Many times it is very hard to stop the motion in our lives that keeps us from missing all of the little things. Do you remember what your child said to you before he/she went to school this morning? Do you remember what you had for dinner two nights ago or even just last night? Stop. Breath, and don’t forget to notice all the good things in life. The little things that we take for granted as we run and run and run to get things done. Why does it matter if we get this done today or stay later at work to finish that. Family and friends don’t want to see how much wealth we have. They want to hang out with us and share moments with us, moments of joy and moments of sadness. Its the you that matters.

     Recently I read a story in my Russian Literature Class. It is called the Waistcoat by Nikolay Gogol. It is about a man who copies letters in Russian and that is all he does, day after day, year after year. He makes little money and he finds happiness and satisfaction in copying letters for people. He even does it after he goes home from work. When given the opportunity to receive a raise, he refuses and says that he better just keep the position he has.

     Would that be a meaningful life? Could someone be perfectly content doing this one simple task day after day after day? I think not. It is true that if he weren’t doing this job then someone else would be doing it but I think he is unfulfilled since he has tried nothing else.

     If I imagine myself copying letters all day everyday I would be appalled with my life. Just because I am doing something does not make it worthwhile and meaningful. Do you know how many things you could miss?

     He is not married and does not have any known relatives because they are all dead. The promotion that he was offered was to change letters from first person to third person. Would it really have been that bad to try something new?

     I could never imagine just doing one task and that be my focus and goal for life. We must strive for a medium. WE can’t always be running and flying through life from one deadline to the next but we cannot stick to one task bobbing through life as we repeat it over and over again.

     This is an excerpt from a very inspirational book called Tuesday’s with Morrie. It can be found on page 45.

     “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half asleep, even when they are busy doing things they think are important. This is because they are chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is by devoting yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”

     So are you still going to run the marathon of life as you strive for bigger and better things or are you going to take the European example and get out of the fast lane?

Confessions of a Writer<3