Helping starts at home.

Does taking care of your responsibilities count towards doing good in the world? Or is it just another thing one has to do in order to stay in this world?  I don't know if the question makes sense. But I know it must have some kind of meaning.

Each day there is stuff that has to get done around the house. And since I am now a stay at home dad, I get up every day and do them. Feed the kids, take on the yard work, look for work, fix things, clean things, change things, and so on. And each night, when the kids are tucked into bed, I feel as though I have accomplished something in the world when my mental to-do list is all checked-off.  Exhausted and tired from the day, I can close my eyes  feeling good as I drift off to sleep thinking about what the new day will bring. But that's not always the case.

More often than I wish, I have those slacking days when nothing gets done. And by nightfall I'm often left feeling empty, ashamed and disappointed. I've also noticed on those days, I have a terrible time going to sleep that night. It seems "not doing" affects me in more ways than one. My lack of sleep often results in a change of mental and spiritual attitude, which then often leads to doing less good and more bad. 


I don't know what to do other than begin each day with the resolve that I will set out to do at least one thing that will help make the world a better place for all, even if that is my own personal world and making my children better and my wife happier by sharing the responsibilities that have often fallen on her shoulders when I was at work.


Perhaps tonight, now that I have shared this with you, I will sleep soundly and wake up refreshed and ready to walk my talk.