Alphazeds

My son borrowed a cool book from the library, called "The Alphazeds" by Shirley and Milton Glaser. It's about all the letters of the alphabet and all their different personalities (Flamboyant F, Bashful B, Yelling Y, etc.) cramming into one room and everyone ending up screaming at and annoying one other. Suddenly, the lights go out and it's pitch black and silent. When the lights come back on, 4 letters had come together to comfort each other - Wise W, Ornate O, Rhyming R and Dynamic D. The first word had been created. "At that moment, all the letters suddenly realized their reason for being in the room. It wasn't simply about expressing themselves or showing off. They could be a part of something bigger, something that mattered. They could work together, and everyone could play an important part." Hmm.... kind of sounds like life in general, don't you think?

We've gotten this book before, and everyone loves it. But this time, as I read the last page aloud, it hit me that ultimately, our purpose in life is to be a part of something bigger and more important than ourselves, as well. Our interactions with others determine what kind of a part we play in their lives and they in ours. We don't necessarily have to play a huge role in everyone else's lives, but we can choose to be kind enough to play a small part, and be remembered in a positive way.

"The Alphazeds" is a children's book, but I recommend it to anyone. Sometimes you need to see things from a child's perspective in order to get a better handle on the things that life throws at you!