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Change the Course of the Future
Even if you are the smallest person.

The Secondhand Inspiration Project begins with a motivational quote and ventures wherever the creative path meanders.
“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”― J.R.R. Tolkien
We often overemphasize size in today’s world — assuming individuals with larger bank accounts, more job experience, political influence, or muscles, etc., are the ones who make the deepest contributions to society.
But size is not a valid indicator of a person’s potential impact. If we open our minds, we will realize that Tolkien’s words “even the smallest person can change the course of the future” are proven time after time. Here are just a few examples:
· A 12-year old girl from Chicago teams up with a nonprofit to send 1000 shoes to those in need in Ghana.
· A jobless New Jersey man creates a charity to help older and disabled folks have free lawn mowing and landscape services.
· A stranger uses social media to raise $60,000 for an airport piano player that needed a financial boost.
Common people impact the lives of others every day.
We don’t have to be rich and powerful to spark change. We just need to be mindful and willing to take chances.
Often the overlooked, forgotten, and seemingly insignificant folks catch our attention to change our minds and hearts. Being present and aware are little things we can all do. They can become the catalyst to spark change.
Give thanks that the size of your possessions or the veneer of importance does not matter. We are all just passing through this life. This humbling fact makes us all equal and unimportant.
Even those considered small can play roles in altering future outcomes, for better or worse. The only differentiator we have is the amount of courage we can cultivate while facing life’s gauntlet of challenges.
So what are you doing to change the course of the future?
Adrian S. Potter — the antisocial extrovert — is an author, engineer, consultant, and public speaker. He writes poetry, short fiction, and articles on various subjects, including creativity and personal growth. He is the author of the forthcoming poetry book Fractured Epiphanies (Stillhouse Press) and Everything Wrong Feels Right (Portage Press). Visit him online at http://adrianspotter.com/.