This Precious Life

Image from The National Geographic

Alvin is the sort of chipmunk who lives in his own world. He’s constantly thinking of his success, his fame, his likes/dislikes, and his talents and gifts. He doesn’t travel deep enough into other people’s shoes to learn their plans, likes, dislikes, talents and gifts. So, he lives pretty much for himself. Often, Alvin doesn’t even follow the rules that had been created to enable as many as possible to live peacefully and reach their goals.

In many ways, I am like Alvin the munk. I squeak whenever I talk and I’m quite the individualist. I like to shop alone so that I can go directly to the shop I had in mind without stopping by 2 or 3 boutiques a long the way, which I would have to do if I had others along.

Alvin learned that his way of living was selfish. I’ve been learning that my way of living limits everyone’s potential for success.

Let me give an example.

Recently,we played a board game where each player’s goal is to build as many forts as possible. You can help others to build their forts so that you co-own it with them, and you can start your own fort to build till completion.

When I was playing, I didn’t take notice of what others were doing. My only goal was to start and build forts without hurting anyone else. I kept observing the board to see where I could establish more forts. By the end of the game, I had a few forts which I had built almost completely on my own. I felt pretty pleased with myself.

However, when Nic was playing, he kept observing what others were doing. Whenever he sees a fort that is likely to be successful, he would help the owner to complete it, which makes him the co-owner of the fort.

By the end of the game, there were many forts that he co-own spread far and wide across the board. He became the largest fort-owner of all. In fact, all of my successful forts? He had become the co-owner of them as well.

Someone will need to start forts, and someone will have to build them till completion so the way I played was not wrong. In fact, I did the necessary tasks. Neither did the way I play hurt anyone, nor did I break any societal rules.

However, the way he played was much more effective and efficient. By taking notice of what others were doing and taking part in their work to help them succeed, everyone gets a spring forward.

This philosophy is so powerful, it’s the reason God had to scatter us!