Never Discount the Impact that Your Life has on Others

Jen is a friend of mine who works in the meat department of a supermarket I frequent. Not long ago, as I approached her I noticed that her eyes were red and she had been crying. When I asked if everything was alright, she said she had been feeling that her life stood for nothing and she was asking herself the question, “Why am I even here?” I then shared with her that during the week prior I was in the meat department and observed what she did during the course of performing her job. In less than five minutes, six different people came up to her. Some exchanged friendly greetings, some received hugs and they all left with a smile. I said, “Jen, you made every one of those person’s days and you do this all the while you’re here at work.” I pointed out that, by itself, is reason enough for anyone to be here. I then said, “Jen your life is all about making other peoples’ days and without you, none of those days would have been made.” At this point, she looked at me and said “thank you,” gave me a hug and her usual smile returned to her face.