I loved this the moment I saw it because it recognizes the human condition for most of us.
Grounded in the tangible world around us, while recognizing the no-limits nature of the sky above–whether it’s opportunity just waiting to be taken or spirituality–and that burning desire to do something to contribute.
At first glance, “doing something to give back” might be considered something that only the privileged can afford to do. But that’s not the case at all. While it’s true that many people must primarily focus on the ground below their feet just to survive–I think of working class families, for one–it doesn’t preclude giving back. The act of raising kids to be caring and productive members of society is a huge contribution to society, in my opinion.
Looking around at my generation, the Baby Boomers, I love seeing so many of us exercising our passion to do something meaningful, something that reflects our purpose on earth. It’s easier to do that once the most active stage of our primary working and family lives has ended.
And while we’ve earned the right to sit on our butts and do nothing in retirement, most of my peers aren’t content to do that. They want to do something. Or do more.
It’s a disappointment that so much of what we thought we could achieve back when we were young adults hasn’t come to pass. I’m pretty sure we all thought the nation would be kinder and gentler by now and many of us are shocked at how thin the veneer of civilization is and how brutal society can still be.
But we haven’t lost our passion. We haven’t given up. We still want to be part of positive change in the world.
Because that fire within still burns for us.
I’d love your thoughts about your own generation and the fire within it.
I think my generation’s fire may be waning. We are the “adults”now and looks at everything that has come to pass…I don’t know where the world went so out of control but my fire to engage with it is pretty much extinguished.
I am more on fire than ever. What has happened to our country in the last 60 days is enough to put me out there, protesting, calling, having meetings, writing. I was a child in the sixties, and never protested in my life until recently. Town halls and protests are now frequent, and I intend to continue.
I think my generation had been a hard-working, behind-the-scenes folks. but let’s thank Trump for one thing: he’s fired us up. We are into active resistance and trying to right the world. We have learned from our complacency. We are Out There!
This is an amazing post. Thank you! Anyone can give back. It doesn’t have to cost a ton of money. Give a smile, simply be kind, run an errand for someone in need, sit with a friend who is grieving. It doesn’t take a lot to do something nice for people, but it means the world to them, and can make you feel awesome, too.
This the basis of my blog. It is my belief that older woman are the most powerful brand females come in. It is imperative that we use this power and give back to our communities. Thanks for the wise words. 🙂
I think my generation has big dreams and high hopes for themselves but often lose passion because of circumstances where it seems impossible to reach their goals. Millenlials are being seen as lazy and entitled and while so are most aren’t. They graduate from high school, then college with hopes of being able to find work right afterwards and often get hit with reality that no matter what they do right nothing is guaranteed for them.
I still have my fire. I am seeing more and more passion in others. My younger sister, for example. She turns 50 this year, she has two young children and has become a completely badass activist. I am so proud of her.
Lovely thought.When I was a kid my mother use to tell that no one will work for you. You have to work for your goodness. And for that, you need to have a fire within you. That fire gives me the motivation to wake up every morning and work hard to chase my dreams. Everyone has a different kind of fire and the outer world tries to extinguish that firee but doesn’t sit back. Just work hard.
While I’m a part of Generation X, I sometimes take on the characteristics of the older generations. Things in my generation and younger are too fluid and accountability seems to be lost. I take this as a charge to make accountability cool again.
My thoughts on my generation? I love that we’re strong enough to stand up when we disagree, but still respectful enough (at least, the ones I hang out with) to do it kindly. I know and am friends with people on both sides of most arguments – and yet somehow we all manage to get along just fine, because we take the time to respect what other people think. For us, that’s what giving back is all about – and you don’t draw flies with vinegar anyhow, you do it with honey.
As for other ways of giving back – I agree, there are lots of ways to get the job done, even if you aren’t able to do it monetarily. For my family, we often do it just by exercising kindness and compassion to those around us. We make it a point to compliment people, to find the good in them, to foster and shelter the good in those around us so that it can grow. We offer unsolicited smiles, we wish people a good day, and we genuinely listen to them. For people who need that, it makes all the difference in the world.
I was expecting the same thing from the world. We’ve gone through so much to achieve what we have now and yet here we are, abusing it or not doing enough to maintain it. I think it’s nice to see people try though, it’s better than just giving up.
This is such a great post and that quote is just so amazing. I might have to ‘steal’ it for my vision board! But I would agree with you, our generation seems to have a fire for pursuing passion jobs and hobbies rather than being happy with just any paycheque. And I’m all for it! Heck, that’s why I’m a ‘starving’ writer ; )
We think our generation has always had its fire. Of course its so hard to generalize a whole generation. But individuals and large groups of people are definitely working together to improve the world.
I hope we never lose the fire within us Carol. I think you know that I’m not one to sit back and let the fire go out. However, we all need reminding sometimes. Loved your post and keep those fires burning!
Thank you for this beautiful post. My sister and I (90s kids) have discussed the idea that we see, more and more, how everyday people are waking up, listening to their heart and wanting to make a positive difference to humanity, in a myriad of ways. It’s what inspired us to reach out in our little way (our blog). The calling/fire is getting stronger and stronger, in all of us. We’re living in exciting times!
I agree with everything you have said. I am from the same generation. I do feel now that everything in this generation is more attainable. We just have to keep trying.
My generation now is more focused on career/ themselves than relationship. People need more compassion and a little kindness which our generation ignores.
