A Life Lived For Others

A Life Lived For Others

In ages past, the only need for work consisted of food, shelter and clothing; the basic needs of survival. As nations grew and economies developed, wants began to encroach upon needs culminating in the America of today. Working simply for survival has been replaced with working to make the most money possible to afford the most things and items to give the most status and/or comfort.

As a young man I thought becoming a manager of a record store would provide me with the perfect marriage of working in an industry I held passion for while at the same time giving me an opportunity to make some decent money. This door soon opened for me and I found myself wearing a full suit and looking at records and tapes as commodities and the workers under me as my means for success. Flying in the face of all I thought I was, as well as the constant conflict of having those under you wanting your job and those above afraid you are trying to take their jobs, I turned in my tie to reevaluate my vision.

Social work beckoned and I entered with trepidation. Would it sustain me? Could I do it? Can I give that much of myself? And what about all those emotions? Finding that this work could meet my needs, though perhaps not my wants, there was the consistent question of ‘is this worth it?’ When one lives a call of duty to help others rather than focus on their own wants and needs, a person consistently questions, within and without, whether it is really worth it.

Whether it be social workers, police and fire workers, teachers, pastors, nurses and the many more people who put others ahead of themselves the reward far exceeds the gain. How many people who made their life work the accumulation of money ended that life in the face of losing that wealth? Everyday seems to bring another report of fraud and deception as people lust for more wealth, more power and more status in their lives. The desire for wealth is the antithesis of living for others as people’s lives get ruined in other’s pursuits for money.

A life lived for others is not simply a job title or profession. Many teachers work simply to reach their pension, forgoing true teaching and connection. Law enforcement has a long record of corruption, pastors and priests are at times condemned for living for their own lusts and desires and healthcare workers lose all emotion and no longer see people but patients, clients and problems.

It’s not what people do that defines them but rather the motivation behind those actions. Just as a doctor can radically change a person’s life, an asphalt layer can help make thousands of drivers commute better by putting their heart and soul into the work they do. I think back to the times I have gotten coffee in the morning on the way to work. The level of customer service I receive, whether poor, average or excellent, has an effect on my day. Excellent service often translates to brightening the day and wanting to pass it on and vice versa.

Any job a person does can be a call to duty to live for others or a call to self to acquire more. Even the most noble pursuit in the most noble cause can be a call for self if selfish motives are behind the pursuit. The good work a person does can be tainted by a need for recognition, accolades or self-promotion. Though this does not negate the good work accomplished it robs the person of the full reward of living for others.

So why live for others rather than self? A selfless life is often without reward, recognition or, at times, appreciation. It can often be stressful and difficult as people take on others' problems and situations, having to make tough decisions amid the often grey conditions. The same work done in other industries can often bring much more money and security, not to mention perks and retirement advantages.

It’s not often at funerals that people discuss anything about the work or job a person did in their life. Invariably though, people that live for others often have their life work discussed and lauded at the end of their days. Living for others brings accomplishment not measured in things but rather in the positive impact made in another’s life. When truly living for others, it’s not the rewards one gets for self that matters, but rather the positive changes that you help make in the lives of others. In that contradiction a person can find peaceful sleep, a relaxed mind and a joyous heart regardless how stressful or difficult the work is on a regular basis.