I read a sign in my gym the other day and I was reminded of that sign when I read something similar yesterday online. The sign at the gym was supposed to be ‘motivational’ as the heading over the words that followed read ‘motivational’. What were these passion filled motivational words?? “PUT YOURSELF FIRST!!” Without even thinking about what was written I stood in the gym thinking to myself if you need to be told that what you are about to read is motivational it may be lacking in content just a bit.
As I thought about the wise words a bit more I couldn’t help but shake my head. It reminded me of something I witnessed at this same gym I attend. A guy that was working out noticed that another man working out there needed new shoes desperately. Every time this fellow took a step the whole bottom of his shoe would fold backwards…it must have been ready to come off at any moment. The man that noticed the man with the worn shoes was so moved he walked over to him and struck up a conversation. The man with the worn shoes randomly told the stranger how he had always put other people first but he wasn’t going to any longer. He was going to put himself first.
The men went back to working out for a few minutes before the sincere man couldn’t help but walk up to him again. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful,” the caring man said, “but do you have the money to buy new shoes?” The man with the broken shoes told him he got paid the next day and that he and his wife were going to buy new shoes with the money.
The two men went back to working out but I could tell that even though the kind man didn’t physically give the other man anything, it had affected the man to his core. One random stranger putting another random stranger first…that is truly motivational. The world will always try to convince you the opposite is true but we were not made to please ourselves. We were made to love, to give, and to serve. When we do these three things, we won’t be looking for motivation. We will be motivating others.
As I thought about the wise words a bit more I couldn’t help but shake my head. It reminded me of something I witnessed at this same gym I attend. A guy that was working out noticed that another man working out there needed new shoes desperately. Every time this fellow took a step the whole bottom of his shoe would fold backwards…it must have been ready to come off at any moment. The man that noticed the man with the worn shoes was so moved he walked over to him and struck up a conversation. The man with the worn shoes randomly told the stranger how he had always put other people first but he wasn’t going to any longer. He was going to put himself first.
The men went back to working out for a few minutes before the sincere man couldn’t help but walk up to him again. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful,” the caring man said, “but do you have the money to buy new shoes?” The man with the broken shoes told him he got paid the next day and that he and his wife were going to buy new shoes with the money.
The two men went back to working out but I could tell that even though the kind man didn’t physically give the other man anything, it had affected the man to his core. One random stranger putting another random stranger first…that is truly motivational. The world will always try to convince you the opposite is true but we were not made to please ourselves. We were made to love, to give, and to serve. When we do these three things, we won’t be looking for motivation. We will be motivating others.
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