Make your mark on the world

I was walking around town when I saw the graffiti which says, "Make your mark on the world" and it made me think. How do I do it?

Growing up my parents told me that I needed to study hard, burn the midnight oil as they call it to get a better life and also leave a legacy to the world. It is similar to making a mark on the world thing. Other phrases can be used interchangeably such as leave your fingerprints on the world, create an impact or make your presence felt. I felt as a young child and even to my adolescent years that it is quite a huge task.

I have thought that to make a mark on the world you need to be famous. Like celebrities, politicians, inventors, and others. However, we are not all destined to be famous, everyone has their path in life that they need to follow. We have to make the best out of it because we all know that we only have one life to live. I have realized that I am not going to be an American Idol-like I have envisioned years before or a famous R n B singer. Another realization was not because you are famous people will remember you, and even when you are famous, you may not be doing good things in this world. Like we always hear, fame and fortune are not everything.

Make your mark on the world. Thank you the awesome graffiti artist!

Part of my curiosity was how do I make myself known to others and that includes my community and the country. Making a difference is also another phrase that we can use what I believe is an awesome way to make a mark on the world. Some things that you are currently doing like helping someone go to school, volunteering, helping a neighbour with her grocery weekly and other tasks might appear small but they add up, on how you create an impact on the world. For me, being part of a group that helps transgender individuals is a good start. I am being an active participant in conversations on how to fight for equality and injustice in the community. It feels good being a part of it. Another question in my head is, how much impact do you want to impart to the world and what kinds of fingerprints are you going to share with the world?

I am not an expert on this matter but I have thought of ways on how to make your mark on the world. Let me share you this quote from President Barack Obama:

“Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't. it's whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.”

1. Be clear about what you want: It is easy to get lost in a world where everyone wants to be a lot of things. There is nothing wrong about being the jack of all trades but there will be a time that you have to narrow it down. I am in the healthcare field, and I like helping people. I am aware that with this job there are many ways I can create an impact. For one, caring for a sick individual can be very rewarding. Also, I can be an advocate for patients as well by having an open discussion about their wishes and wants. I find that the end of life care is where this usually happens. By knowing what you wanted to focus on help in moving forward on how you can make a difference.

2. Help others: I think the big chunk of sad news in the world comes from selfishness and the inability (or lack) of people to reach out to others. We have seen the "me" mentality and making a mark on this world, is not only focus on making ourselves better but also making the lives of others better. We should have the drive to help others, and I have given examples such as volunteering or being a part of an advocacy group. Showing kindness and encouraging others has a ripple effect. You just do not know how many lives you touch with a single act of kindness.

3. Do things with zest, compassion and confidence: You probably have seen how someone works with so much energy and joy. I believe that is the key to making a huge contribution to the world. I used to volunteer every Thanksgiving to feed the homeless in Vancouver (I should do it this year again.) and I have seen our Pastor and the kitchen crew do things with so much passion. It warms my heart to see the smile from all the people who join us for dinner. Plus, it is not only in their action that I see their love for the work they do but also with how they talk to other volunteers and the guests. The amount of preparation and engagement needed to make the Thanksgiving dinner happen is astounding. I think that the ones who continuously show genuine love, joy, empathy and concern are the ones that make a mark on this world.

4. Commitment: It is a big word. I would also like to add the word "believe" because they go hand in hand. Trusting that your vision is going to happen and by committing to it will make it more solid. Be courageous in all you do. There will be obstacles along the way but know that when you take that leap of faith, you are getting closer to the goal. There will be detractors and external negativities that might distract you. Remember that those are only roadblocks. One at a time and you will get there.

I honestly do not need to be famous to make a mark in this world. I will be known in my little way by doing little things to help myself and others.

Resource:

Caprino, K. (June 28, 2015.) How to make your big mark in the world with six essential steps. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2015/06/28/how-to-make-your-big-mark-in-the-world-with-six-essential-steps/#21b3c4f95eed

Dippiro, D. (2009) 5 ways to leave fingerprints on the world. Retrieved from: https://www.positivelypresent.com/2009/06/5-ways-to-leave-your-mark-on-the-world.html