This post is my ongoing daily participation in
's fantastic Index4Index Initiative. Read his post, and get yourself involved!
Today's Index4Index Daily Inspired Motivation is about being a good human, and not just in one area of our lives, but across all dimensions of our Humanity. Being a good human, in all domains, and in everything that we do, is to me one of the absolute essentials in any discussion on the true meaning of success.
"Success to me is being a good person, treating people well."
- David LaChapelle
NOTE: The word 'person', from the Greek 'persona', means our acceptable social mask, which is the opposite of what I mean, so I usually choose other words, like 'human', if I can help it.
I don't care how talented or skilled an individual is in a particular area of his or her life, if s/he does not show a kind regard for his or her fellow beings, both human and non-human, then I have no interest in interacting. Period. Love, kindness, compassion, gentleness, understanding, care, generosity...if these are not present in someone's daily actions and behaviors, can this individual in any real or meaningful way be called a 'success'? To me the answer is a resounding 'NO'!
Being a good human is as beneficial for us as it is for those with whom we come in contact, for it nurtures the same qualities in others toward us as those that we demonstrate toward them. So much beauty can be created from such simple acts.
Our greatest and most enduring success are the seeds of love and awareness that we plant in the hearts of all those that cross our path, rippling ever outward, through the lives of people we may never meet. We can't even fully conceive of how far our simple acts of kindness can reach, or the effects that they can have in humanity and in the world.
Be a good human. That is all!
Remember, dear friends, that we are all in this together, that we rise by lifting others, and that together we thrive, so onward and upward, joyfully together! 😁🙏💚⚡💥🔥✴️✳️❇️👣🌱✨