by Robert Rusling

Created on: May 21, 2007   Last Updated: May 22, 2007

The Most Valuable Commodity in the World!

Once in a while I like to put things in perspective and share a few thoughts with the people who read my blog

What is the most valuable commodity in the world? Money, gold, oil real estate, stocks, art collections?

Actually none of these, it's your life and how you spent it.

It's not just living each day to make as much money as you can. It's more important for each of us to live our life with true meaning that can be defined as doing something good for your brothers and sisters on our planet.

It's quite common that people will remember you for what you did not do, instead of what you have done.

Ask yourself, "when is the last time I did something randomly kind for anyone?" If you have to think about it then you are spending your precious life fruitlessly.

Your family is your treasure and should be, but helping a poor homeless person on the street wandering aimlessly with no where to go, been no where, walking in circles, should be your pleasure. I mean pleasure in a sense of reaching out to this person, acknowledging them, saying hello, not giving them spare change. Most of the time all of us look straight through these people and don't look them in the eye, rather look away from them and think, " what wrong with him, he looks dirty!" And, God forbid, should that person ask you for anything. You may find yourself saying, " get a job you bum." Is this fair? Am I on the money so far?

For years, I did research in my town on the street people. Ironically, a large percentage of these folks were once productive citizens and then something went wrong and it all was lost. They snapped and ended up on the streets. If I had to sum my finding up in one phrase, " there is a fine line between them and us." Don't believe me. I hope you don't find out the hard way.

I recall one special man named Robert. He was an engineer and one day he and his family were driving along and he looked down for a moment and when he looked up he was in the other lane facing an 18 wheeler. Everyone in his family was killed except him. Robert spent years in hospitals until funds ran out and they kicked him out and now, if he is still alive, he wanders the streets almost catatonic to anyone's outside view. But if you go up to him and say hello, he looks up and has a normal conversation with you although the sadness in his eyes was over powering. He refused all help and I think he just wanted to die himself. One day Robert disappeared and was never seen again.

I tell you this story to maybe put a little perspective in your day of hustle and bustle for the buck. Please don't let money or possessions over power you. Think of others. Share if you can, even if it is just a smile and a warm hello. You can't imagine what that does for someone who has lost their place in society.

Now your life should seem more important. Your gratefulness for what you have should be evident. This should be your focus. Love and hug your kids and wife everyday. Help your friends when they need you. Take a little time to put something back besides the cha ching. All of a sudden you may find the illusive purpose of life we all dream about when we were kids.

Make no mistake about it, the greatest sin in your short time on this planet is to waste your life, being selfish and self centered and taking instead of giving.

The average person has about 27,375 days to live on this earth. How many days have you spent and out of these day how many have been spent helping others, randomly, not just making money.

How many days do you have left if you live to the average term? How many of these days do you plan to give? The choice is yours. It's your life after all and your valuable commodity.

Think about it.

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