Once, a long time ago when I was wondering how I could increase my income, a wise man told me "Life is service, just get out there and help others".
I laughed. I thought he was joking, or an idiot. That's the level of selfishness I was operating at - I wanted to know what I could do that would earn me enough money to stop having to do things for other people and get them to do things for me! He said that that was what was making me unhappy with my life, I wasn't doing enough for others.
And he was serious. And he said it again. "Life is service." This time I wanted to punch him or throw him out of the window, but, well, he was bigger than me, so I tried a bit harder to hear what he was saying and in the end, after many attempts to prove him wrong, I had to admit he was right.
I'm definitely not perfect yet (thank goodness) but I have more helpful days than unhelpful days. Now I know that there's nothing better to do with my time. That's what it says in my twitter bio. I try not to write anything here that isn't coming from that position of service. I want you to be helped by reading what I write. Even if that is just by seeing what my ordinary life looks like. I like to do the little things that other people leave. When everyone else is looking for the exit at the end of an event, I'm looking for ways I can help clean up. When the washing up needs doing, I'm your man. If you need cheering up, I might be on the next corner playing my ukulele and singing like a fool.
We're all here to help each other - there's nothing else to do.
Tonight I'm going to a thing. I don't know what it'll be like. It's in London. It'll be a bit posh, I expect. In the old days I'd have gone with a long list of things I wanted to get out of the event. People I wanted to get to know. Ways I thought I could expand my business. Instead, I'm going with an open mind, open eyes and open ears to see what's needed and to try to provide that, if I can. For fun and for free, because I want to.