June 6th marks the anniversary of D-Day, an incredible accomplishment during World War II that set the stage for the Allies to win the war.
Every year on this day there are memorial services, speeches by world leaders, and other events to honor those who gave whatever it took to push toward victory. A few survivors of that battle still make it to the ceremonies on the beaches of Normandy each year, but let’s face it, within a decade most of the last remaining heroes will no longer be with us. Whether they are still with us or not, though, history will always remember them and honor their accomplishments.
So what will history say about you?
What Are You Really Accomplishing?
Hopefully, you won’t have to fight a war in your lifetime (though some of you may have already done so). But what have you done that people will remember? What have you accomplished? What have you contributed?
We get so caught up in the “fast pace” of our professional lives — rushing from one meeting to another, trying to clear our Inbox, chasing after one deadline or another — that we rarely take the time to stop and ask ourselves exactly what we are doing besides just getting through the day. The same is often true in our personal lives, where we may have a long-term focus on saving for retirement or an immediate interest in how many Likes our last Instagram post received. Many of the things that seem so important each day really don’t have much effect on the world.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t do these things. Yes, you need to do your work. Yes, you need to save for your retirement. But don’t let these be ALL you do. Do them because they help you to do more important things.
Leave Your Mark on the World
If tomorrow you packed up and moved away, how would people remember you? Have you made a difference in their lives? You don’t have to cure cancer or raise millions of dollars for charity, you just need to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on when someone is going through a hard time, or offer up some advice when a friend is facing a dilemma. All you really have to do is remember birthdays, or maybe share your friends’ accomplishments on your social media rather than just talking about yourself all the time.
How about accomplishments; do you have some? So many people stumble through life staring at their phones, watching other people have lives rather than having one of their own. Again, it doesn’t have to be anything major — you don’t have to be a mom who runs an ultramarathon on Mount Everest, nor do you need to self-publish a series of romantic science-fiction novels. All you need to do is get off the couch, put down the phone, and do something, experience something create something, anything that adds some meaning to your life and that perhaps you can share with others, to add something to theirs.
Don’t get so caught up in life that you forget to actually live. Close the spreadsheet at work and go see if you can help a stressed-out colleague. Quit posting pictures of your lunch and instead share some photos of a new city you visited. Sure, you may not be rescuing occupied France from the Nazis, but at least you’ll be creating good memories for yourself and others.