Beautifully put, no matter what age you are you should still have that passion or fire within to make a change.No matter what you have the power to create a better society and any contribution is better than none x
I think I have lots of fire left inside of me! Unfortunately so many in my generation I feel are just lazy and want handouts. Wish more people would follow their passion
My fire continues to burn, but took an unexpected turn when my office closed in 2015. I had to move my mom into memory care, and I go there 2-3x a week to do activities with them. I try to do crafts, but they are really happy playing BINGO. Also – I read a book OUTCASTS UNITED – about a refugee soccer team in one of the most diverse communities in the country – low and behold – it is an exit away from me in Clarkston Ga. – so I am going to find something to do there when I get a good schedule nailed down.
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I think my generation’s fire may be waning. We are the “adults”now and looks at everything that has come to pass…I don’t know where the world went so out of control but my fire to engage with it is pretty much extinguished.
I am more on fire than ever. What has happened to our country in the last 60 days is enough to put me out there, protesting, calling, having meetings, writing. I was a child in the sixties, and never protested in my life until recently. Town halls and protests are now frequent, and I intend to continue.
I think my generation had been a hard-working, behind-the-scenes folks. but let’s thank Trump for one thing: he’s fired us up. We are into active resistance and trying to right the world. We have learned from our complacency. We are Out There!
This is an amazing post. Thank you! Anyone can give back. It doesn’t have to cost a ton of money. Give a smile, simply be kind, run an errand for someone in need, sit with a friend who is grieving. It doesn’t take a lot to do something nice for people, but it means the world to them, and can make you feel awesome, too.
This the basis of my blog. It is my belief that older woman are the most powerful brand females come in. It is imperative that we use this power and give back to our communities. Thanks for the wise words. 🙂
I think my generation has big dreams and high hopes for themselves but often lose passion because of circumstances where it seems impossible to reach their goals. Millenlials are being seen as lazy and entitled and while so are most aren’t. They graduate from high school, then college with hopes of being able to find work right afterwards and often get hit with reality that no matter what they do right nothing is guaranteed for them.
I still burn with passion. It what keeps me going. We don’t ever retire from life.
I still have my fire. I am seeing more and more passion in others. My younger sister, for example. She turns 50 this year, she has two young children and has become a completely badass activist. I am so proud of her.
Lovely thought.When I was a kid my mother use to tell that no one will work for you. You have to work for your goodness. And for that, you need to have a fire within you. That fire gives me the motivation to wake up every morning and work hard to chase my dreams. Everyone has a different kind of fire and the outer world tries to extinguish that firee but doesn’t sit back. Just work hard.
While I’m a part of Generation X, I sometimes take on the characteristics of the older generations. Things in my generation and younger are too fluid and accountability seems to be lost. I take this as a charge to make accountability cool again.
Yup, I still have fire, that’s for sure. I want the world to remain good for my kids, so I’ll fight for that.
My thoughts on my generation? I love that we’re strong enough to stand up when we disagree, but still respectful enough (at least, the ones I hang out with) to do it kindly. I know and am friends with people on both sides of most arguments – and yet somehow we all manage to get along just fine, because we take the time to respect what other people think. For us, that’s what giving back is all about – and you don’t draw flies with vinegar anyhow, you do it with honey.
As for other ways of giving back – I agree, there are lots of ways to get the job done, even if you aren’t able to do it monetarily. For my family, we often do it just by exercising kindness and compassion to those around us. We make it a point to compliment people, to find the good in them, to foster and shelter the good in those around us so that it can grow. We offer unsolicited smiles, we wish people a good day, and we genuinely listen to them. For people who need that, it makes all the difference in the world.
I was expecting the same thing from the world. We’ve gone through so much to achieve what we have now and yet here we are, abusing it or not doing enough to maintain it. I think it’s nice to see people try though, it’s better than just giving up.
This is such a great post and that quote is just so amazing. I might have to ‘steal’ it for my vision board! But I would agree with you, our generation seems to have a fire for pursuing passion jobs and hobbies rather than being happy with just any paycheque. And I’m all for it! Heck, that’s why I’m a ‘starving’ writer ; )
We think our generation has always had its fire. Of course its so hard to generalize a whole generation. But individuals and large groups of people are definitely working together to improve the world.
I hope we never lose the fire within us Carol. I think you know that I’m not one to sit back and let the fire go out. However, we all need reminding sometimes. Loved your post and keep those fires burning!
As long as you still have music in you, just do it! And make every moment counts 🙂
I wish we had enough time to do everything we wanted. Time flies and I feel like I am not accomplishing enough though 🙁
Thank you for this beautiful post. My sister and I (90s kids) have discussed the idea that we see, more and more, how everyday people are waking up, listening to their heart and wanting to make a positive difference to humanity, in a myriad of ways. It’s what inspired us to reach out in our little way (our blog). The calling/fire is getting stronger and stronger, in all of us. We’re living in exciting times!
I agree with everything you have said. I am from the same generation. I do feel now that everything in this generation is more attainable. We just have to keep trying.
My generation now is more focused on career/ themselves than relationship. People need more compassion and a little kindness which our generation ignores.
We should always keep our fire burning! Never give up on anything
xo
jen
effortlesseverydaystyle.com
Beautifully put, no matter what age you are you should still have that passion or fire within to make a change.No matter what you have the power to create a better society and any contribution is better than none x
I think I have lots of fire left inside of me! Unfortunately so many in my generation I feel are just lazy and want handouts. Wish more people would follow their passion
My fire continues to burn, but took an unexpected turn when my office closed in 2015. I had to move my mom into memory care, and I go there 2-3x a week to do activities with them. I try to do crafts, but they are really happy playing BINGO. Also – I read a book OUTCASTS UNITED – about a refugee soccer team in one of the most diverse communities in the country – low and behold – it is an exit away from me in Clarkston Ga. – so I am going to find something to do there when I get a good schedule nailed down.