Creating a life that matters?

craftsy21

craftsy21

6,597
10
Joined
Jan 13, 2001
I know there's a book by this title, but i'm not referring to it...

My question is - how do you go about making a difference in the world everyday? It seems most of us are doomed to never really do anything meaningful with ourlives - so how exactly do you go about carving out a place for yourself in the world that's bigger than just you?

Broad question.. i apologize... just curious on NT'ers thoughts here. (ST's death got me a little shook up maybe?)
 
You just gotta chase what makes you passionate and hopefully you will inspire others and be a role model to youngsters growing up to succeed.
 
I'm an environmental studies major.
smile.gif
 
It depends what you consider making a difference in the world to be and what you find meaningful.
I'm only just starting to get comfortable with the fact that I am doomed to be a writer.
 
how do you go about making a difference in the world everyday? It seems most of us are doomed to never really do anything meaningful with our lives - so how exactly do you go about carving out a place for yourself in the world that's bigger than just you?
By not worrying about this type of garbage.
Click to expand...
 
But what DOES matter? What are noble pursuits in this day and age? Politics is a lost cause... too much corruption to ever make a real difference on your own,not to mention the amount of money it takes just to get your name in the ring for anything above the local level. And from there, everything you go after canbe looked at as sort of pointless - like klv, you'll be fighting the politicians of the world the rest of your life as they battle to keep globalizing theeconomy at the expense of the planet... you can go feed the hungry somewhere, but that's a temporary solution until somebody (a country with money andpower) really steps in and helps these people...

I don't know.. seems like everything is pretty meaningless when you really tear it apart... even if your intentions are good, if your results don'tshow up, have you really done anything?
 
i really dont care if i mattered to anyone. i know that i lived my life the way i wanted to, im not trying to make a difference for anyone else
 
i really dont care if i mattered to anyone. i know that i lived my life the way i wanted to, im not trying to make a difference for anyone else

laugh.gif
I think alot of people think that way its just that they dont want tobe seen as a heartless cold individual
Click to expand...
 
Originally Posted by Dirtylicious

how do you go about making a difference in the world everyday?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
make a filthy amount of money and generously dole it out to those in need


That seems like a temporary solution to a bigger problem though.. it's doing good, i suppose.. and it's helpful.. But i'm more interested inactually solving the problems of the world, saving the world, if you will... not just putting band-aids all over it.

I guess band-aids are the best most of us can do on our own though... kinda depressing.
 
I try to make a difference a little at a time by making the people around me (family, friends, and others) happy, and by donating my time and money towardshelping the needy throughout the year. It seems that if you set your sights too high from the get-go by constantly stressing about making a gigantic impact inthe world, it's going to be a recipe for disaster.

I say, just go with the flow... be a good person to yourself and others... and things will eventually fall into place.
pimp.gif
 
Originally Posted by Craftsy21

Originally Posted by kevin2nd

how do you go about making a difference in the world everyday?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
anonymous and random acts of kindness
Click to expand...

can't tell if this is sarcastic or not...
nerd.gif


i was being serious for a change. giving of yourself without receiving recognition is a powerful force.
 
Originally Posted by Craftsy21

Originally Posted by Dirtylicious

how do you go about making a difference in the world everyday?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
make a filthy amount of money and generously dole it out to those in need
Click to expand...

That seems like a temporary solution to a bigger problem though.. it's doing good, i suppose.. and it's helpful.. But i'm more interested in actually solving the problems of the world, saving the world, if you will... not just putting band-aids all over it.

I guess band-aids are the best most of us can do on our own though... kinda depressing.


I wouldn't call donating money a band-aid solution by any means.
I think what you're trying to get at is that you want to be hands on...rather than just "simply" donating money and letting others do thework.
 
Originally Posted by Bruce Uppercut

I try to make a difference a little at a time by making the people around me (family, friends, and others) happy, and by donating my time and money towards helping the needy throughout the year. It seems that if you set your sights too high from the get-go by constantly stressing about making a gigantic impact in the world, it's going to be a recipe for disaster.

