Memorial Day Tribute |
Posted: 05/26/2008 |
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Our history tells some pretty incredible stories of sacrifice.
In the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), 4,435 “patriots” killed.
In the Civil War (1861-1865), there were 498,332 total casualties.
In our one year of involvement in World War I, 116,516 U.S. servicemen were killed.
In World War II (1941-1945), 405,399 American servicemen were killed.
In fact, if we add up the numbers of American fatalities from these wars and from the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War, 1,137,840 U.S. men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice and died defending our freedom and everything we stand for.
Interestingly whenever we have won a war, unlike other ruling powers, we have never taken conquest of land other than that which was needed to bury our soldiers.
Today, we find ourselves fighting a very different kind of war – a war of ideologies, a war of civilizations, a war where the enemy cannot clearly be identified. It is a War on Terrorism and it is far more real and threatening than many Americans want to admit. For centuries, fundamental Islamic leaders have repeatedly planted the seeds of hatred towards the infidels. They continue to breed hatred for all infidels but especially those in the West (Americans) and this mentality, this ideology, is perpetuated by the fact that they teach their children from the time they are very young to hate us.
Do we really understand this threat? Do we recognize the danger we are in? I’m not sure we do. But, there is a more fundamental question we must answer. Do we understand the price we must pay to guarantee the freedoms we enjoy?
Yesterday, I stood with 300,000 race fans before the start of the Indianapolis 500 in total, respectful, silence while a lone bugle played “Taps.” As I looked out at the entire spectacle from high in the Southwest Vista at the 300,000 people filling the grandstands, it dawned on me that roughly four times as many people as I could see at that moment have paid the ultimate price so that we can enjoy the freedoms and the life we enjoy in this great country. How very blessed we are to live in this great country.
This week and every week, we need to give thanks for those who came before us and served, and those that paid the ultimate price while preserving our freedom. We also need to pray for and thank all of the brave, young men and women serving in our “totally volunteer” armed forces. These people understand the obligation of duty and in accepting that awesome responsibility put themselves in harms way for us every day. Freedom isn’t free, it comes with a price. That price is called sacrifice.
Comments? Suggestions? You don’t like what I wrote? Not a problem, I always appreciate the feedback, be it good, bad or ugly. You can reach me at Budster51@msn.com.
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Faith and Leadership |
Posted: 04/30/2008 |
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When I was growing up years and years ago, there was a certain rule of etiquette that was passed down from generation to generation. There are three things you should never talk about with friends; money, politics and religion.
This seemed to make sense. After all, all three can be highly sensitive and opinionated subjects and could lead to less than pleasant conversations not to mention, confrontations. But, why should these be taboo subjects?
We all must ‘make a living’ and the world of economics and our free enterprise system has much to do with the value of the dollar, the price of oil, and what it costs to survive in this world. So, money, how much one makes, how much one pays for a new home, etc., should hardly be thought of as a taboo subject. The same is true of politics. We live in a democratic society where we have the right to vote for the government officials who will represent us and our interests. While politics have gotten more ugly (my opinion) in our 24/7, cable-TV, Internet-based world, as Americans, we still need to remember that despite our differences and diversity, at the end of the day, we are all Americans. We found that out after 9/11 even though many of us seem to have short-term memories.
I remember hearing and interview with former Senator Bob Dole and the interviewer asked him how could he ever like or stand to be in the same room with Bill Clinton after all of the negative things Bill Clinton had said about him during their campaigns for the Presidency. Dole replied, “That’s the problem with America today, we’ve gone ugly in the political mainstream. Bill Clinton was my opponent, he was not the enemy. At the end of the day, we’re all Americans and we have to remember that we are on the same team even though we may think differently on certain issues.” There is nothing wrong with spirited, political debate when we can walk away from it (as mature adults) and maintain the perspective that Bob Dole did about his own political opponent.
But, what about faith, religion, spirituality? Is that one we should avoid discussions on? I know when I wrote Dad’s Last Letter and decided to include a faith-based message in the book, I had some of my friends inquire as to “why” I chose to do that. It was clear; they were disappointed in my decision to do so because they thought it would limit the “marketability” of my book.
I made the choice to do this because my faith is largely, who I am; or should I say – who I aspire to be. When one considers his or her mortality, recognizing that life in this world is marked clearly by a beginning and an end, one tends become more reflective and ask the question, “Who am I?” Think of it this way. If you were to strip away your professional/occupational identity, all of your personal belongings, all of the material “stuff’ in your life; who are you and what is your real purpose for being here? Answering this question brings us to the very essence of our being, of our existence. For me, this question can only be answered by turning to one’s faith, one’s beliefs, and one’s convictions.
