People Matter Most

"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"
It held up its chain at arms length, as if that were the cause of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground again. "At this time of the rolling year," the spectre said, "I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode! Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!"
~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

My chant this year has been "People Matter Most" but I'm somewhat hypocritical in claiming this motto. There are people I have not reached out to. There are many people I have closed myself off to, instead of turning to them with an open heart and welcoming arms. People matter most; more than jobs, more than school, more than any other project or work that needs to be done. This year I received the highest grades in school, almost a perfect 4.0 (except for one A-). But I barely focused on my schoolwork at all. I made people a priority; family and friends always (at least almost always) came first. But only a select few. I had my little group of friends and didn't really reach out much to those beyond that group.

I used to have a more broad vision. I believed I had to reach out and try to affect the lives of every person with whom I came in contact. I thought I wasn't doing enough if I didn't help everyone on the planet (slight exaggeration). This year I learned that I can't help everyone, I'm not supposed to be able to have an impact on everyone. It's important to treat everyone with kindness and respect, but I don't have to be best friends with everyone I meet. It's okay to be somewhat exclusive in my immediate circle of friends...though we try to be accepting of anyone who wants to come around...some personalities just tend to mesh better than others.

Next year I'm going to try to be more kind, more accepting, more open, and more giving. I didn't give a whole lot this year. It was a rare year of receiving more than I gave. Now that I'm back on my feet (mostly), my emotional feet most particularly, I can focus more on other people and less on myself.

I'd like to serve more in the community. The LDS Humanitarian Center, the Utah Food Bank, and other charitable organizations are always looking for volunteers. I need to get with it and start reaching out more. I always love when I am able to volunteer in such places. I have spent a considerable amount of time in the Temple, but not as much as I would like to. I'm going to try to make 2011 a year of selflessness. I don't know how that will work out, life has a tendency to get in the way and I forget my resolve...but I'm going to try.