When Jim first started writing this blog, he wasn’t publishing it yet. He set a goal to write everyday and, in true Jim fashion, he did so. (He is very diligent when he puts his mind to something and creates new habits more efficiently than anyone else I know).

He wrote about things that interested him, troubled him, made him curious or made him think. Mostly, he started writing for himself. I suppose it was a way of working through things that were rattling around in that amazing brain of his.

He knew at some point he would publish what he was writing but when he first started, it was really just for him. Over time, this personal endeavor has reached a number of people in different ways. For my part, when Jim convinced me to start contributing guest blogs, it prompted me to tune into and sift through my internal thoughts. Thinking about how I might write about things that strike me creates an interesting mental challenge. As a reader, many of you may agree, the blog is interesting and thought provoking.

Lately, it seems Jim has been slightly less motivated to write. Perhaps he’s worked out all the lingering challenges in his head. Maybe some days it feels like an obligation or the inspiration just doesn’t strike. For now, he continues to write when he feels inspired to do so but I realize it may not continue as a daily thing. Part of me was disappointed at this realization. I have always enjoyed reading Jim’s work. His musings have given me something to ponder and helped me gain new perspective.

I would love to see him continue. I realize, however, that the blog is not really for me… it’s for him. This made me think about the work that any of us do. Who is it for? If we chase external approval or validation from others, we will never be happy. To truly find satisfaction, we must do things that we find fulfilling. Ultimately, the things we do in life must first serve us before they can serve others.

How are the things you do serving you, other people or both?