I say, just go with the flow... be a good person to yourself and others... and things will eventually fall into place.
pimp.gif
Click to expand...

Pretty much just nailed my entire life the last 3 years.. i have a complete lack of focus on the here and now, my school work suffers.. my social life, theway i treat my friends and family.. it all suffers because I can't wrap my head around the big picture.
frown.gif


I wouldn't call donating money a band-aid solution by any means.
I think what you're trying to get at is that you want to be hands on...rather than just "simply" donating money and letting others do the work.
This sounds pretty spot on too... maybe the peace corps is for me or something? Any suggestions beyond that, of like... permanent work of thatsort?
Click to expand...
 
Currently I sponsor a child in Brazil but I would like to eventually join the Peace Corps of these days...
 
You have to figure out what matters to you and act on that. In the meantime be the best person you can be in your daily life.
 
I've got a big heart with bigger goals.

I've experienced a lot in my life that makes it seem impossible to do the things that I want to.

However, I try to learn from my experiences, and do what I can to ensure that the next person to walk in my shoes will have a smoother rode to stride on.

We often take for granted the life that we live and the sacrifices that someone in the past made so that we could live a better life.

I'll probably never have Bill Gates money, and realistically, I won't be able to be the philanthropist that I want to.

So I just try to make sacrifices and help people for humanity, and not personal glorification. I sometimes struggle with that, but I'm making progress.

There really isn't a right answer to this question.

If someone says that a life that matters to them is a life full of self-indulgence they aren't really wrong, because that's what matters to them.

I don't have any children on my own right now, but I look at the youth of today and shake me head because they aren't being taught the old fashionedethics and values that are necessary to live a meaningful life. Although I'm no father, there are a lot of people who look up to me, and I try to teachthem the things that have been taught to me by parents or by life. I feel good knowing that I've helped someone.

Sorry for the long unorganized rant.
 
Originally Posted by NYelectric

You have to figure out what matters to you and act on that. In the meantime be the best person you can be in your daily life.
Click to expand...

Yeah - i mean, i hear you... i am just having a hard time deciding what matters the most.
 
Yeah, totally understandable. In many ways I would say this is the big "What's the meaning of life" type question. It's one of the mostimportant questions we'll ever ask ourselves, and we're probably going to be thinking about it all of our lives.
How old are you?
 
The little things matter too. If you get caught up in the big ideas and neglect all the little things, you'll quickly find yourself dissatisfied with yourprogress and in the same rut you seem to be. You can do both.

I have my big plans that I know are going to take years and I have my little things that I do every day. I always feel like I could be doing more, but I hardlyever feel like I'm doing nothing. Peace Corps is something I'm looking forward to doing post graduation, I can't wait!
 
Originally Posted by NYelectric

Yeah, totally understandable. In many ways I would say this is the big "What's the meaning of life" type question. It's one of the most important questions we'll ever ask ourselves, and we're probably going to be thinking about it all of our lives.
How old are you?
Click to expand...

22, 23 in march. Still have a little over a year left of school though.. econ major. And I hear what you're saying - it really is the age oldquestion I guess.
The little things matter too. If you get caught up in the big ideas and neglect all the little things, you'll quickly find yourself dissatisfied with your progress and in the same rut you seem to be. You can do both.

I have my big plans that I know are going to take years and I have my little things that I do every day. I always feel like I could be doing more, but I hardly ever feel like I'm doing nothing. Peace Corps is something I'm looking forward to doing post graduation, I can't wait!
yeah - this is what i need to work on. I'm just so easily distracted by trying to figure out "what it all means"
Click to expand...
 
I have the same problem as you as far as getting distracted by the big picture and wondering what it all means. I'm still working on it.
Where I am in my life now seems so temporary, and I can't stop thinking about where I will be in even a years time. But thinking about it so much iskeeping me from actually getting there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

The ultimate sneaker enthusiast community.

NikeTalk was created as a way of giving back to both the sneaker enthusiast community and to the greater global community of which we are all a part.

NikeTalk is NOT affiliated with Nike Inc. in any way, shape, or form. All opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Nike, Inc.

© 1999-2024 NikeTalk.com

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom