You are probably more than a little acquainted with the classic Frank Capra directed movie called It's A Wonderful Life (1946), starring James Stewart and Donna Reed. You have likely seen the movie at least a dozen times. You might even have memorized many of the scenes, and the spoken lines in the movie. Have you ever thought of yourself in the same way as Jimmy Stewart's character?
For the very likely no more than three people who are not familiar with the story, here is brief plot summary:
It is actually a dark, bittersweet post-war tale of a savings-and-loan manager who struggles against a greedy banker and his own self-doubting nature in a small town. Earnest do-gooder George Bailey (James Stewart) recognizes his life as wonderful and truly rich, even in its humdrum and bleak nature, only after suffering many hardships, mishaps and fateful trials (including compromised dreams of youth to leave the town and seek fame and fortune, other sacrifices, dismay, losses and the threat of financial ruin, and suicide). He is given encouragement by a whimsical, endearing, trainee-angel named Clarence (Henry Travers).
Okay, you say, where do you enter the picture? That pun was fully intended, by the way; but I digress. When Stewart's character George Bailey is in the depths of dispair about what he perceives to be the failure of his own life, his trainee guardian angel Clarence gives him a glimpse of what life would have been like had he never been born. The scenes presented to Bailey, in the Dickensian tradition, are not pleasant. Without Bailey's help and encouragement, often at personal cost to himself, the people whose lives he touched would have been much different. The difference would not have been good.
Like George Bailey, we often touch the lives of many people, as we live our own lives, and carry on our businesses and careers. If we make a point to offer help and assistance to others, we can make a positive contribution to someone's quality of life. We can assist and encourage them in their business ventures, or perhaps help them overcome a personal obstacle in their life's path. Whether we know it or not, when we touch someone else's life, we do make a difference.
Should you ever be on a bridge in your life, contemplating your place in the grand scheme of things, remember that you have made more of a difference than you might realize at first glance. Every person you offered a helping hand experienced a change in their lives; thanks to you.
When you go through your day, your week, and the rest of your life, think of helping others. Make a real difference in changing someone's world for the better. While there might be no real or tangible payoff to your kindness, what counts is the feeling in your heart. When you look back on your life, look back with fond memories of the good that you have done for others.
Make a committment today to help at least one person per week. I have already made the pledge to assist at least one person every day. By changing the world, one person at a time, we can all make life better for everyone. When we all do our part, the number of people with smiles on their faces increases exponentially. Share your knowledge, your caring, and your life with someone today.
When you make the world a better and brighter place for others, you can truly say about yourself, that It's A Wonderful Life.
