October 7th, 2014 | Uncategorized
The other day I took a cab to a shopping mall and I had an interesting conversation with the cab driver. He told me about his sister who moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts and how she comes back to Ireland every year around July 12th to celebrate with families and friends the equivalent to America’s July 4th (Independence Day). He also told me how he wanted to save up enough money to move away from Northern Ireland to live in Australia. As I was getting out the car, he something really that resonated with me. He said, “Ever since I picked you up you haven’t stopped smiling, why?”
While I wasn’t able to give him an answer, as I walked away I couldn’t help but think about this question. Why was I happy and why am I doing something I enjoy so much? What objective am I trying to fulfill?
It can mean so many different things to people because everyone has a different journey/path. Having an effect on a person is what keeps me driven. Seeing a smile on somebody’s face or knowing that they are proud of me because of something I have done for them or helped them accomplish is the most satisfying thing in life. Knowing someone is smiling because they are proud of you. That’s my purpose. It is what drove me to graduate from college. It gave me reason to travel 3,000 plus miles to Northern Ireland to have a chance to connect with youth in areas that have little to look forward to.
It gave me life, a happiness or a fulfillment of knowing that I am doing something good.
Ben had a different reason for “Life”. He wanted to work so hard so he could one day experience a new culture and live a dream of his. I don’t think I want to change the world. However, one day I hope to inspire a young person to want to change the world. That’s just my dream, my purpose, and my objective in “life”.
So I’ll continue to smile and I’ll continue to dream, because when you dream it gives you the chance to turn something so phenomenal and so impactful into reality. So I challenge all to never stop dreaming, whether big or small.
