You Already Know This

6-29-11 (RM, France)

You already know what I am about to tell you, I know it as well. We all know this simple lesson; Your actions matter in this life. No, I don't feel guilty about my past. I don't have the sudden need to repent my sins or seek forgiveness from those who I have wronged in the past. I'm simply motivated by a recent experience to explain that we impact others through our actions and that through our actions we shape others in ways that are unforeseen. I don't mean that our actions are punishable or rewarded by some mystical being. On the contrary, I'm talking about tangible ripple effects that we cause in this plane of existence via our actions. Simply put, existence continues on without us when we die without  blinking. However, our deeds, our words, our work, our actions, and our legacy will live on in some small way. Bring joy to another person's life while you can, it doesn't have to be someone you love or even know. It can be small, maybe even a simple gesture of goodwill towards a stranger, but do it. Maybe living in a large city has finally got to me, but damn it, take a lesson from this libertarian and view people as meaningful individuals rather than as collective groups.