potential

The more I read this book, the more inspired I become to serve. As Rabbi Hillel put it, "If i am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?" This quote really touches on something special for me. When I first started reading this book I was reluctant to really think about the message, to really let it get to me. I remember thinking to myself, I can do my part in the world with some random acts of kindness. Last season on my way back from a snowboard trip, me and my friends saw some guys pushing a truck though the mountainous road and right after we saw them we saw a sign that said "gas - 14 miles". We decided to turn around and give them a lift. You should have seen their smiling faces when we started to pull them, it was priceless.

Doing stuff like this can really make you feel great and like your doing something worth while to help the world. Now, I do think that these random acts of kindness are great and should be done whenever you have the oppertunity. Although they are random and you really don't get the chance very often. As I read more of "soul of a citizen", I realize that we must play a great roll in our communities and world than just random acts of kindness. That we should all be a part of something much greater than ourselves. Also as I gain more education and really get to know myself I realize I want something much more than just financial wealth and freedom, I want to be an active member of society. As Barack Obama said, "Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential."