It matters. What are the forces that motivate you to get from point A to point B? The physical needs that must be satiated are obvious. What are the more complex emotional and psychological motivations that propel your actions and move you toward satisfying and fulfilling a need?
At times we're motivated by what matters to us. It could be as simple as petting and playing with your dog to a meaningful life goal toward which much of our energy and time is spent.
Something that matters to us is important, and has significance and weight. When we think of the meaning of 'matter' what first comes to mind is the scientific definition: "that which has mass and occupies space." Matter used as a noun.
The intransitive verb form matter(s) means, to be of importance; the verb form, matters comes from Middle English's meter, Anglo-Norman's matere meaning import, interest, count, and merit. There's even a Latin derivative, matre, meaning mother.
When we don't particularly care about something, we might say, "It doesn't matter." Or, if we do have concern or interest, we might say, "Yes, this matters to me."
How many things matter to you? If something matters to you then your thoughts and actions will reveal its significance. Intrinsically, things that matter to you will motivate your behavior. For example:
--If education matters, then you will strive to learn all you can.
--If treating others with kindness and compassion, then your actions will reflect what matters in your heart.
--If the truth matters to you, then your life will be filled with openness and honesty.
After trying to save family albums and photos from last year's summer flood, I had a difficult time saving something that mattered a great deal to my Grandma Beavers. It was quirky, but she cared enough to take the time and effort. She would save news' clippings of friends and family who had merit...they deserved the attention to be saved for safe-keeping.
Burpee catalogs would be sent to her in the mail. Grandma would, after looking through them, use them as her keepsake album. She would cut out, from local papers, wedding announcements, birth announcements, out-of-town guests visiting relatives, graduations, anniversaries, anything that was posted as a declaration or acknowledgement of someone who she knew and cared about.
She'd paste (mostly with Scotch tape) all clippings onto the pages of the Burpee catalog. Not only did it matter to her that she preserve these small, folksy articles, but the people in the articles mattered to her! Her efforts, the memories, and historical records she tried to keep --mattered to me enough to do all I could to save what she left behind.
Yes, we can probably list all of the things that matter to us. But what is even more deserving and significant is that we let people who we care about in our lives know that they matter to us.
To matter in somebody else's life can seem insignificant, but just two profound words can mean the difference...
It's like walking into the deepest part of a forest and looking at the different trees. You understand that not all received equal treatment, some aren't as tall, some have fewer leaves, yet, without judgment, all should be appreciated for just how they are.
The ones who still stand and who still reach for the sun with their branches deserve merit as well. Then, with a heart strong and an empowering embrace you affirm...Yes. You matter.