“Dig within. Within is the wellspring of Good; and it is always ready to bubble up,
if you just dig.” … Marcus Aurelius

***

 

I imagine becoming an Angel to be a monumental task.

Losing oneself to an unwavering and purposeful concern for the welfare of others many times can be found wanting, as each setting sun draws its colorful curtain.

The day’s challenges create more than enough chaos in our lives. So much so that the path ahead becomes one of twists and turns, confusion and clutter.

It’s simply hard enough just to be human.

Yet the question never strays. “Who am I?”

Perhaps I’ll never know for sure. Perhaps I’ll be at the doorstep by morning. Perhaps the more important question is, “Who are you?”.

“What makes you smile? Where do your dreams carry you? What stirs your spirit, and lights you up inside?”

Altruism, by definition, is an unselfish regard or devotion to the welfare of others.

One of 43 synonyms for kindness, it is behavior that benefits others. In the animal kingdom it is behavior by an animal that may be to its disadvantage but that benefits others of its kind, such as a warning cry that reveals the location of the caller to a predator.

We humans, unlike our undomesticated neighbors, are able to think clearly about the sense or nonsense of our actions. We decide whether to act based on criteria such as difficulty, danger, outcome, desire, and even courage. Our animal friends have no need for courage. There is never a question of what needs to be done.

Perhaps we humans should be more like animals.

Here are the 43 synonyms for kindness:

affection, altruism, amiability, beneficence, benevolence, charity, clemency, compassion, consideration, cordiality, courtesy, decency, delicacy, fellow feeling, forbearance, gentleness, good intention, good will, generosity, goodness, grace, graciousness, heart, helpfulness, hospitality, humanity, indulgence, kindliness, magnanimity, mildness, patience, philanthropy, serviceability, solicitousness, solicitude, sweetness, sympathy, tact, tenderness, thoughtfulness, tolerance, understanding, unselfishness

I imagine becoming an Angel would mean putting another’s life and welfare ahead of your own.

I imagine that there are altruistic people throughout the world that do this everyday. A smile here, a loving family there, caring friends and opportunities to share your kindness everywhere.

I imagine there are Angels among us everyday.

Perhaps we simply need to recognize them, and be grateful.

Perhaps one needs only to look in the mirror.

Be Angelic, today, tomorrow, and every day. There are those that benefit from your goodness. There are many that are touched by your kindness. There are smiles that couldn’t light up the world, if not for you.

Dig deep.

Thank You.