Over the years Mable had made a collection of the nice notes that others had given her. She saved them in chronological order. Now as she realized that her days were numbered, she decided to review these notes as she relived her life.
The original notes were a disappointment. They were primarily ones of congratulations for awards she had received or other achievements. Then she came across the note that had changed her life.
It was a hand-written note. The author of the note praised Mable for changing her life. The author’s name was attached.
Mable remembered how troubled she was when she received the note. She was pleased that she had such an impact, but she didn’t remember the author or what she had done. She thought about why she had forgotten what was so impactful. At first, she suspected her memory, but she remembered other things around that time in great detail. She really struggled with why she didn’t remember the situation.
That’s when she realized something that would become a crucible moment in her life. It wasn’t really that important that she kept in her memory what she had done. What was much more important was how she had changed a life for the better.
And then she reached the insight that she would change her own life. “What if I approached every interaction with another person as one that could have a positive impact on them.” She began to practice this new way as she interacted with others.”
As she continued to read the notes sent to her, she was surprised by how many of them described how she had changed their lives. And even more surprising, she remembered few of these situations.
This was the life affirmation she had sought in reviewing her collection of notes. Maybe the best things we do with our life are those we forget. They represent our real self rather than the celebrated one. What matters is how we respond to every moment of opportunity to make a difference.