In Dad’s Last Letter, William Lancaster has his own epiphany when he discovers that his real purpose in life is to share his new-found faith with his two estranged sons (the next generation). And, ironically, it all happens in what would be the last 24 hours of his life. How we lead our life, which is really what leadership is all about, is derived largely from our faith.
Knowing that, understanding that, let us each live our lives with the purpose and intent to make this world a better place for all of mankind. By being the best people we can be every day, we can change the world.
Omni bonum de donum.
Comments? Suggestions? You don’t like what I wrote? Not a problem, I always appreciate the feedback, be it good, bad or ugly. You can reach me at Budster51@msn.com.
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One Day Left... |
Posted: 04/13/2008 |
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What if…what if you had but one day left to live? Not a pleasant thought, and yet, it is one we could ponder every day. We do not know what the future holds and for someone somewhere, whether they realize it or not, they are living their final day on this planet.
I don’t mean to be morbid. It is merely a reminder to all of us that life is short and unpredictable. I say this because just this past Friday, I went to a church to pay my condolences to a family who had lost their 23 year-old son unexpectedly. He was an incredible young man who had recently graduated from college. Engaged to be married next Valentine’s Day, he was an outstanding student and college football player and had many, many friends who loved him dearly. I only knew of him because I know his sister personally, who like her brother is a very special person and a wonderful young lady.
Now, did this young man see his last day coming? No. It ended in an instant when a semi-tractor trailer truck made an illegal U-turn in front of his pickup truck. Maybe in a hurry to get to his place of employment that day where he was serving as an intern, for some unknown reason he was not wearing his seatbelt. And so, sadly, his life in this world came to an end.
But, what if you knew you had but one day, 24 hours, to live? What would you do? How would spend those 24 hours? As unpleasant a thought as it may be, it is worth thinking about because it defines how we need to live our lives. None of us know when our last day will come which is all the more reason we need to live every day to the fullest! We need to realize what a gift this life is and make the very most of it. Ironically, that is exactly the way that young man who died last week lived his life.
In Dad’s Last Letter, William Lancaster must decide what to do with his last day on this earth. Did he make a wise choice? Would you have done what he did given his circumstances and the events that led to that day? Well, those are questions each of us must answer for our self based upon our interpretation of the story. But regardless of our individual opinions on the matter, while death remains a rather taboo subject in American society, it is the ultimate common denominator for each and every one of us. At some point in time, our existence as we know it in this life will come to an end.
Knowing that, understanding that, let us each live our lives with the purpose and intent to make this world a better place for all of mankind. By being the best people we can be every day, we can change the world.
Omni bonum de donum.
Comments? Suggestions? You don’t like what I wrote? Not a problem, I always appreciate the feedback, be it good, bad or ugly. You can reach me at Budster51@msn.com.
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New Beginnings |
Posted: 03/30/2008 |
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It’s a new day. How much we take for granted. Every day, we wake up with the rest of our life in front of us just waiting to see what we will make of all of it. William Lancaster learned the hard way that not everyone is quite so lucky. In Dad’s Last Letter, he was given a prognosis like no one else had ever gotten before him, one that clearly put him in a race against the clock. Could he make his life count for something before his time ran out?
What will today bring for you? For me? Ah, isn’t that the beauty of life? We never really know. But, even more beautiful is the fact that as divine creatures, made in the image of God, we have the choice to live and lead our lives in a way that can make a difference. Whether we do that or not is up to us.
Tomorrow, March 31st, marks a “new beginning” of sorts for Dad’s Last Letter. Having received countless e-mails, cards, and letters from people who said they were touched in some special way by the story, I am re-launching the book’s marketing campaign in conjunction with AuthorHouse. Press Releases and Sell Sheets will be going out throughout the Midwest and Southeast United States and the book will be available through most major book retailers as well as through Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/) or directly at the AuthorHouse web site (www.authorhouse.com).
And what will all this bring? Well, who knows? But, if the message in this book touches one life as it already touched countless lives, then the entire marketing campaign will have been a success. You see, this book, and its message, is not really mine. This is a book for all generations. The inspiration for the story was, I believe, divine; for I am hardly a writer. But, the message of hope, the leadership principles, the story of fatherly love and forgiveness that allows William Lancaster to live on into eternity – that is a story anyone can learn from. Best of all, if you were to have only one day of your life left to live, this story could turn that one day into a great, new beginning.
