Category: Making A Difference

I saved a bee this morning.

It was stuck in my window. Moving quite slowly. Seemingly near the end of its life.

I got a cup and paper towel.

I guided the bee into the cup and used the paper towel to keep it inside while I walked downstairs to let it outside.

Once outside, I let off the paper towel by a tree so that it could walk onto a branch.

To my delight, it flew away as soon as it sensed fresh air.

It took me less than three minutes to do this.

Will this action change the world?

No.

…Not in any grand way at least.

But will this being-willing-to-do-something-for-the-greater-good-irrespective-of-impact-size attitude change the world?

…I’d say in more ways than the number of dollars on this earth.

Something magical happens when people come together with the intention of giving and sharing versus getting and receiving.

Think about the morning of a gift exchange. If all people come together leading with the intention of giving and sharing—it’s magical. Everyone gives… yet everyone leaves with more than they gave. Which is even true if they happened to receive something, too. The total of what’s given is greater than the total of the individual gifts. Magical—I know.

…When people come together leading with the intention of getting and receiving, however, the outcome changes dramatically. Even at the same gift exchange mentioned above… if the person’s focus is on themself and purely what they’re getting out of the exchange… the magic disappears. The total of what results is equal to or even less than the sum of the individual parts. Magic gone.

I met up with some friends this past weekend to discuss a trip we’re planning on taking together. This was not a gift-giving occasion by any means… yet tons of gifts were exchanged.

We all showed up with the intention of giving and sharing with each other… and a magic took over the evening. We shared food. We gave conversation. We shared laughs. We gave attention. We shared stories. We gave kindness. We shared games. We gave memories…

What resulted was worth exponentially more than the individual words and actions we took. And had we shown up with the intention of getting taken care of and/or receiving entertainment… the energy would’ve been drastically different that night.

Magic gone.

Same night.

Simple change in intention.

Maybe give it a try at your next gathering of people.

Whether you’re born privileged or born poor…

Whether you grow up with a large family or are raised as an only child by a single parent…

Whether you have 50 friends or one friend…

Whether you graduate top of your class with a Ph.D. or drop out after high school…

Whether you climb the corporate ladder or work minimum wage jobs throughout your life…

Whether you have kids at 16 or 46 and whether you have 1 kid, 4 kids, 8 kids, or none at all…

Whether you are neurotypical or neurodivergent…

Whether you have exceptional abilities or a disability…

Whether you travel the world or live in the same place your whole life…

Whether you have access to all of the latest technology or none of it at all…

All of the above have examples of people—both alive today and from throughout history—who have lived incredible lives despite their starting or ongoing circumstances.

So long as there is an unfolding path in front of you, there’s a chance for self-actualized beauty, inspiration, and awe in one’s life.

Where the argument can’t be made, however, is when innocent people’s paths are abruptly and tragically ended.

And right now, there’s a genocide happening in our world—in 2026—in Gaza.

As of today, 21,000 children have been confirmed killed in Gaza since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023.

…Children.

Little people who will never get the chance to walk their path towards self-actualized anything in their life.

…And the killing is still happening today.

My mind can’t grasp it. My heart breaks. My soul feels enraged.

My inner work thought of the day is simple: Free Palestine.

Yesterday, on the day of my uncle’s wedding, I got a text from his fiancé—soon to be wife.

She texted me playlist links, music signal cues, order of events, and other details pertaining to the DJing and emceeing of the wedding.

She had so much faith in me to rise to the occasion that she casually sent it to me the day of the wedding itself—details that I hadn’t seen or heard about prior to that text at all.

…And that trust?

…That faith?

…That casual belief that was lended to me in that moment?

Absolutely made me rise to the occasion to make sure they had the best day of their lives.

In that moment… in the few hours leading up to the wedding… there was no room for worry or overthinking.

And even though my mind wanted desperately to go there—I kept it focused on the love and generosity of their trust and belief.

And it was through that energy that we were able to make some wedding magic happen for two people who I admire, respect, and love dearly.

And when somebody lends that kind of trust and belief in you… maybe you, too, can alchemize it into a magical kind of energy…

When I was a kid, I used to play football in the street, basketball in driveways, and wrestle—WWE style—on front lawns. And knew it was time to go home when the streetlights came on.

Nobody had a cell phone. Nobody had a tablet. And we were too busy IRL to really care about video games.

Fences, stairs, and stoops were our playgrounds. Gravity, concrete, and cooperation were our teachers. And it was the whole neighborhood who raised us.

I wouldn’t trade this upbringing for anything. But know that times have changed. With screens galore and billions being poured into keeping us glued to them… there has never been a bigger need for initiatives that lead us into the IRL.

…And somebody needs to lead.

My plea with today’s post is simple: what’s something you can start that’s off screen? Who can you involve that would love to help? How can we give this new generation a taste of what it’s like to really live in this IRL world?

Early last week, I got a call from a student of mine who’s like a little sister.

She asked if I was going to a martial arts tournament that she was competing in that weekend—and I told her I wasn’t planning on it.

She essentially put on her “puppy dog” voice and asked if I would go anyway.

…And so I did.

I booked a flight the next day, got a rental car, figured out my room and stay situation, and told myself I’d figure out the rest as I went.

…And I’m so glad I did.

Had that student not called me, I never would have gone. And I would’ve missed out on so many experiences, memories, and moments worth cherishing.

Sometimes we don’t call people to ask if they’ll go with us because we don’t want to “inconvenience them.” Or because we’re afraid they’ll say no or reject us in some way. Or because we figure if they wanted to go, they would’ve taken the initiative to make the plans themselves.

But here’s the thing: invitations are gifts.

…It’s how I genuinely feel about the invitation I was given by that student.

And by not extending invitations to people you would genuinely want to join you on a trip or to an experience or to be a part of shared moment… you’re withholding gifts to those very people.

Gifts that could very well give them something worth cherishing.