An elderly gent warned me about people digging their own graves by exaggerating their importance to society.

The old timer told me in so many words (and if you've heard it before it's worth hearing again.)

Anytime you get to thinking that the world depends on you or that something or other cannot survive without your imput there is a simple test that illustrates how important you really are. Just go to the well, draw a bucket of water, clench your right fist, dip it into the water, then pull it back out and see if you left a lasting impression for your effort. It's all about being indespensible or the lack of that. No one is, lad. Give everything in life your best shot and let it go at that. Sooner than you think you'll stare in the looking glass one morning and discover you're an old man such as I and you'll wonder where went the years and did you really change anything much for having lived. And you'll conclude the world would've went right on as usual had you not been born. The only blessing for mortals is the breath of life that motivates everything they do.

And d'ya know what? I reckon the guy was right and I should just shut my mouth BUT, gee, the Devil makes me do these things. Because I have never taken anyone's word for anything I actually tried the bucket test and I left nothing but my reflection on the waters surface when it reclaimed the space I momentarily disturbed. All I could ever do was brag "My fist was there," but I could not prove it.

The sun is beginning to slide behind the mountains and my favorite time of day, dusk, will soon be upon me. Did I accomplish anything today? Naw! Not really. And that's the rub. I should've did something even if it was wrong.

Gramps

"Do something even if it was wrong!" Come on Gramps you got up pissed and ate breakfast and did a few other things around the house as well. Then you sat down and fixated us with your wisdom only to let us down with the bucket and water story. Right or wrong you did do SOMETHING kid!

Seasoldier/Hahahahahahahahahah­ahahahaha

You know, Gramps, you can stick your fist in that bucket of water, and move it out of the way. But when you remove your fist, that hole fills right in. And yet, as easily moved as it is, it can wear away, and even move rocks. That's the nature of Yin and Yang.

unless we affected no one elses lives while here.

Good or bad, we all have an impact.

Pretty much, it is our choice which it is.

The impact one leaves when they leave this world is relative. Those people you touch will leave this world as well.

Right, Wahbooz.

Those who've been at sea understand the power of water, as do those who live on shorelines of any sea, or lake, or river. When nature churns the waves water can become a relentless tyrant with no favorites.

Gramps

Sailors learn in a hurry, Gramps, that the Sea is the master.

and so it goes.

Our lasting impact is our choice.

Much like the old experiment of lining the class up, and telling the first student a story, and then waiting to see how the last student relates that story; our impact on others is usually not what it began as.