You've heard many of stories about above 'icons' and people like Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison and Gandhi. Their journeys were filled with great adversity, devastating setbacks and yes, heartbreaking failures. But still, because of sheer level of belief in themselves and what they set out to achieve, they were able to leave a legacy that today affects every one of us, every hour of every day.

There are millions everyday people who will never become household names who have made magnificent differences in their lives and lives of those around them.

Take for instance, single mother who was reluctantly forced onto welfare rolls due to a deadbeat dad, and pounds pavement until she lands a job, determined to excel, and works her way up ladder until she ends up with a wonderful career to benefit of herself and her family.

Or, foreign medical student whose family sacrificed their entire lives in order to send their child to a 'free country' to get an education, who, through sheer determination graduates at top of his class but decides not to chase almighty big bucks that await him in 'land of promise' and instead returns to his homeland so that he may help alleviate dire suffering of people in his native land.

Or, how about countless entrepreneurs who have taken a single idea and no matter what obstacles they faced, and many sacrifices they had to make, created successful businesses with products that impacted thousands or even millions of people?

I am privileged to know so many individuals who have accomplished great things only because of great belief they had in themselves and their ideas. As such, I firmly believe that every human being, no matter where they believe they are at on this roller coaster ride we call life, CAN accomplish great things.

As strange as this may seem at this time, I can tell you with all sincerity I possess, that this great universe of ours awaits your simple and sincere decision, so that it can begin to fill you with all power you need to make your dream a reality. It's a matter of truly making that decision and then opening yourself up to receiving that invisible assistance.

"The Creator has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do." Orison Swett Marden

Now back to my miniscule, winged friend. On cue, and still prior to daylight, he shakes me out of my peaceful slumber. He knows nothing else. No other way. He just cranks it up at enormous volume at nature's call, oblivious to fact he is impacting me on a major scale by doing only thing he was designed to do. How we all should be, don't you agree?

The Power of Small!

© Rick Beneteau

As he repeated this gesture along our long route, even walking half a block out of our way to greet and hand yet another homeless person a couple of bucks, I noticed Doug's right pocket was bulging with what could only be one dollar bills. I didn't ask him about this ritual, preferring to know that Doug just did this 2-buck thing every day.

Finally, and as if in another world altogether, we entered this stunning building and were soon going over infinite details of our case in his impressive office.

Suffice it to say although this case was settled somewhat satisfactorily in end run, this initial hearing did not go well. After hearing and while Doug was in chambers with judge and principle lawyers trying to negotiate a fair settlement, other participants/all on other side (some came with an entourage) gathered into hallway. I made my way to each one of them and offered my apologies for having to have them and their clients involved. They all accepted. Even defendant's high-powered father was understanding and exceptionally cordial. We started chatting about sports and he even made some off-the-record remarks about his arrogant offspring.

While this conversation was taking place, a loud voice angrily bounced off marble walls, "So dad, you switching sides now? " My former musical friend was now in hall, obviously witnessing his dad and myself acting civilly. I walked over and with a simple gesture of peace, offered my hand to him. It was readily and violently slapped away.

I am what I feel most would say, a peace-loving, passive human being. But having physical sting of an assault like this brought instinctual animal out in me, to defend, and I began to react accordingly . . . good thing for Dad who rushed to scene and ushered his son back into courtroom.

Doug soon emerged with bad news that anything approximating a fair settlement was not going to happen this day. That disappointed me, but didn't seem to surprise my esteemed lawyer, as he assured me that we would need to apply more pressure in due course. Not a nice business.

After our *tough day at office*, Doug was soon digging back into his right pocket on our way back to parking lot, even placing currency into hands of some of same indigents. I then came to conclusion that they weren't all strangers.

We pulled in to get some gas just around corner from parking lot and were standing at pumps when a disheveled fellow approached us. This time it was me who engaged him in conversation. He was a Vietnam veteran with a severe chip on his shoulder and he seemed to be glad just to have someone to listen.

As if by magic, penniless me turned to Doug, who, with a big smile had his arm outstretched with 2 dollar bills just dangling for me to take.

My thoughts immediately ran back to several months before when I encountered a homeless man begging on downtown Detroit street that led to tunnel to Canada when I was returning home from a meeting with my Michigan attorney. I had a few U.S. dollars in my pocket and handed them to this man, but, with following, loudly spoken condition: "this is for food, not booze!"

But, this was not way Doug gave - he gave as Giving should always be – without condition. So, into hand of this man went my 2 bucks along with my most sincere wish - "Good Luck!" He hobbled away, mumbling to himself.

Doug and I have remained friends over years. We exchange email and he sends me a Christmas card every year as well as his articles that have been published in top law journals.

His giving though, went well beyond helping those souls on street.

In end, and with final decision left totally to me, we made a settlement agreement that would not even come close to compensating me and my music partner for having created a song that was a vital part of such a successful, worldwide recording project, and he, for ALL his time, effort and expertise in trying to get justice for me and my music partner. In Doug's heart-of-hearts, he knew it would simply end great stress that this case represented for me at this totally tumultuous period of time. And that was good enough for him.

I've never made mention to Doug of our long walk to and from office in all this time but I fully suspect he still leaves home each day with a pocketful of one dollar bills, parks far from his office so that he can bring a little joy into lives of less fortunate, and, takes on clients that are in same position as I was a decade ago.

In other words Giving - as Giving should always be.

© Rick Beneteau