Yesterday, I was thinking about how hard I’ve worked, how much I’ve given away in time and talent and skills…and lamenting the fact that I’ve made so little money with anything I’ve done in the past ten years. People tell me I’ve been helpful, but, given our culture, I was feeling like I couldn’t have been TOO helpful if there was no monetary return for me.
Then today I came across this quote from Pablo Picasso: “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” That brought me up short and back to my own values. I’m blessed to have enough money to live comfortably, so why do I need more? It was just my ego yapping. In truth, I am richly rewarded by people, especially women, who make comments after my seminars or guided conversations, saying I made them think in a different way about their situation, or changed their life for the better, or gave them hope. What price tag can be put on that impact?
So, my friends, I shall continue to give away whatever I have of value to others, and be grateful that I’m able to do it. That is my purpose, not the money.