IT’S ALL ABOUT INTENTION
“At the end of the day, it’s not so much about what you’ve done. It’s more about the intention behind the thing you did.” When my beloved friend and sister by choice, Laura McGinty Lochhead shared this little nugget of truth with me, I was in my early twenties. But, as soon as this quote worthy sentence rolled off her tongue, I knew instantly that it would become a guiding thought and principle in my life. It was what, today, Oprah would call a “tweetable moment.” Except, back then, the only things “tweeting” were the birds who took residence in the oak tree we sat under as we made sense out of this glorious world we live in.
At the time Laura’s memorable words were hitting my ears, I was going through a real learning curb personally (as we do when we’re a mere twenty-one years of age). And, that summer, Laura was on an Oprahfied reading spree. Gleaning everything she could from books Oprah suggested the viewers of her acclaimed daytime talk show read up on, the words and thoughts of spiritual teachers and thought leaders emerged in her vocabulary in a way that was very easy for an un-evolved youngster like me to digest.
I remember saying, “Why would someone do that?” And, she would challenge the deed less than she would challenge the intention. It kind of alluded me because I’m somewhat of a just person. But, at some point, Laura’s words turned revelation soaked in. What I do, you do, we do is of importance, of course, but, what’s most important is the intention in which the deed, whatever it might be, is done.
Last week, I loaded up peaches fresh off the tree from Ham Orchards. That afternoon, I buzzed up and down the street I live on delivering peaches and a little cheer. For me, it was less about the peaches and more about the cheer. I had been so blessed to visit with and be encouraged by people I love earlier in the day, I just had it on my heart to pay it forward. And, pay it forward I did.
I’m not tooting my horn for a singular kind deed, because, trust me, I’m a pain in the backside most all of the time. Rather, I’m trying to illustrate what Laura so poignantly shared. It’s not the deed, it’s the intention.
If you don’t already, I hope you’ll live with intention and test your intention daily. I think it’s a great guidepost for the choices we make in life. Not only do I want us all to live a happier life, I want us to live the kind of life that makes others happy just by being in our presence. Now, wouldn’t that be something!
Stay Divine,
JL PARISH
