I talk to quite a few people in person.  In one form or another, it has been interesting to note that advice of one sort or another seems to turn out to be the topic.  And specifically, there is one question that continues to recur in almost every conversation I have:  What do I do now?

If you are like me, that question has been one of life’s most common (and constant) refrains.   In fact, the more important the task before me, the more tempted I am to cautiously approach the starting line.  After all, I have reasoned, I don’t want to do anything wrong . . .

Over and over again in my life, however, I’ve noticed that when I didn’t know what to do, I usually did nothing.  I didn’t intend to do nothing.  I knew “nothing” wasn’t the answer.  But often, the ultimate outcome of not knowing what to do…was nothing.

You might have read The Noticer and are familiar with Jones, the old man who was a real person to me and is the title character in the book.  As you might imagine, I think of him almost every day and have for more than thirty years.  I remember how he walked, his smile, how he could be simultaneously stern and loving…

Nowadays, when I do interviews or talk to folks about The Noticer, I am also reminded that

I didn’t include everything the old man told me when I wrote the book . . .

Here’s another question I hear in almost every television or radio appearance I do.    Andy, having been homeless and knowing there are so many people today facing the toughest times in their lives, what would you advise them to do . . . when they don’t know where to start?

I remember living on the beach and asking Jones a variation of that very question…What do I do now?   It’s the same question we are contemplating today!  His answer, as always, was simple, yet profound.

“Son,” he said, “when you don’t know what to do, you must always doooooo . . . something!”  My eyebrows lifted.  Jones chuckled and continued.  “I know you can’t do everything right now, but you can do something right now.  And you can smile while doin it.

Look here, the problem you have is not laziness….you work and continue to look for work—but there is a lot of time everyday that you sit under this pier or walk the beach being scared or mad or feeling sorry for yourself.  You keep asking yourself, What do I do?  And you keep telling yourself, “I don’t know what to do.”   But here comes Jones with the answer.   The answer….. is “something”.

“Actually, I believe that you have lost sight of yourself so that you don’t even know what you can do anymore.  You have begun to doubt the very value that exists in you as a person.”  Jones paused for a moment as if to let this sink in.  He stared as if to dare me to refute him.  Then, he continued.  “So, let’s think about this for a minute.

What value do you have?

Can you read?”  Gesturing with his hand, Jones said, “You know, there are people out there who can’t read.  So do something!  Go read to ‘em!

Can you carry things?  There are lots of folks who can’t carry things anymore. You’re young . . . you’re strong.   Go carry something!

Can you mow grass or pull weeds?”  The old man leaned toward me and spoke with intensity.  “I’m not sayin’ to find someone and ask, “If I mow your grass, will you give me ten dollars when I’m finished . . .  I’m telling you to go out into your community and find weeds that need pulling and pull ‘em with a smile on your face!

Jones took a breath and cocked his head.  With a sly smile, he pressed on.  “Here’s what will happen . . .  By doing something, your mind and heart will remember and reestablish the enormous value you already possess.  You will have more energy, more excitement, a renewed sense of purpose—

And you will become more valuable!

“As you become more valuable, people will notice.  No longer will they think of you as the kid who sleeps under the pier.  They will forget that you bathe in the Holiday Inn swimming pool.  Folks will still talk to each other about you, but here is what they’ll say:

‘Have you noticed that guy?  Every time I see him, he is helping someone.  Every day, he is finding things that need to be done and he is doing them!’

“People will observe your actions and your attitude, and they will begin to place a value on you that they didn’t see before.  In their eyes, you will have become valuable.   I don’t have to tell you what happens to valuable people.  You already know!  They get job offers and opportunities and encouragement and favors and advice . . . and all because they did something—even when they didn’t know what to do!”

So, my friends, this is our beginning.  In this country, we have forgotten just how valuable each of us are.  NOW is not the time to gripe or worry or accuse.

Now is the time to DO something.

Don’t you see?  As rich and poor do something, they will begin to value each other and establish common ground where once there existed only opposition and distrust.  People of different colors, of different political parties, and different cultures will discover value where they were certain none would ever be found!

This is our beginning.

And we are the ones who must begin.