life, thoughts

Insignificant

Lori

Whatever you do may seem insignificant but it is important that you do it. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

You never know what results may come of your action(s), but if you do nothing there will be no result. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

I’ve posted a lot of inspirational quotes and affirmations over the years on my blog. Many times I close comments and leave it as food for thought. Today I’m leaving comments open. What do these quotes mean to you? Do they fit your life in any way today, or could they have been useful for you in the past?

I’ve posted the first quote before, but just today, I came across both of these by accident, somewhere else. The timing was perfect, because lately I’ve been feeling like everything I do is insignificant, including writing. I was wondering why I bother, when the menial things don’t matter, and my writing probably isn’t making a difference like I hoped (I don’t now the “results,” as in the quote). Some days I feel like I’m accomplishing zilch. Then I came across both of these quotes. They reminded me to have faith and keep pushing (as my favorite rock band sings).

Has that ever happened to you . . . something crosses your path at just the right time?

 

Published by Lori

Observer, thinker, learner, analyzer, and author. Love dogs. Enjoy cooking, laughing and spiritual centering.

21 thoughts on “Insignificant”

  1. A great and encouraging quote. Yes, I’ve been there–feeling like what I do is insignificant. But the fact that I keep doing it is significant, as the quote says. I’m glad you were encouraged by it enough to post and encourage us. 😊

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    1. Thank you for sharing your experience, L. Stay dry out there this weekend. I hope we at least get some nice weather in between the rains.

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  2. Your thoughts resonated with me because some days I do feel my writing is insignificant, and I’d think why bother. I find I enjoy doing nothing as that’s when I can listen to my own voice very clearly. Then again there’s only so much you get out of just listening to yourself. There are some moments that just click and you don’t see them coming. I’d always push on with my writing and I like what it has evolved and become today. Wouldn’t have it any other way. The more you do, the more you learn and the less you are stuck in a rut 🙂

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  3. I actively try to avoid existential spirals that occur from thinking about the meaning of anything I do because I there is no question that my existence is completely meaningless. However it is the only existence that I am currently aware of so the only way to avoid sinking into an abyss is to just keep going and focusing on what personal meaning I can create.

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  4. Oh yes, for sure. Two and a half years ago I was job hunting (I was downsized) and getting quite worried about it. Seven months went by, then my present workplace came along and I haven’t looked back. Now I’m the boss. Sometimes we need these periods to remind us what’s important.

    And I agree with Jill. If it makes you happy, keep writing. And Ghandi is right. We often don’t know what’s going to be significant or what’s going to come from it. 🙂

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    1. Thanks for sharing your story, Lynette. I’m so glad it all came together.
      As for me, I may never know if my writing makes any impact. I’ll just keep pushin’.
      Thank you for your encouragement.

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  5. If it makes you happy, keep writing Lori. We never know what surprises are in store for us. I submitted to a magazine for years and never sold. One day my sweet mother asked me when she was going to be in one of my stories. That afternoon I wrote a story, in about a two hour time period, loosely based on her and my father’s early dating years and it sold. Write from the heart and good things will happen. I love both of those quotes!

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  6. Yep, things cross my path serendipitously all the time. I think quotes like these turning up in your life is just another message from your deepest self that significance just might show up in the smallest most seemingly insignificant action. Today my deepest self was sending messages and a book that addressed this teaching just appeared at the right moment. Enjoyed reading this right now—totally significant.

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    1. I love stories of serendipity, like the book that crossed your path. Thank you for sharing this, Kathy, and for letting me know that I did something significant in publishing this post. 🙂

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  7. When I worked I had a tough job. I dealt with employees everyday. I had to say no and fire people. I tried to be as fair as I can but they were always tough decisions. I figured I wasn’t exactly liked. When I retired, I had people give me astonishing testimonials that I never would have dreamed of. Even an former employee I fired thanked me because she was in the wrong job and I made her find the right one. When I let her go I told her that. She was a great person in the wrong job (and many employees are). So when you do something that seems insignificant it may be because no one is saying anything in real time. Unfortunately people wait until your funeral to say what a great person you are. People may love your writing but don’t tell you. That’s why we need to be internally driven.

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    1. This is a great story, Kate. How wonderful that you were able to get validated as you moved on to another part of your life. It reminds me of Mr. Holland’s Opus. Sounds like you were very good at your job.

      Thank you so much for sharing this relevant, inspirational story.

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  8. I think a lot of things “cross our paths” and we take heart in the things that make a difference to us. Those same things that come along and have great meaning for us may not have any significance to someone else. Most of what we do is internally driven and the opportunities are often there for us to use or not. Just my humble opinion.

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    1. I agree, what we do is internally driven, and sometimes when driving, my motivation finds a parking spot. 😛

      Thank you for sharing this, Anneli. I appreciate your input.

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    2. A great quote and yes what you write is meaningful to me as well as others.

      My friend, Bonnie, once stated to me that it bothered her that I had just a few followers. I responded to her the quality of people I had reading what I wrote was more important than the quantity.

      I am not either significant or insignificant. I am.

      Just be, Lori, and continue on with your writing. It makes a difference to me.

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      1. I like your statement that the quality of people is more important than the quantity. I have never had any nasty comments. So, I’m fortunate for the quality of my followers, too. Thank you for sharing this, Linda, and for your support.

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