I hope you have a wonderful week.
Comments? Suggestions? You don’t like what I wrote? Not a problem, I always appreciate the feedback, be it good, bad or ugly. You can reach me at Budster51@msn.com.
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Good Health is Wealth |
Posted: 02/17/2008 |
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Growing up active and in an athletic family of three boys, fitness and good health has always been a high priority for me. Being so heavily involved in athletics in my youth, it is no wonder that I went to college and attained both my undergrad and Masters Degree in Physical Education. It is a simple truth for all of us – you lose your health, you lose everything!
I felt the impact of this simple truth my junior year in college. My father, in the prime of his life (age 55 and very active), suffered a debilitating stroke. The loss of brain function on the left side of his brain left him half-paralyzed on the right side of his body and aphasic (inability to speak clearly). It was a crushing, devastating blow for him and for our entire family. With the amazing help and support of our mother (she was an incredible caregiver), he did rehabilitate himself so that he could eventually walk with an orthocane (four-pronged cane) and he even learned to ride a bike again. Once he was more mobile, he became a volunteer at the hospital where he had been treated. He lived 13 years as a stroke person and put in over 2,200 hours as volunteer at the hospital before he died. He was quite a guy.
This past week, I’ve played nursemaid to my wife who is normally very active, fit and very healthy. A very slender, fit woman, this week, however, she was crippled by excruciating pain in her back and hip. Somehow she had suffered a very sudden and rather severe back injury and worst of all, it did not occur as a result of a fall or an accident. It just came on out of nowhere! Here was my lovely wife who hasn’t taken a sick day that I can remember in our last seven years together and yet, here she was flat on her back and out of work for the entire week. The MRI results showed a slight pinch in the S-1 but the doctors believe she has torn some of the internal muscles that stabilize her lower vertebrae. So, she’s on a 6-8 “no working out” order. Not good, but certainly could have been worse.
It’s amazing how we all take our good health for granted, and yet, when we lose it – how it can totally devastate us physically, mentally and emotionally. I once had a mentor whose motto for setting priorities was “Health first, Family second, and Business third.” His words were well chosen in that if you do lose your health, you’re no good to your family or your business!
This month the American Heart Association is telling women to wear RED to remember that heart disease (not cancer) is the number one killer of women in America. Well, ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to some rather astounding math? Consider the following – the average human heart beats 72 beats per minute. That means, if it never goes above that and just stays at that 72 BPM rate, to sustain your life for a single day your heart must beat 103,680 times. Remember, your heart is one muscle that doesn’t ever get to take a rest. Now consider that to sustain your life for a week, your heart must beat 725,760 times. And, if we look at a 365-day year, we’re talking about our heart having to beat 37,843,200 times without stopping to keep us alive.
Just the thought of that tells me one thing…I need to get my butt back in shape! How about you?
This week, let’s take care of our hearts. Be smart. Eat well, exercise regularly, and get good rest. After all, you only have one heart, so treat it as if your life depended on it….because it does.
Comments? Suggestions? You don’t like what I wrote? Not a problem, I always appreciate the feedback, be it good, bad or ugly. You can reach me at Budster51@msn.com.
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The Price for Freedom - Sacrifice |
Posted: 02/10/2008 |
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This past week, Harry Richard Landis died. He was 108 years old. Who was Harry Landis? He was one of only two known surviving U.S. veterans of World War I. It now appears that Frank Buckles, age 107, Charlestown, WV, appears to be the last remaining U.S. veteran from that “conflict.” I use the word conflict because, after all, while World War I lasted for four years from 1914-1918, the U.S. was only involved for one year of the war. So, one year, how bad could it have been?
Consider this. In that one year of U.S. involvement in World War I, 116,516 U.S. servicemen were killed. It is also interesting to note that in 1918, the U.S. Census reported a population of about 100 million people in the U.S. In essence, we lost a little over one one-thousandth of our population in one year of fighting.
Our history tells some pretty incredible stories of sacrifice. In the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), 4,435 “patriots” were killed fighting the English. Our population was then hovering around 4 million people. Once again, we lost slightly over one-thousandth of our population fighting for our freedom. In the Civil War (1861-1865) there were 498,332 total casualties, 73% of which were Union soldiers who died helping to preserve the Union, what is today our United States. With the U.S. population then at about 40 million, this war cost us 1.25% of our total population. In World War II (1941-1945), with the U.S population at just under 140 million, we suffered the loss of some 405,399 American servicemen, roughly three one-thousandths of our population.
