Service

"Small service is true service."

-- William Wordsworth

Let's face it. Most of us are not going to do anything that society considers really great in our lifetime. We probably won't find a cure for cancer, invent a car that runs on water, bring about world peace, or even pitch a no-hitter in the World Series. What each of us can do, though, is small things that mean alot to one or more other people. On a daily basis each of us can provide small service to the world around us.

What form that small service takes is entirely up to you. It my be reading with a child, like my 84 year old mom does each week with a cute, little second grader named Charley Jo. Or it might be picking up trash in your neighborhood, or giving away stuff you no longer need on Freecycle.org, or talking with a friend who's going through a hard time, or merely making a few people laugh.

Small service may have BIG effects. It definitely has a ripple effect. Your small service to others makes them much more likely to provide small service to those they meet on down the line. Social scientists call it "the transfer of the helping impulse." Each act of service impacts not only the one directly served but also those they serve now and in the future.

You don't have to join some do-gooder organization, wear a hair shirt, or quit your job and move to Africa. You can perform small service in the midst of your daily life. Just keep your eyes open for countless opportunities. I call it "serendipitous service" -- random, by-chance possibilities to be of service to people both known and unknown to you. Today is a great day to stretch your service muscles. Just think of it as your small, yet powerful, contribution towards making this world a better place. And, oh yes, enjoy!