Making a Difference in This World
to be remembered . He answered that he wanted to know whether he had made an important difference in this world . He added that he felt that if he could not make an important difference then his life would be meaningless .
Making a Difference in This World
As I pondered my patient ’ s question , I queried , “ Which do you value more ? Being remembered , or making a difference in a positive way ?” I reminded him about the quote by poet Ralph Waldo Emerson : Life is a journey , not a destination . Thus , I wondered whether my patient ’ s efforts in his quest to make a difference were of greater importance than being remembered .
We discussed that when my patient makes a difference in the lives of his loved ones or friends , his influence can then be felt throughout their thoughts and actions . When parents raise their children and teach them about their knowledge , beliefs , and values , they impact the world through their child ’ s actions . Consider the parents of the famous people we remember . Most of the parents are not remembered , but without their influence , what would the famous have accomplished ? Analogously , teachers can make an impact through their students .
Through charity , we can also make a long-lasting difference in the world . For example , if we contribute to the provision of clean water in impoverished areas , we can help save people ’ s lives . I suggested that giving to charity can make life meaningful even if the donor is unknown or not remembered . The 12th-century Jewish Rabbi Moses Maimonides stated that one of the highest forms of charity is when the donor does not know to whom they give , and the recipient does not know from whom they receive .
I encouraged my patient to think about the unknown people who tamed fire , invented the wheel , domesticated wild ani‐ mals , mastered agriculture , and developed written language . None of these people are remembered , in spite of having made a lasting impact on our world .
Should our contribution to the world gene pool through pro‐ creation be considered a way of making an important differ‐ ence in the world ? After all , with each succeeding generation of our progeny , it becomes more and more