A young man set out to change the world. What he initially found, stepping across the imaginary line, into the “real world” was an ocean of diversity, filled with gargantuan issues too complex to tackle. Feeling like a tiny ant, floating down the Mighty Mississippi River, alone and helpless, his focus became more about survival than positive change.
The single ant, fighting for survival comes across a raft, made of ants. He climbs aboard to safety. Only to look down and realize the raft was built using helpless babies as floating life-preservers – by sticking them at the very bottom of the life rafts that they build with their own bodies. Ants, bonding together to create a buoyancy and thus, increasing survival. Such is life, ants die but the colony must continue to survive.
Time passed quickly, the young man is now half way through life, and he’s got a second wind. He sees the world different from before, not more beautiful, not less, just different. Perception, maybe.
He realizes the actions he takes for positive change doesn’t have to change the world to be important. He doesn’t have to turn the Titanic in a small bayou, but instead build a raft and help people on, get their head above water and breathe, moving from barely surviving and free them opportunity to thrive.
No one person can do it alone, but together we can make a difference. The resolution for this young man is to go beyond self-service and cater also to the needs of others, have passion in all he does, and listen, with an open mind and speak with care.
Together we can leave this world a little better than the way we found it.
No Harm 