In fact, if we add up the numbers of American fatalities from these wars and from the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War, 1,137,840 men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice and died defending America, our freedom and everything we stand for.
History doesn’t lie. Whenever we have won a war, unlike other ruling powers, we have never taken conquest of land other than that which was needed to bury our soldiers. In fact, we have shown throughout history that we are a compassionate, humble people and have actually helped re-build those nations whom we have defeated, forging new democracies (and allies) and giving newfound freedoms to their people in the process. Yes, much to the disappointment of ABC, NBC and CBS…..we are the “good guys.”
Today, we find ourselves fighting a very different kind of war – a war of ideologies, a war of civilizations, a war where the enemy cannot clearly be identified. It is a War on Terrorism and it is far more real and threatening than many Americans want to admit. Going back to the 1700’s, fundamental Islamic leaders have repeatedly planted the seeds of hatred towards the infidels. They continue to breed hatred for all infidels but especially those in the West (Americans) and this mentality, this ideology, is perpetuated by the fact that they teach their children from the time they are very young to hate us.
Do we understand the threat? Do we recognize the danger we are in? I’m not sure we do. But, there is a more fundamental question we must answer. Do we understand the price we must pay to guarantee the freedoms we enjoy? Most importantly, are we as a nation willing to make the necessary sacrifices in order to protect our way of life? I watch presidential debates, I listen to the media and I hear public sentiment opposed to our efforts in Iraq and I hear, “No.” Then I remember how we all felt after 9/11 and I hear, “Hell Yes!” We can never, ever forget 9/11.
This week, each of us needs to give thanks for the brave, young men and women serving in our “totally volunteer” armed forces. These young people, our heroes (or should be considered so), understand the obligation of duty and in accepting that awesome responsibility, put themselves in harms way for us every day.
Freedom isn’t free, it comes with a price. That price is called sacrifice.
Comments? Suggestions? You don’t like what I wrote? Not a problem, I always appreciate the feedback, be it good, bad or ugly. You can reach me at Budster51@msn.com.
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A Super Lesson from the Super Bowl |
Posted: 02/03/2008 |
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As I prepared to watch Super Bowl XLII (42) my thoughts drifted back in time to the first Super Bowl. I was 15 years old at the time and the Vince Lombardi-led Green Bay Packers were playing the Kansas City Chiefs in the Los Angeles Coliseum for what was to be the first-ever, Super Bowl. It was very different to say the least. The game was not a sell-out, filling only 61,000 of the 100,000 seats in the Los Angeles coliseum. The press had given it less than stellar coverage as if the game was more of a “prank” for the curiosity seekers who wanted to once and for all, rank one league as being better than the other. So there they were, the Packers and the Chiefs, the NFL and the upstart AFL, competing on the same field. The opening coin toss looked desolate by today’s Super Bowl standards. Two captains from each team and the head official standing alone at the center of the field, no microphones to capture the conversation, no photographers in sight – it was nothing more than another football game. And so, the Super Bowl was born.
Not expecting much out of this year’s Super Bowl (it has been less than “Super’ many, many times) I didn’t tune in until maybe fifteen minutes before game time. As I watched the coverage on FOX, I thought to myself, well this is probably going to be better than the game.
I’m referring to the segment on FOX network right before the game began, that ran about 5-6 minutes highlighting the words of our Declaration of Independence. With the words being quoted by various players, coach’s and even Pat Tillman’s widow (Pat Tillman was the Arizona Cardinal player killed while on active duty in Afghanistan) accompanied with great photography and music, it was stirring to say the least. Then the actual game coverage began and as with all major athletic events, they televised the singing of our National Anthem. It was an “11” on a scale of 1-10! The arrangement and the singing was spectacular, one of the best renditions of the Star Spangled Banner I have ever heard.
And then, I settled in for what I thought might be….a slaughter.
Whether you are a football fan or not, Super Bowl XLII (42) had all the makings of a classic, pitting Darth Vader and the Evil Empire against Luke Skywalker and a band of cast off warriors, no-name players who had somehow gotten to the promised land with a 13-6 record. Yes, they had lost 6 times during the regular season and were a “wild card" team playing in the biggest football game of the year. The New England Patriots on the other hand had gone 18-0 leading up to the Super Bowl. They had the highest-scoring offense in NFL history and Tom Brady had thrown 50 touchdown passes in the season. And so the stage was set; good vs. evil, no-names vs. superstars, the tortoise and the hare, David vs. Goliath, not much of a contest, but the game would be played.
