Our Most Important Job

Who sits at the center of your world? You do.

Who sits at the center of the other guys' world? He does (or she does).

And the cow, too, sits at the center of its world.

This means that you must be aware that when you walk into

someone else's life, someone else sits at the center,

and you are but a satellite.

And yet we are all in the same world.

~TzvI Freeman

This is our challenge.

Every day is comprised of two essential elements: me and you. Me comes first. Me comes first because that is just the way it is. When I came into the world, all I knew was me. Everything was about me. Am I hungry? Am I warm enough? Is it quiet? Is my diaper dry? Where's my mama?

Me. Me. Me. Babies are all about me.

The strange thing is that everyone who is part of the baby's life is deeply touched by this recently arrived, self-centered being. So maybe, just maybe, this little one actually comes into this world with some inherent capacity to give, even though she superficially seems to be all about me, me, me.

Hmmm...

At some deeper, more encompassing level, all of us are given uncountable gifts from this helpless, selfish little one. A gentle look in the eyes. A soft touch. A warm smile. An irresistible laugh. A pure soul. Giving may actually be an inherent part of us we must continue to relearn and improve all the days of our lives.

Babies are all about “me”

But back to me, me, me and the journey we take all the way to we. Parents, from day one, have been programmed to guide their children towards we. For thousands of years they've been saying: Remember, share. Say please, thank you and you're welcome. Be nice to your little sister. Say I'm sorry. Listen to Grandma. Remember to feed Fluffy.

Every one of these ancient parental lessons is meant to help our little ones transition from self-centered to we-centered.

But there are also many essential parts of me that need mindful development: Who am I? What's my purpose? What do I love? What juices me? What isn't good for me? How much exercise do I need? How much sleep? How much alone time?

We need a solid me foundation.

But we need a me that is able to care about you and is able to create many, many we's. Me is cool. Me is important. Me is necessary. But a world without we's can't exist. We require we in order to survive. We need we in order to thrive. We need we in order to celebrate this beautiful life we've been given.

Me and we go hand in hand.

Take time to focus on yourself

Just the other day our Livi and Lyza walked down to our house in the rain, hand-in-hand, holding an umbrella. They were bringing us a plate full of goodies.

Little ones doing we.

May we all learn from them and may we all demonstrate this sacred life skill everywhere we go!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Burt Gershater is an inspiring, nationally recognized speaker and trainer who sparks powerful changes in people’s lives. For nearly four decades Burt has worked with corporate CEOs, company managers, nonprofit executives and teams, professionals from many different industries and top collegiate athletes. Through his presentations, workshops, and consulting services, Burt draws upon his well-honed wisdom and insight to encourage deeply profound and life-altering transformations.

Participants in Burt’s programs report that he inspires them to believe in their ability to succeed-beyond their highest personal and professional dreams — and they leave equipped with the tools to make those dreams a reality.  After they’ve attended one of Burt’s presentations, clients say they experience more intense focus and greater productivity. They feel happier and more positive.

Offering programs that range from one-hour keynote talks to three-day intensive Leadership/Team-Building exercises, Burt customizes his messages for corporate and public sector groups and collegiate athletic teams. He also tailors specific programs for parents, students, and educators.

Burt Gershater is a Licensed Professional Counselor. He has been in private practice, leading seminars and delivering keynote talks, since the mid 1970s. A published writer and poet, and an avid Nordic skier and outdoorsman, Burt created and directed the award-winning TV news segment, Successful Living. His inspirational columns, Awaken Your Inner Hero™, appear in the Arizona Daily Sun. Clients include Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Wells Fargo Bank, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Company, Bank One Mortgage, The National Parks Service, United States Geological Survey, Club Med, Flagstaff Medical Center, The Arizona Snowbowl and the Navajo & Hopi Tribes

His programs are powerful, moving and often hilarious. No one leaves untouched.

You can find out more about Burt’s services on his site.