Criss cross applesauce

Just imagine a group of precocious preschoolers all sitting with their legs "criss-crossed applesauce" waiting for you to enter their school room.  It really is a beautiful site, even as one whole-heartedly attempts to sit "criss-cross applesauce" with the children.  I laugh about that undertaking now. I'm sure others still do but that's OK. For the past 6 years I have volunteered during the month of February (National Dental Health Month) at area preschools and it is an absolute blast! Yes, volunteering is a part of the sustainability model of People Planet Profit. It's also a great way to fill up your own life bucket!

So what does filling up your life bucket look like? To me, it's all about adding something substantial, something of value, something that gives passion and energy into your life and the lives of others. That "something" is going to look different for each us. The sharing of my dental health passions with young children is what ultimately fills up my life bucket. What fills up yours?

Let's look at the flip side of this action now. I wonder, and hope, that if I've shared my time, talent and treasures with others I might fill up their life bucket as well.  Going even deeper with this concept please read.the following tale from India that I believe is never too "old " to repeat:

 

The Cracked Pot 

 A water-bearer carries two large pots on a yoke across his shoulders up the hill from the river to his master's house each day. One has a crack and leaks half its water out each day before arriving at the house. The other pot is perfect and always delivered a full portion of water after the long walk from the river.
Finally, after years of arriving half-empty and feeling guilty, the cracked pot apologized to the water-bearer. It was miserable. "I'm sorry that I couldn't accomplish what the perfect pot did."
The water-bearer says, "What do you have to apologize for?"
"After all this time, I still only deliver half my load of water. I make more work for you because of my flaw."
The man smiled and told the pot. "Take note of all the lovely flowers growing on the side of the path where I carried you. The flowers grew so lovely because of the water you leaked. There are no flowers on the perfect pot's side."


Now imagine what our world would look like if we all reached out to share our gifts and talents with other regardless of our imperfections. I'd love to know what you do that fills up your life bucket. How do you reach out into your community  to strengthen your piece of the sustainability model? For me, whenever I look into the face of a child and see hope, curiosity, joy, and a wealth of untitled expressions spilling from them....... my bucket gets filled to the brim.

Sending a smile:)
Judy
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