Leo Rosten was a funny, Polish, Jewish, American author. He made a lot of people laugh during his lifetime. Of all his many quotes, the following is my favorite:
"The purpose of life is not to be happy,
but to matter, to be productive, to be useful,
to have it make some difference
that you have lived at all."
While growing up, happiness, for me, was always a by-product of mattering.
When I made straight A's in second grade. And third. And fourth. And fifth ... When teachers complimented my good behavior ... When I won the spelling bee, and the penmanship award and a blue ribbon at the county fair, my daddy patted the top of my head and said, "You did good." Just those three words, but I had only to look into his eyes to see mountains of unspoken praise. My father loved me. Everything that touched my life - no matter how insignificant - was important. Knowing how much I mattered to him made me happy.
When I was elected high school cheerleader ... when I got the lead in the senior play ... when I became vice president of the senior class, my brother squeezed my shoulders and said, "Good for you!" Just those three words, but I had only to look into his eyes to know he was thinking, "I'm glad you're my sister. I think you're great!" My brother loved me. Everything that touched my life mattered to him.
Entering the grown-up world, I quickly learned that motherhood would demand more strength than I had to give, but like all mothers before me, I gave my all and found it was enough.
I once mattered to five small children.
I still matter to the adults they have become.
To matter is everything.
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