What makes you come alive?

What makes your eyes light up?

What is it that makes you come alive?

I remember a long time ago hearing of a young man who had just finished his studies and went to see a wise old family friend.  He said to the old man, 'Here I am, I have all my studies completed, what do you think I should do?  What do you think the world needs?'

The old man smiled and replied, 'Son, you're asking the wrong question.  The question you should be asking is, what makes you come alive; what makes you're eyes light up?  Go and find out what that is, and go do it, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.'

I've thought about this story often over the years and the message it carries for each of us. Life is a gift.  Also, it's not some kind of rehearsal for what's ahead - this is it!

Each of us can relate to being part of something that makes us come alive, yet so often we settle for much less.  We know what lights our eyes up.  We know what gives us a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction.

Why then do we spend so much time simply going through the motions of life?

Early in a new year it's a good time to reflect and ask ourselves these questions afresh.  It may be time for a change.  It may be time to do something we've never done before.  It might be that coming alive requires us to push out of the comfort zone a little.

Whatever it is, if it truly makes us come alive, those in our circle of influence will notice and benefit for sure.