Recently, I began to contemplate on what I could do to make things better for other people in my life. Could I make a meal for those that were hungry or maybe help with an elderly neighbor’s chores? How about praying for someone who was sick or simply just visiting a person who I knew was lonely. All these things seemed doable to me so I set out to bring that tiny cup of happiness others. Interestingly enough, the smiles were broad and the relief was evident in their eyes. What I discovered by doing this was when we stop obsessing about our own happiness, something wonderful takes place: True joy for myself and others. Life, after all, isn’t just to feed our senses, take care of our needs, work to make money, travel to new places or to become a monk and keep the silence. It’s to become a benefit to others. Saint Mother Teresa said, “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” She combined her love of people with charitable activities, touching the lives of many. His Holiness, the XVI Dalai Lama affirms this by saying, “We are visitors on this planet. We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the most. During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful with our lives. If you contribute to other peoples happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life.” So let’s listen to the sages and spread the joy! When we think of others first, we discover our own joy comes right back to us.
Is that not really the True Meaning of Life?
~ Fran Cosentino, AFSI Bursar/Registrar