How do you want to help the world?
I took this photo at my my friend Greg Ramsey’s magical art studio. Artists make the most beautiful messes….
Geez, it’s been a while. I’ve been writing, but most of it is honestly not for public viewing.
This is. This is.
Yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine. She said, “Why do women focus so much on how they look? Why don’t we ask each other more important questions, like what is your purpose?”
Don’t you love that? (Thanks, Libby.)
My conversation with my dear friend reminded me of a conversation with another friend and mentor of mine. Someone I met many, many years ago.
His name was Hayne Hipp.
If you’re from my neck of the woods, South Carolina, you know who Hayne was. He was a mentor to many, many people and for some strange reason Hayne and I developed a real and somewhat unlikely friendship. We could not have been more different is a bit of an understatement. Shortly after I got to know him, I was in the car with him and his wife heading to a local event. He turned to me at some point and asked:
“Robbin, how to do want to help the world?”
I was young. And stunned by the simplicity of his very, very brilliant question.
If I am being honest, it was a question that changed me.
Completely.
It made me question everything I thought was important at the time.
I have a quote hung on a door in my home that reminds of Hayne’s question.
“I am going to make everything around me beautiful, that will be my life.” Elsie de Wolfe
In a lot of ways that has been my way to help the world. It’s been a guiding light of sorts. I care deeply about appreciating and adding to the beauty of our world. It’s not a big lofty goal, but it’s worked for me.
So today, give my friend Hayne’s question some thought.
How do you want to help the world?
There are no wrong answers to a question like that. And in some ways this question takes a lot of pressure off of finding your own personal purpose, don’t you think?
And know. If you are reading this, I love you madly.
Robbin
