My Experience: Dani is the author of Positively Present. Positively Present focuses on all things positive -- quotes, books, stories, songs, situations, people, blogs, websites, ideas, images, notions, emotions. Anything and everything positive has a home here. Check out http://www.positivelypresent.com/ for more.
Description:
Voted most likely to end up
On the back of a milk box drink
Looks like I'm letting 'em down
'Cause seven seventy-five isn't worth
An hour of my hard work and time
When you can't afford half the shit they advertise

Oh, I'm worth more then that
More than the toe-tag generation full of regret
Oh, I won't settle, no, oh, I can't settle

I wanna break the mold
I wanna break the stereotype
Fist in the air
I'm not going down without a fight
It's my life and I'm not sitting
On the sidelines watching it pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints on you

Representing you and me
Don't you wanna go down in history?
Rather then end up begging on the streets
Trading under table favors for a place to sleep

'Cause I'm worth more than this
So stop writing prescriptions
For more Ritalin
I can focus my attention

Don't give up, don't give in
Build your house on the rock
Oh, not in the sand, in the sand
In the sand, in the sand

It's my life and I'm not sitting
On the sidelines watching it pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I, I gotta make my mark, I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me.


If you're like most of us you want to leave your mark on the world. One of my favorite songs these days is Katy Perry's "Fingerprints." Not only is it an incredibly upbeat, fun-to-listen-to song, but the lyrics inspire me and encourage me to think about the impression I want to leave on this world. Most of you are probably well aware of the fact that we have one life to live and we better do the best we can with it. When I was a kid I wanted to be famous. I really believed that being famous was the best way to have people remember you, to leave a mark on a world that would outlast the years I was alive. However, the older I get, the more I realize that (1) this probably isn't going to happen, (2) just because your famous doesn't mean you'll really be remembered, and (3) being famous doesn't mean being a good person and doing good things with your life. As most adults have come to realize (or, at least, I hope they have), fame and fortune isn't everything. It might be nice, but only if you choose to do nice things with it. As much as I think I would enjoy being famous -- sitting on Oprah's couch chatting about my latest and greatest novel that's helping people to live better lives -- I know I would still be me, a small speck in the great universe. No matter how famous you are, no matter what you do, you are still a person. We are all, in essence, the same. To quote Dr. Seuss in Horton Hears a Who: "a person's a person no matter how small." And, famous or not, we all have the power to make a difference in the world, to leave a mark (no matter how small).

So, this weekend I got to thinking about how I can make a mark on this world. Sure, I'm still going to work towards writing a book that makes a difference in the lives of others. Sure, I'm still going to dream that someday I'll be a household name. But, for now, I'm me. Just Dani. And even though I'm small (in both the fame and the literal sense), I believe I can make a difference in the world. I can -- we all can -- leave our fingerprints on the world. You're sitting there, reading this, and thinking to yourself, "How can I make a difference? What can I really do that will change the world?" Well, I'm about to give you five ways to leave your mark on the world. They might seem small, but they are important. And, of course, these aren't the only five ways you can make a difference. They are just jumping off points, ways to get the wheels in your mind turning so that you can think more about how you want to live. What kinds of fingerprints do you want to leave behind?



5 Ways To Leave Your Mark



Do What You Love. In my opinion, when we're doing what we love, we're doing something well. No matter what you think your skills are in a certain area, if you are doing it because you love to do it, it's going to show in your work. People can tell that you love something and it is reflected in what you are doing. If we are only given one life, we should be living it to the best of our abilities and I really believe that your best abilities come out when you're doing something that makes you happy, that leaves you feeling fulfilled. Whether you receive international recognition or not, the joy you're experiencing when you do what you love will rub off on those around you. You will bring a great deal to the world by embracing the truth of who you are and doing what it is that makes you most happy. It might seem selfish, but doing what you love really can impact the world in a positive way.


Spread Happiness. This is something we can do every single day. You have the ability to be happy and to make others happy. Of course this isn't always easy, but it's a very real option and something that doesn't require money or fame. Smile at someone. Offer a word of hope. Give someone a hug. Any little small thing you can do can make a difference. Right now I am reading The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach To Getting the Life You Want and I just read about how the author offered $1.15 to someone who didn't have enough at the line in the grocery store. She then saw this young man helping a woman in a wheelchair with her groceries. Happiness and kindness are contagious. Perform kind acts whenever you can and they will have a ripple effect. Every smile has the power to change the world.


Encourage Others. While I'm all about believing in yourself and doing anything you can to make your own dreams come true, one way to really make a mark is to encourage someone else's dreams. By being supportive and encouraging of others, you are making a difference not only in their world but potentially in the world of others. For example, I've been fortunate enough to have many, many supportive people in my life. My parents, teachers, friends have always supported me and encouraged me. Because of this, I want to support and encourage others and I hope that when I encourage other people that they then want to encourage people as well. Like acts of kindness, encouragement can have a ripple effect. And who knows? You could be encouraging the next great inventor or novelist or president...


Love The World. I'll save the lecture about saving the environment for another time, but I do want to mention that treating the world with kindness and love is a great way to make an impact on future generations. You may not be written about in a history book or watched on old re-runs, but if you do your best to protect the environment, you are making a difference in the lives of those who will walk this earth long after you're gone. We're not all going to be environmentalists, but take some time to think about your earthly fingerprints. What can you do to make the world a cleaner, happier place? Small things (like picking up a piece of trash) can be just as important as big things. If you can afford to get a hybrid car or a solar-powered house, think about the little things you can do. As I'm sure you know, a lot of little things add up to a BIG difference.


Share Your Words. Okay, so you might not be the world's best storyteller, but that doesn't mean you can't share yourself with the world. You don't have to write a novel or publish a biography to divulge your years of wisdom. You can share what you know with those around you. Share your experiences with those around you. Tell stories. If you have kids or interact with kids, tell them what you know. They may not seem to care (or appear like they're listening), but your words will have an impact. I remember so many words of wisdom my parents or friends have shared with me. I remember their words and I try to learn from their stories. I also share what I know with others, and, for the most part, people seem to appreciate this. People like to learn and they can learn from you. Yes, you!

These are only five ways that you can leave your fingerprints on the world. What's important to realize is that so much of what we do -- from a smile to a word to an elaborate gesture -- has an impact on the world around us. Without knowing it, we are influencing people who are influencing people who are influencing people. And, with all of the latest technology, we have even more ways to impact people. It's truly amazing what we have the ability to do. We don't have to be rock stars or billionaires or actors to leave a mark on the world. We can leave our fingerprints everywhere, on everything. The question then becomes: where are you leaving your fingerprints?

[Note: If you're not sick of reading the words of Dani, check out Shades of Crimson, a totally awesome and inspiring website where I'm honored to have a guest post today. In my post, "Three Shades of Happiness", I write about what it means to have a pleasant life, an engaged life, and a meaningful life. Check it out over at Shades of Crimson to learn more!]