In the early ‘90s I met a woman of similar age. She could no longer live in her home and moved into a nursing home where she was challenged by an imposed daily routine and diet that served the owner.

She accepted her choice and focused on what she could do to be of service in her small and greater worlds. She meditated for a major portion of each day for humanity, for the United States, and in particular for our president. Each morning she would move slowly, with the aid of her walker, to each room in the building. If the person was asleep or unconscious, she would stand in the doorway and send them loving energy. If they were alert, she would go into the room and say hello.

After she finished her ‘rounds,’ she would stop at the sliding doors that led to the patio and look toward the San Jacinto Mountains. She gave thanks for the beauty she could see with nearly blind eyes and the opportunity to still be of service in a small way.

She had known service in a grander way when she was younger. In addition to being an elementary teacher, she taught at the New Age Bible and Philosophy Center in Santa Monica, California. After retirement, she continued her spiritual teachings for several more years, including revision of a monthly meditation guide.

I, too, have reached an age where I have withdrawn from lots of outward participation. A few years back, I helped found a free monthly holistic health clinic that is now run by other volunteers. I also initiated a fuel-buying co-op and am gradually finding others to take over the administrative duties. I am focusing more on reflection, meditation, and writing.

If we are to be of service and make transformational changes, we begin with ourselves and the quality of energy we radiate through mindfulness. Service can take many other forms. One of the most important and challenging is learning to work in groups—humanity’s next evolutionary step. When motivated to work toward the common good, we become more loving, inclusive, co-operative, sharing, tolerant, kind, and harmless. Changing the way we live our lives, great or small, changes the trajectory of relationship to self, the environment, and the cosmos. Our collective energy makes a difference.