Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.”  While her words can be interpreted in a number of ways, here’s one take…

If we go through life only tending to that which is handed to us, we miss out.  If we build our home or work lives around what others give to us, it’s less likely that we’ll understand and fulfill our true purpose.  Within everyone is the desire to leave a legacy, to make their mark on the world.  In Oprah’s words, “You have to know what sparks the light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world.

Once you find your spark, you’ve found the thing you can throw back.  You can use your spark to lead, to influence change, to create or share beauty, to inspire or to motivate.  Take what’s in your catcher’s mitt, mold it in your unique way and shine your light on the world.