Why do we do what we do?

To create a lasting and meaningful impact,
We need a purpose, a reason, a motive.
To continue when the spark fades away
When the spotlights go out

When we are few.
When we are last.
When we are none.
When we are not.

We need a purpose that shines brighter
from sunset till dawn
A motive that is bigger than ourselves

Not that lasting necessarily means meaningful.
It could actually mean the exact opposite.
But the road to a meaningful impact is rarely short, straight, or crowded.
Rarely praised, rarely without difficulties.
Or at least after the initial excitement wears off
And the solid base, the foundation, is built.

What if there were no self?
No likes, no reputation or followers to be lost or gained?
No spotlights?
Would we still do it?
Would we do it differently?

Is the meaningful change a means to an end?
Or the end in itself?

Do we really care?
How much do we care about it beyond ourselves?

I’m not saying we don’t care about the cause itself.
I’m not saying that wanting something good for ourselves is not noble.
It is noble.
What is not noble is pretending it’s not for ourselves
When it mostly is.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to create something that will make us a millionaire.
That’s all noble and inspiring.
And maybe that’s the lasting and meaningful impact we want to make.
And maybe we’ve been very honest about it with ourselves.
And that is all honorable.

But always and only wanting that might not be the best use of ourselves.

There's joy in helping others,
There's joy in caring for your neighbor.

Someone once said:

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

What if we could feel fulfilled while being anonymous?
Or at least without expecting anything back that would benefit us directly or indirectly?
What if we could change the lives of people in a positive, lasting, and meaningful way forever?

Not that we need to be anonymous, pale, or blunt.
But in a way that we could switch lanes
Between anonymous and notorious
Without being seduced by either