“Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.” – James M. Barrie
I mentioned my ’service thing’ a couple days ago and said I’d post about it later. I guess it’s later…
I’ve been in the foodservice business for over 30 years now. I’m sure many of my high school and college classmates see me as an underachiever, because they see me working in a hot kitchen, serving a pretty basic menu of food, still in my hometown. Many of them hold high-level jobs in industry, government and academia. I’m glad for them. I hope they’re happy. I am, and I think it’s because I hold service as not only a valid career choice, but if done correctly, a noble one. That’s my goal. To do it correctly.
“We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results.” – Herman Melville
Service, to me, is about extending a helping hand. And in some way, you always get compensated for your service. Not always with money or stuff. Or with public recognition or acclaim. Or any of the myriad other rewards that drive people to do things for others. Sometimes, the compensation is internal – you know you’ve done a good thing and that made it worthwhile. For me, the drive is almost always internal. Sure, money and stuff is nice. (Public recognition and acclaim… meh.) But knowing that I’ve helped someone – that’s a payoff.
If Herman was right and we really are connected by invisible threads, helping someone radiates out from us and hopefully resonates, so that person helps another, and another, and before you know it, the whole world has been touched by the pyramid scheme of service. I’m sure there’s a spiritual lesson in there. Karma. Good Deeds. Whatever. But it seems simpler to me.
Doing good makes me feel good about myself. Easy to do, get rewarded almost right away, can be repeated as often as desired. What’s not to like?
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