Greg Reid

Greg is a bestselling author, a speaker, and an international filmmaker.

If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

It has been said that the sign of a life well lived is one that was spent serving others. Let's face it, would you get more enjoyment from getting a pat on the back at work or watching someone you helped to excel get the same kudos in the cubicle next to you? It seems that when we focus our attention toward the betterment of others, we get the same amount of appreciation in return.

It may not always be vocalized, but internal satisfaction is something that cannot be bottled or sold. It's the same feeling of pride parents feel when their child rides his bike for the first time without training wheels, or when he later graduates from high school. We know when we experience this feeling that we have shared a little of ourselves. So, why is it that some of us seem to lose this desire? Could it be that we become tainted by society's rules, being trained to believe life is a series of rituals decided by survival of the fittest? Perhaps it's time we turn our attention toward a more gallant quest, one in which a portion of our energy is focused in an outward direction.

This can be done with the simplest of actions and it begins with the single step of becoming aware. Many people feel they need to be rich, powerful or famous before they can reach out and make a difference, but there are countless food banks, orphaned children and shelters that would tell you differently. Every one of us can make a contribution to the world we live in, even if it's a simple act of taking in a newspaper from the neighbor's lawn when he is away on vacation. As soon as we recognize that we may be of service, then perhaps we may become of service. Take one step—do what feels best to you and the reward may be found in the satisfaction of knowing how truly important you are to someone else.