PostSecret
October 17, 2007
There is a site called postsecret.com where you can go and read postcards of secrets that people have sent. Some are deep, others are light, and still others are just real. You find that you are not alon and that the world is so much smaller than it is…
They come from all over and still have the same themes: wanting to belong, wanting to be loved, just wanting, apologies, lies, deception, freedom, and any and every other emotion that makes us more human. It is through reading these ’secrets’ that others feel empowered. Whether it be because they connect with what is being said or their emotions are sparked, these secrets make them want to do/be better.
Such is the premise of good will towards men; the feeling we get around the holiday times where we want to be a little kinder to our fellow man. But why is it that we need a reason to be kinder? Why do we need some sort of motivating factor? So many things are great because they appeal to our emotions and tug on our heart strings, but why do we need that pull to be a better person?
There was a movie a while back called Pay It Forward where this kid came up with the idea to do something nice for someone and only asked that they do something nice for someone else as repayment. The concept was known as ‘paying it forward.’ Idealistic as it was, it showed how one good deed could affect so many, but it is really not far off base. If we started out with the intent to do that which we are motivated to do emotionally, who is to say that the world could not be a little kinder?
We all gather around in times of trouble and sympathisize with our fellow man. Why can’t we help them on any other day? Our treasures on earth will not follow us unto death so what stops us from aiding others? It is the selfishness of man that intrigues me, but it is the motivation of man that is far more interesting.
Tags: empowered, good will, sympathisize, motivation
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