What Have You Done for Me Lately?

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
-Albert Pike


Greetings folks. Janet Jackson sang a song entitled “What Have You Done for Me Lately.” That song has transformed into much more than a Pop 100 chart topper into a constant reminder of how the world thinks; “what have you done for me lately?” Most people aren’t concerned about what you did 10 or 20 years ago but about what you have done lately, which is a good question. What have you done for me (or anyone else for that matter) lately? Was the last time you did something nice for someone, a (100%) white man was president? Was the last time you thought about someone other than yourself, Dan Marino was still playing for the Dolphins? Was the last time you took time out of your busy day to say or do something nice for someone else, people were still flipping houses like IHOP pancakes? If so, you should be asking yourself the question “what have I done for anyone else lately?”

We work so hard every day to pay bills and accumulate stuff; Americans in particular. No one works to be able to buy a 13” black and white TV, a smart car, and gold plated jewelry laced with cubic zirconium. No we work for the 52” HD monster to hang on the wall. We work to drive the BMW 7.50 IL. And we work for the Rolex and the Tiffany bracelet. And you know what, there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with liking and buying the finer things in life. The problem comes when it’s the beginning, middle and end of our story. What happens is that when we focus solely on the acquisition of stuff, we miss out on other things in life. We miss out on forming lasting relationships and bonds with friends and family because we’re always working. We miss out on life changing events like concerts and classic sporting events because we’re always in the office. We miss out because we’ve directed more energy than we ought, towards the pursuit of material things.

The pursuit of happiness is not and does not equal the pursuit of things. The pursuit of happiness is pursuing lasting relationships, spending time with family and friends, having good health, travelling, and enjoying the wonders this world has to offer. These are all things you can’t do laid up in your house full of stuff or tucked away in your office or cubicle.

There are much more important things in life than things. It’s really about what we do for others. My mom is always getting on me to mentor the youth at her church and between work, work, football, wedding planning, and more work, I find it very difficult to squeeze it in my schedule. However, the importance of such an endeavor isn’t lost on me. I see its importance almost every day I go to work.

At the end of last school year one of my 11th grade guys gave me a card. On the outside of the envelope it said “To Pops.” I thought he accidentally gave me a card intended for his father. I asked him was he sure this was for me and he replied “yes” so I assumed that he re-used the envelope. When I opened it and read it, it was him thanking me for being his teacher and for mentoring him. He said I was like a father to him and that he was thankful. I have to be honest, the card almost brought a tear to my eye…almost. (Ok maybe it did but don’t tell anyone.) How could I, an individual who has made it my mission in life to this point not to father any children so I can focus on my career and enjoy myself be considered a father figure? How could I, a person accused on several occasions of being selfish and inconsiderate, have been so thoughtful as to have made a difference in this young man’s life? If you find an answer please share.

I think it’s because I care. I think that at the end of the day for all the frustration these students cause me, for the anger and resentment I have towards “the powers that be”, and the demands I put on these students to want more and achieve more, they see that I care. And in many ways, that was enough for him.

I kept that card, as I do all cards, but instead of tucking it away in a box or cabinet, I placed it on my dresser as a daily reminder of the impact that I make in the lives of young people, even when I don’t know that I’m doing it. It reminds me every day that I need to smile, hold my head up, and keep my head in the game because someone is always watching.

One of the reasons why I enjoy my job is because of the daily impact in the lives of young people I get to make. I in no way intend to do this for the rest of my life, but it’s good for right now. It makes me feel as though I’m fulfilling Ghandi’s edict to be the change I want to see in the world.

When it’s all said and done and it’s time for me to be laid to rest I’d like to be remembered, and remembered fondly. I think this is the goal of most people, or at least it should be. I want to be remembered as thoughtful, honest, caring and hard working. I know the collection of watches and the massive amounts of sports memorabilia I hope to have accumulated by that time, and will leave behind, won’t achieve that goal. I know that in order to achieve the legacy that I want I have to do more for others. So when I get too wrapped up in “The Life and Times of the Diplomat” I ask myself the question “what have you done for anyone else lately?” and so should you. Stay Up and Be Blessed!

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
-Albert Pike