Lyrics & Story Behind Song #17: “Does it Really Matter?”

“One thought, one word, one heart…Does it really matter?”

This is a little song that asks a big question. How much does every single, little thing we do (or don’t do) really matter?. As a young child I was extremely sensitive. I constantly felt hurt by the words and actions of others. What were “practical jokes” to others, were my traumas and nightmares. Even though I knew most people weren’t intentionally being mean, emotionally I grew up constantly cringing.

As an adult, I realize each of us leaves a trail of words, thoughts and actions throughout our lives. Often we are unaware of the ripples these cause. A simple act of kindness that might seem “small” to me, may change someone else’s life. A small act of neglect I might dismiss, may be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back” for someone else. I imagine most people believe being 80-90% good is “good enough”.  If they are “generally good, decent” people, shouldn’t they be forgiven an occasional mistake that is out of alignment with love? After all, popular T-shirt slogans tell us, “We’re only human”; “No one is perfect”; and “Be patient with me, I’m a work in progress.”

The first two verses of Does It Really Matter? list typical “unconscious” behaviors lots of “good” people do all the time without a second thought. For example, I was socialized to excuse “little white lies” as actually being polite. The occasional “unkind thought” or “judgement” was also OK. It was just venting. Similarly, “a random act of kindness left undone” was fine, especially if I had “more important” things to do.  The overarching moral message was, “Don’t sweat the small stuff”. Save your righteous judgements for really “big sins” and “obvious crimes”.

However, the Dalai Lama says, “Love is the absence of judgement.” Don’t judge at all. So who gets to draw the lines? Can each of us draw our lines differently if we are all striving for the same ideal--to be loving people? In the cosmic, bigger picture, if we are truly made of star dust (divine sparks), what is the highest standard love is calling us to?

In grade school I remember being impressed by stories of how “Honest Abe” Lincoln walked miles out of his way to return a few pennies to a customer he realized he had overcharged. People were inspired by Lincoln’s level of integrity. As an adult studying eastern spiritual mystics, I was similarly struck by tales of wandering sadhus who would go to great pains to avoid stepping on an ant. Something about these extreme examples rang true.  What if our tiniest actions really did matter?    

Religions that believe in the doctrine of karma describe a law of “cause and effect”. What goes around, comes around. What you sow, you will reap. Karmic doctrine says that ultimately each person will be held accountable for perfectly balancing their own scales. Scientists tell us, “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” The Golden Rule describes the same principle as, “Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.” In consciousness we say “There is no outer. I create my reality with every thought and word. There are no idle words. Everything is translatable to consciousness.” All of these statements speak to this idea that EVERYTHING matters. Why? Everything matters because we are more powerful than we know…AND everything matters because we are more connected than we know.

When I was first learning about conscious language, I was reminded over and over again to say the phrase “I choose” instead of “I need.”  Why did changing one word matter so much? The energy of “I choose” was ownership (I have the power to choose from infinite possibilities). The energy of “I need” kept me in lack (I believe I need because I believe I don’t have). As you say each phrase you can FEEL those energetic differences in your body.

If you read books on life after death, most authors describe what they call a “life review”.  At the end of our lives, supposedly everything we’ve ever done flashes before our eyes. We have an opportunity to be our own judge, and there is only one criteria. As the moments of our life scroll by, we see the impact we had or the missed opportunities. We answer only one question, “Was that love?”   

The last verse of Does it Really Matter? lists some simple actions that could be starting points for alignment with love. How about gratitude, kind words, a card, a hug, or a gift? The song leaves us with the same question we began with. How much do all the little things I do today (or don’t do) really matter? More importantly, what do I choose to do about that?

Lyrics: Does It Really Matter?

Verse 1:         One little thought, not very nice--doesn’t matter; don’t think twice.

  One little word, not very kind--don’t worry; never mind.

  One heart breaks in two—not your fault; nothing you could do.

  One thought, one word, one heart…

  CHORUS:       Does it really matter? (Repeat);   Does it really matter? (Repeat)

Verse 2:         One little judgment…one white lie… broken promise slips by.

  Little bits of trust lost one by one…random acts of kindness left undone…

  Do as I say—not as I do.  (I’m perfect, unlike you.)

  If we’re stardust after all, we’re much too big to live so small,

CHORUS:        If it really matters… (Repeat);   If it really matters…(Repeat)

Verse 3:        One smile from a grateful heart—that’s a very good place to start.

  One hug, one kind word, moves mountains I’ve heard.

  One rose, with a card or two.  Three little words, “I love you”.

  Love’s a choice day by day:  Give, receive, or take away.

CHORUS:        That’s what really matters  (Repeat);   If it really matters…(Repeat).

Does it really matter?...(Repeat).

© 2014 - Ann S. Bugh