Saving the world

The consistent prayer in my heart lately is, "Please, dear God, allow me to get through the holidays without having to verbally/mentally battle through political, church and relationship-status debates and heated conversation."

Anyway....

On to saving the world.

I have an extended family member from my dad's side, whom, when I talk to her, I always feel like I should be doing more to save the world. You may think this is a positive, worth-while feeling. Motivation to make the world a better place. But no.... I just feel resentful of the fact that her love and respect seem to depend upon whether I'm doing what, in her mind, is needed to save the world.

Here's the thing, guys. Sure, in my dream world I'd be out there fighting the good fight. Advocating for causes in which I believe. Paving ways. Saving starving children and rescuing women who are trafficked for sex. But guys...I'm tired. And sometimes it's a tremendous accomplishment to still breath and walk and talk and treat people in a civilized manor. The fact that I'm in the office today (on my lunch break, in case you're wondering) is a HUGE accomplishment. Because I litterally typed out the text to my boss, "I'm not feeling well today..." and planned on following that up with, "I'm staying home and I'll log on later." But, I stopped. Closed out of the text message...laid in bed and restelled a little more...and then got out of bed to get dressed. THAT WAS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. Am I saving lives by going to work? No. But I feel a little more productive than I would have.

The other thing is, we don't know whose lives we're saving in our mundane day-to-day lives. For instance, this morning, when I was getting ready to go to work (but was still on the fence about actually  going all the way until I stepped out into the frigid cold to make my way to the bus stop) one of my dear cousins called me. She left me a voicemail, because my phone was on silent... But listening to her message saved me a bit. It reminded me, even on a Monday morning, when I have to wake up alone, face the week by myself...and walk out into the cold (literally and figuratively) world, I'm on someone's mind.

So, no...I'm not actively out there holding signs, creating nonprofit groups, campaigning, or arguing my point on every Buzfeed article posted to facebook. I'm getting out of bed in the morning. I'm putting one foot in front of the other. And hopefully, I'm doing what my cousin did for me today: unknowingly blessing the lives around me with the simple things.