As we go through this life, we have many opportunities to do good things. We also have instances where we may make poor choices or decisions. As we look back on our lives, more often than not it is these poor choices that stick with us. However, this is a burden we place on ourselves, as I really don’t think other people view us in this negative light. Think about the last memorial service you attended. I bet everyone who stood up to speak in the deceased’s honor had only glowing things to say about their friend or loved one. I’m certain no one stood up and said, “Bill had a really bad case of road rage,” or “Mary was so cheap she never gave a penny to charity.” So it’s interesting that these things stick out in our own minds. There are many things I’ve done well; I’ve helped other people out, donated to charity and so on. But in my own mind, there’s always that nagging feeling that I could’ve done more.
I remember many years ago, I went to Chicago’s beautiful lakefront on a Friday in early August with my mom and stepdad to watch the rehearsal for the annual Air and Water Show. The Friday rehearsal was the same show as the Saturday and Sunday show but with fewer crowds, so it was definitely the better day to go in my opinion. I remember it was extremely hot that day, without a cloud in the sky as the sun beat down. As I sat on a bench, I diverted my eyes from the sky and saw a very old man walking with his empty paper plate, piled with napkins and used plastic utensils, to the garbage can. He was dressed so dapper in his white starched short sleeve shirt, bow tie, and pressed navy blue pants. As I watched him, there was a gust of wind, and his napkins and utensils blew to the ground. For some reason, I didn’t get up to help him clean up the mess. I just sat there, rooted to the bench as I watched him carefully and slowly bend over and gather up all the fallen items. And he did make sure to pick up every piece. I’m not sure where his family was, or if he would’ve even welcomed the help from a stranger, but all these years later it still bothers me that I didn’t even offer my assistance. This old man has surely passed on by now and possibly never even gave this incident a second thought, but it stuck with me and still does.
In a poem called “Regret” (https://thepracticalpoet.com/regret-from-gather-seeds-of-hope/) from this same book (https://thepracticalpoet.com/books/) I mentioned inaction regrets. These are regrets about things that we didn’t do; pursue a new job, move to a different state; ask someone out on a date. I suppose this incident falls into that category. Since that incident, I do try to make a more conscious effort to lend a hand when I can, or a kind smile, or even just hold the door. It might be a small gesture, but it can leave a big impression on the recipient of that gesture, especially if he or she is having a challenging day.
There are many good things we do in this world, and these things leave an imprint or a legacy behind, but they’re often crowded out in our heads by the “bad” things we did, or the missed opportunities to take action. So let’s all make an effort to help out more, give a little back, and assist someone who’s struggling whenever we can; because the more good we do, the less room there is for the bad stuff to take root. When it’s time for us to depart this world, and people have to stand up and speak on our behalf, let’s make sure they don’t have to search very far to find good things to say.
Footprints on the World
Every little thought you have
And everything you say,
Every interaction
With folks throughout the day,
Leaves a mark upon the world,
An imprint, if you will;
A footprint that you leave behind
Of good nature and goodwill.
For hopefully that is the case
With these prints we leave behind.
We want to be remembered
As being courteous and kind.
But we are only human
And as these footprints are embedded,
Surely as we look back,
There are things that we’ve regretted.
Like that time when our temper
Got the best of us,
As we shouted out our anger
And loudly made a fuss.
Or the time we didn’t stop
To help someone in a bind.
“Let someone else take care of them,”
We say, as we leave them behind.
Or that time we ignored the phone
When we knew a friend was calling.
“I’m busy making dinner now . . .
She’ll never know I’m stalling.”
But that friend, she really needed you,
And did not find you there.
She was left onto her own,
Thinking that you did not care.
We always think there is tomorrow
To call back on our friends.
We always think there is more time
To talk and make amends.
We’ll tell our friend tomorrow
Just how much she is worth.
But then we get the news
That she’s no longer on this earth.
That’s how quickly life can change
And it can leave us reeling
As we process through emotions
And all the things we’re feeling.
When we look back on our footprints
And those things we can’t forget,
That’s when we’re hardest on ourselves,
And we face the regret.
But those footprints that we leave behind
Aren’t just the negative.
We impact many lives each day—
Each moment that we live.
Like the time you made somebody laugh
When they were feeling blue,
Or helped out a neighbor
When they had too much to do.
Bringing in that puppy
So he didn’t have to roam,
And all the animals you saved
By giving them a home.
The time you helped a homeless man
By handing him some food;
The pleasure gained from giving back,
And how it helped your mood.
And that goodwill prompted you
To stop and help another;
These are the prints we leave behind
On the world and on each other.
So let’s make a pact unto ourselves
To give more every day,
So that the prints we leave behind
Aren’t quickly washed away
-K.A.Bloch-
