I learned a new South African word from my Ghanaian friend: Ubuntu..."I am what I am because of who we all are."
Archbishop Tutu offers another explanation:
Ubuntu speaks about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation, we are interconnected...you can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality - Ubuntu - you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out. It is for the whole of humanity.
In life we have to look beyond our needs, our wants, our desires and begin to reach out to others. I believe one of the most wonderful things my nieces did during their Summer vacation was to donate their time on an international mission trip. Many times as Americans we don't fully understand how much exists to connect us to the world. International experiences teach us that the world does not revolve around us but rather we EVOLVE because of our interactions with one another.
You don't need to venture outside of your native country to make a positive impact on someone else's life. Next time you start feeling like other people owe you something, stop and think about what you can do to make an impact in someone else's life.
Make every moment a great moment in your life!
