Nov 24 2008
On Serving Others
The simplest and shortest ethical precept is to be served by others as little as possible, and to serve others as much as possible. — Leo Tolstoy
What a goal to work for - service of others. To some it comes with the job, goes with the territory — mothers, for instance, but also nurses come to mind. All job, occupations, vocations, are a call to service in some way. But in daily life, in those little things, the anticipation of the needs of others is often the key. It does not cost us anything to hand a thing to a person so they might not have to bend and pick it up. It is good for us to be aware of the needs of those around us so as to serve them in small and larger ways. If all people followed this precept, then we would be on the receiving end as well.
How much is a great waiter or waitress valued? It can make the difference between a great dining out experience and a lousy one. Waitresses who serve well are worth their weight in gold, so to speak. And in each walk of life, there is room for one who serves more, and expects less.
