Where's The Genie?

If you could do absolutely anything you wanted where money, time, resources, skills, responsibilities were of no concern. Almost like a genie in a lamp scenario. You have one thing you can do, you just ask and it will be granted. What would that one thing be?

Without thinking, my knee-jerk response would be to ask to be a world famous guitarist that could rock stages around the globe. That would be an amazing experience!

Did you think of something similar? Something that was a personal dream or desire, or was it something more practical like going on an ocean cruise in your personal yacht with all the services you may need on board. Stopping off at secluded tropical islands where you can laze in the warm waters without any cares. Maybe you weren’t so extravagant and merely asked to have a new house with a new car in the garage and nothing owing to the bank on either. That would be a huge financial relief in anyone’s world. Maybe you just wanted a week away from your work to recuperate after a long period of stress. Go to a place of tranquillity, where you can rest and recharge yourself. That is a pretty modest ask and yet very rewarding.

How many of you immediately thought of asking for something to help somebody else?

I know I didn’t so I am guessing there are a couple of others with the same in-built selfish human characteristics that I have.

Now think about how many people could have benefited from your wish if it went something like these:

·         “I want to find a cure for cancer.”

·         “I want to bring about an end of religious wars.”

·         “I want to be able to feed the starving and house the homeless.”

·         “I want to end the need for people to abuse children.”

·         …and the list can go on and on.

These are pretty big asks you may say, but no bigger than my ask of being a guitar legend!!! My point is that our selfish desires kick-in long before we think of how we could possibly help someone else.

There never will be a genie conjured out of a magic lamp. We never will be asked what our single wish is to be.

I say, “So what. Who needs a genie?” Go and make a difference in somebody else’s world and be a ‘genie’ for them. Find the starving and give them a meal. It may not end the world hunger crisis but it will help that individual. Find somebody who is hurting and listen to their problems, let them cry on your shoulder and dry their tears. You may not be able to solve their problem but you can show them love and let them know that there is someone who cares for them. Be part of a group that is doing positive work in your community. It may be a task that is more easily accomplished as a team rather than as an individual. It may open doorways to greater experiences and opportunities to help even more people.

“How can I help someone, when I can’t even help myself?” - You may feel so unworthy and depressed that you don’t think you could possibly help anyone else. Well the most uplifting experience is to go and  do something for somebody else. Seeing gratitude in someone’s eyes is priceless and knowing you made a difference, can only lift your spirit. Taking the focus off of your problems and addressing someone else’s is therapeutic. It may even give you insight into what you have and how much you already have.

So don’t waste your time looking for the magic lamp with the genie. Be the ‘genie’. Start big or start small, but at least make a start.