A Practice to Remember Purpose

At the start of every year there are a few quotes I reread including:

‘We are a raindrop in time, what do you want that water to nurture?’

I like this quote because it visualises how finite, yet impactful a life is and it reminds me that no matter how small an impact is, it will make a difference because every raindrop counts. 

It also reminds me to look at the direction I am going in, the conversations I am part of, the books I’m reading, the wisdom I am listening to, the people I am contributing to and who are contributing to me and it encourages me to ask the question:

‘Does the way I am spending my time align with the difference I want to make?’

When I think of my life as a raindrop and wonder if it landed right now would it be landing where it can make the most difference it gives me the opportunity to look at actions I want to stop taking and new actions I want to start. 

For example at the beginning of 2022 I noticed I was in more ‘justifying’ conversations than I wanted to be. I didn’t want to waste my raindrop on proving I was right so I actively withdrew from conversations that wouldn’t make a difference, ie wouldn’t help my raindrop water anything!

This looked like not spending time pointing to gaps in sustainability initiatives being marketed as first, best, most…..and instead building my confidence in being in the challenging, inspiring, honest and difference making conversations. It meant saying ‘no’ (and giving up concerns I wasn’t being polite) and being honest (without accommodating requests which would water down the impact of those honest communications). Of course this came with mixed results and at the times I began to question myself I remembered the raindrop quote. 

One thing I am sure of is that being curious about the impact of my raindrop is going to be a life long journey.