baldwin
10. By your sacrifice
Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.
Napoleon Hill
Final thought
As you reflect on the year past, and look ahead to the year ahead, may you be inspired and given new eyes to see the many ways you can and do touch lives.
In the words of Pat Patrick, “In life, we leave a legacy to our children, we leave our footprints wherever we travel, and we leave our fingerprints on every heart we touch.”
