It is intrinsic human nature to want to believe that your input holds some level of importance in the world. Makes you feel like you matter…you know? I mean all of us matter. We are all composed of matter so therefore in a literal sense everybody matters. In the context of my words however, I’m speaking more so in terms of an influential sense rather than a fact brought on by mere existence.
I don’t want to put words in anybody else’s mouths, nor do I wish to make assumptions about the thought processes of others, but from my perspective I sometimes find it difficult to put forth my energy into what I deem to be meaningless endeavors. Call it a bout of crippling existentialism, if you will.
I used to be so quiet to the point of invisibility. How could little ole me be of any eminence?
About a decade ago, I stumbled upon one of those websites that lists a million-bo-billion quotes from a plethora of famous people. My middle-school self was searching for some sort of motivation during one of my countless what is the point of paying attention during algebra class when I doubt I’ll ever need to know the value of X in the big kid world phases. I looked for inspiration in the words of other people who’d survived high school courses and all that mumbo jumbo. Really, above everything else, I was pining my way through a thick forest in search of some sense of purpose, but it was to no avail, as if the trees were too dense to spot any glimmer of hope. I was not all convinced that anything I did held any significance because I was one girl on a little blue planet with an occupation of 7+ billion people.
I came to terms with the reality that a lot of what you do will go unnoticed. I will not promise you that you will receive recognition, not to mention praise, for much of what you do with yourself during your time on this rotating ball of land and sea. However, I can promise you that everything you do is worth it in its entirety. Once upon a time, Mahatma Gandhi – inarguably one of the most memorable individuals to grace this earth – shed light on this feeling of unimportance. He insisted that “whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it” regardless. You are a compilation of everything you do, whether in public eye or in the comfort of your own space, but no matter where you are, what you do matters.
In the grand scheme of things, I understand that I’m just one small human being.
I do.
And my words might not hold much weight at the end of the day, but I have learned to say them anyway. I continue to speak despite my soft-spoken nature because I’ve come to realize that I’m important. I’m here and I matter…and I’m only saying this because I want you all to know that you matter, too. I know sometimes when the day turns to night and the sun exchanges places with the moon it’s hard to keep your demons silent, but I need you to know that you’re significant.
Without you, nothing would be the same. Absolutely nothing would be the same if you did not exist. I think I pulled that line from something I read once upon a time, so due credit to its origin, but it resonated with me on a level with more depth than any body of water.
If you were not alive, the planets would spin a little less perfectly. The sun would shine a little less brightly. The stars would twinkle a little less beautifully. Everything would be less.
You don’t need to be known worldwide to be memorable. Your songs don’t need to be played on the radio to be considered beautiful tunes. Your writing doesn’t have to hit the bookshelves of corporate bookstores to be worth reading. Your personal record – be it track, swimming, softball, you name it – does not require an Olympic medal to be validated or impressive.
You touch the souls of everyone around you every day. There’s someone out there who will fall in love with you and earn the privilege of listening to you sing with open ears. Somebody will find comfort and solace in your poetry and prose. You make your coaches’ eyes well up with happy tears when you improve in your sport.
Don’t let your sparkle dull just because your fan base is not comprised of the entire world. Keep sharing a kind word with the homeless people you pass by on city street corners. Don’t stop saying thank you very much to your bus drivers. Continue to smile at passing strangers bustling through the crowds. Every little act of kindness counts. You instill hope in people who might not have much left in their reservoir when you spread love. Part of the problem that stems from people feeling insignificant is that they do not make an effort. They assume others will instead. Don’t fall victim to the bystander effect because your voice, no matter its volume, deserves to be heard.
A bar of soap and the shampoo bottle next to your shower curtain may be the only two in attendance at your solo mic session. Maybe your lyrics won’t be taken in by anything other than the walls of your shower, but you know what you should do?
Sing anyway.
Maybe the lamp on your nightstand and the moon illuminating your bedroo are your only company when it’s 4am and you’re spilling your thoughts onto paper in the form of ink-stained poetry. Your words might never be shared with the outside world, but you know what you should do?
Write anyway.
Maybe your knack for creating music doesn’t leave the confines of your basement...but you know what you should do?
Bang those drums anyway.
Toot your horn anyway.
Play your keyboard with passion anyway.
Make music anyway.
Even if it’s only one person who’s aware of your talent.
Even if that one person is you.
Do it all anyway.
