Leave Something Behind
Leave an influence behind you. Don’t leave your pride or negativity, as it will only cause a bad reputation for yourself and for the people you affected. Leave an influence. You may not even know it, and perhaps you never will. An influence is one that is life-changing because you attempted to encourage or improve with a sincere heart.
What do you do to leave an influence? It’s a trick question (in a way), because it does not matter. Everything you do can leave an influence, it is not just for the teachers, speakers, and counselors. You don’t have to have a people-centered career to leave a trail of positive good. The person in IT can leave behind a standard of excellence and integrity, following through on their work with diligence. That in itself is influence. It starts with where you are now.
Work is where we spend much of our time, and we should not ignore it, for no matter what you do you should seek to contribute a positive influence on the world. But it is also you that makes the influence. Your life exists outside of work, and you should use it well. Think of the friends and family you spend time with, and the neighbors you may or may not greet on your way out the door. Those people need an influence, and your gentle smile and non-anxious presence may be enough to leave one behind.
Do not be mistaken: we were made for each other. Community is what people treasure the most at the end of their lives, so make the most of each moment with those around you. We are not perfect, after all, and we can never be pure positivity. It is often our brokenness that connects us, because through it we see each other, knowing that we’re all on the same earth, born in the same way. We are all human.
Whatever traces of selfishness you can find in yourself, seek to remove them as often as you can. You will likely do better than I will. Search for the positive influence you can make on someone else. From a friendly wave to an act of service in your community, leave something behind. Your influence could change the course of infinity.
