Last night I received a motivating call from a young man and his mother. And this led me to call Mary. My tourist of humanity. My friend and sister of this incredible world. She gave me “homework”. I’m pretty sure we both were a wine bottle deep by this time. East coast gals. We love our missions and wine. Anyway she gave me homework for this blog….write about the most inspirational advice that led me on my path.

The story of a bucket. When I was in my 20s I was living with Chris and working at a retail store. It was a great environment but I felt I was under appreciated and deserving of more. I did my job but for what ever reason thought I was deserving of more. My boss at the time had heard of my grumblings and threats to leave.

I walked into her office after being summoned and she invited me to sit. Between us was a bucket of water. She looked up at me and the following happened…

Her: What do you see?

Me: Uhhhh

Her: In front of us.

Me. A bucket of water. (Duh)

Her: Describe it.

Me: It’s water. It’s still. Flat.

Her: Put your finger in it and tell me what happens.

Me: (what the fuck??) ok….it ripples and moves.

Her: Leave it there still for a second and then tell me what happens.

Me: (she’s insane) it goes still and flat.

Her: Ok…take your finger out and tell me what happens.

Me: (I’m getting it now) It ripples and moves.

Her: And now?

Me: Its flat and still.

Her: You made ripples when you came in and changed the surface of things. Then things went back to normal. Should you choose to leave you will make ripples. But after a period of time things will quiet and still.

I’ve used this analogy over the years many times. And I’ve taken it to heart. We are all replaceable. Morbid and depressing right? Not if you take the context out of the work place.

We are all truly replaceable. There is someone out there with our same skills. There is someone out there more caring. More good. But that doesn’t mean you won’t cause ripples or movement that motivate people.

Think about waves. They literally cause waves. But there is another wave being created behind them. They aren’t the same yet serve the same purpose. Humans are the same.

So make ripples knowing that in a flash it will be gone. Dance. Move. Live. Know that your move will be your own. And take comfort in the fact that life will continue long after you are gone. After all that’s why we are here. Not to simply be still….but to cause those ripples so that others might surf on the waves we’ve left behind.