“Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” The The Tao Te Ching

“The better I take care of someone else, the better I’m taking care of the whole.” David

I’ve never met David in person, only on zoom.  That’s the post-Covid virtual world we live in.  And it’s not all bad.  It was a meeting through work.  David owns a home respite care company that provides caregivers for people who no longer can care for their own daily needs and lack someone else to help. Sometimes these people have some type of dementia but almost always they are older and desire to stay in their homes as long as possible.  David had heard of the Alzheimer’s Association and was interested in getting more involved, possibly as a financial sponsor at the WALK to End Alzheimer’s.  These walks take place annually in numerous places in Colorado and throughout the nation.

I was expecting a middle-aged or older man.  But that’s not the face that popped up on my computer screen.  David is young (funny how that word becomes more ambiguous as one ages), I would guess in his mid-30’s.  He was wearing a tan baseball cap and had a lot of positive energy, the kind that is contagious and comes leaping out of the monitor.  I immediately liked him.  David wasn’t at all what I was expecting, which is a reminder about having expectations and pre-conceived notions about people.

After the initial introductory niceties, I asked David to tell me about himself.  I was curious about how he got into the business.  He related the following story.

“After graduating from college, I decided to take a year off to become a ski bum.  It was a great year, but money was running out and I intended to go to law school.  About that time a friend asked if I could help take care of her mom.  I needed the money so I thought ‘why not’?  While helping her I met another person who was in need of some in-home care, and so I started caring for her as well.  Pretty soon there was a small group of people, and I began scheduling regularly weekly outings; going on walks, out for coffee, and other activities.  Then an offer came in to be a live-in caregiver which would provide free housing as well as a pretty good salary.  I decided to do it as it would pay off my student loans before returning for graduate school.  It was very difficult being a full-time caregiver.  I was sleep deprived, and after three months needed help.  I arranged with the family of the gentleman to hire some extra help.  At some point I realized that I was loving this little impromptu caregiving business and wanted to keep doing this instead of going to law school.  So I asked a friend for a loan of $50,000, which he gave me on a handshake.  One thing led to another, the business grew, and I started a non-profit on the side which provides low-cost or no-cost care for those who can’t afford it.”

I was blown away!  Not merely by the fact that someone so young could be so successful, but more so by the compassion, kindness, care, and concern for others that had driven David to make this his life-calling.  So, I had to ask the question. “Why?  What is it that motivated you to do this and gives you purpose?”

“Five and a half years ago I got sober,” David said.  “In recovery my Higher Power is a Buddhist idea that we are all one.  Service to others is the key.  By serving one I am serving the whole.  Spending time with people who have dementia and dying has taught me that what’s most important in life are the people who are around us.”

There you go.  In the eyes of the world David is a successful entrepreneur. The kind of young man who would be recognized by the local chamber of commerce and be an important member of the rotary.  David could probably drive an impressive car and live in a really nice house.  And maybe he does.  But that superficial, temporary, and transitory pursuit of happiness through the accumulation of accessories and status by means of accomplishments, financial security, and admiration in the eyes of others isn’t what matters to David.  What matters is something much deeper, something much more meaningful, something that lasts.  

I look forward to meeting David in person in a few weeks. That will be a joyous occasion.  But what is even more satisfying is to think of all the people that will be impacted by the positive energy, the spiritual perspective, and life purpose of this young man.

What gives life purpose?  That was the question I was left pondering after meeting David.  It doesn’t matter what age we are, where we live, or what we’re doing. One can find purpose in the most unimportant activities, unimpressive places, and seemingly insignificant people.   Two days ago, I took time to write a short, concise life-purpose for myself.  I would invite you to do the same.   And then share it with others, perhaps by speaking it, but certainly by living it.  Like David does.