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This evening I had the opportunity to do the "Bigger or Better" scavenger hunt trading game with friends in the ward at church. The game is simple. Divide into teams. Each team is given the same small item, such as a paper clip, or, in our game, a toothpick. They must then go out and trade the toothpick for something bigger or better. The goal is to continue to trade up your items to attain the best possible treasure in the allotted time. Our trades went like this: We traded the toothpick for a 12 inch glass fish bowl. The bowl was traded for a huge fall wreath. The wreath was traded for a full framed window. The window traded for an outdoor patio umbrella. The patio umbrella gained us our final treasure, a hand-embroidered decorative tapestry from South America, traded by a retired journalist who got it decades ago and had no use of it anymore.
The evening was fun, we met some great people willing to trade with us, and we ended up gaining quite a nice treasure. But, of course, as seems to be my way, after all the fun and games, I looked back on the experience and a life lesson was learned.
The entire experience only happened because my team members made a choice. I was on the fence about going to the activity tonight. Ultimately, I decided to go. The other members of my team made the same decision and we all ended up together. If you were to remove one single member of our team, the entire outcome of our trades would be altered. Had I not gone, we would not have had to clear stuff from my car to fit people, and thus we would not have traded for the fish bowl from my house. The wreath was from my neighborhood as well and the team would not have been there if I was not there. Now, assume I still went, but, the girl who chose to direct us to the house where we found the wreath did not. We would not have gone to that home if not for her. The entire outcome is altered. Keep thinking. I still went, that girl still went, but the guy who lives in a wealthier neighborhood did not. On our way to his neighborhood with our wreath, another girl directed us to the house where we got the window. Remove either one and our direction would have changed, and the outcome is altered. Every member contributed to the exact course of events that only came together as a result of all of us being there. Now I would like to apply this to your life.
Do not ever suppose that you do not make a difference. Your very existence alters people's lives. I promise you that the difference you make is significant. You can be the difference between a bad day for someone and a good day. You can be the difference between someone making a bad purchase and a good investment. You can be the difference between someone finding reason to live when they felt they wanted to take their life. Every one of you matters. There are no nobody's in the world. Remove any one of you and thousands of lives are altered.
I am grateful for everyone in my life, for every single influence that has miraculously come to me and led me to where I am today. I have been fortunate, but there are so many who are less fortunate, who have not had as many people be the difference for them. We need to be that difference that helps someone go from a tiny wooden toothpick to a beautiful masterpiece of art.
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| The tapestry |
The evening was fun, we met some great people willing to trade with us, and we ended up gaining quite a nice treasure. But, of course, as seems to be my way, after all the fun and games, I looked back on the experience and a life lesson was learned.
The entire experience only happened because my team members made a choice. I was on the fence about going to the activity tonight. Ultimately, I decided to go. The other members of my team made the same decision and we all ended up together. If you were to remove one single member of our team, the entire outcome of our trades would be altered. Had I not gone, we would not have had to clear stuff from my car to fit people, and thus we would not have traded for the fish bowl from my house. The wreath was from my neighborhood as well and the team would not have been there if I was not there. Now, assume I still went, but, the girl who chose to direct us to the house where we found the wreath did not. We would not have gone to that home if not for her. The entire outcome is altered. Keep thinking. I still went, that girl still went, but the guy who lives in a wealthier neighborhood did not. On our way to his neighborhood with our wreath, another girl directed us to the house where we got the window. Remove either one and our direction would have changed, and the outcome is altered. Every member contributed to the exact course of events that only came together as a result of all of us being there. Now I would like to apply this to your life.
Do not ever suppose that you do not make a difference. Your very existence alters people's lives. I promise you that the difference you make is significant. You can be the difference between a bad day for someone and a good day. You can be the difference between someone making a bad purchase and a good investment. You can be the difference between someone finding reason to live when they felt they wanted to take their life. Every one of you matters. There are no nobody's in the world. Remove any one of you and thousands of lives are altered.
I am grateful for everyone in my life, for every single influence that has miraculously come to me and led me to where I am today. I have been fortunate, but there are so many who are less fortunate, who have not had as many people be the difference for them. We need to be that difference that helps someone go from a tiny wooden toothpick to a beautiful masterpiece of art.
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