And as the game unfolded, we watched history and once again, how no-names, people that most others wouldn’t have given a chance in terms of their ability to win (“I hope they can make it a good game”), defied all odds, looked inside themselves and for some crazy reason, said, “We’re here because we’re supposed to be here. We’re that good.” When no one else really believed in them, they believed in themselves.
It was a classic example of hope overcoming all odds, and even then, one could never be sure. There were bright spots during the game for the Giants, like sun poking its way through the clouds on an overcast day; but surely the clouds would prevail. The Patriots were unbeatable – they were the perfect team. This became oh so clear when Tom Brady threw that touchdown pass to Randy Moss with only 2:42 remaining in the game. Like a dagger stuck to the heart, that drive had proven their supremacy. The Patriots were everything that everyone had said they were. This would be the perfect season, 19-0.
Then, little Eli Manning led the Giant offense onto the field. Looking like a boy amongst men, his childlike face depicted not panic or fear, but a certain calmness and determination. With the face of a 10 year-old in that helmet, all I could think and hope was that maybe he would remember the words from that little train in that famous bedtime story, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can….”
We didn’t see it, we didn’t know it at the time, but that’s what every man on the Giants offense was thinking when they took the field for that last drive. Making miraculous plays as they moved down the field including one catch by David Tyree that could be dubbed, “The Immaculate Reception – the Sequel”, Eli Manning hit Plaxico Burress for the winning score with just 35 seconds remaining on the clock. It was a classic for all time. Giants 17, Patriots 14.
How “Super” was it? Well, if you strip out all the hype, the halftime show, the commercials, all the pomp and circumstance, etc., in the end….it is just a football game. But, what better example for all of us when faced with a difficult situation, a hardship to be overcome, or odds that don’t seem in our favor, to learn from. To me, the Giants victory was great because for any young person watching the game, athlete or not, it served as a lesson in having hope against all odds. It proved that hope which drives optimism, hard work, perseverance, and everything that goes into being successful, can help lead to that success. In my opinion, that’s what made this year’s Super Bowl not only Super but…..the BEST EVER!
Comments? Suggestions? You don’t like what I wrote? Not a problem, I always appreciate the feedback, be it good, bad or ugly. You can reach me at Budster51@msn.com.
Want to learn more about hope? Buy your copy of Dad's Last Letter on this web site today!
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Leadership Is Action, Not Position |
Posted: 01/27/2008 |
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“Leadership is action, not position.” - Unknown
Regardless of your position in life, at some time, like it or not, you will find yourself in a position of leadership. It may be at work heading up a committee or accepting a new management position, it may be in a church group, in a professional organization or even a social setting. For many of us, it will be in our homes where, as parents, we have a critical leadership role to play.
As the quote says, leadership is not about “position”, or for that matter, title. It is about action. It is about who we are and our actions, our deeds, how we treat others, how we make decisions, how we listen to others, how we accept responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable; this is who we really are. As leaders, we must realize that every action is a reflection of our character, our integrity and our ability to be noble, caring human beings.
I happen to believe that there is no substitute for responsible leadership that adheres to and honors high moral character and rules of conduct as guiding principles. In recent years, we’ve seen our fair share of train wrecks Wall Street that can occur when CEO’s and people in leadership positions compromise their integrity. Manipulating performance figures and earnings to try and improve stock performance, their inept and corrupt form of leadership led not only to the failure of their companies but also to a pathetic state of distrust - distrust of the American business leader. Greed. Selfishness. The misuse of power. What an absolute pathetic example of leadership gone bad! When it comes to responsible leadership, maybe Warren Bennis said it best in his book, Leaders: The Strategies for Taking Charge, when he said, “Managers do things right, Leaders do the right thing.” Thus, if leadership is truly action, it is important that it be the “right” action.
I just attended a football coaching clinic with roughly 150 high school and college football coaches at Franklin College in Franklin, IN (go to http://www.grizzlyball.com/ ). Aside from the various sessions on X’s and O’s there were a number of sessions on the subject of leadership and the role the coach needs to play in the life of every student-athlete he comes in contact with. In a presentation entitled "Coaching the Heart", Brad Long, Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for Central Indiana, emphasized the following point. "We need to be telling every kid we coach that some day, you are going to play your last football game.” Mr. Long's point was clear and simple – there is a lot more to life than just this game! Real leadership in the coaching profession is about teaching lessons that will last a lifetime; lessons that will help the student athlete long after his playing days are over to be a responsible citizen, spouse, parent and hopefully, leader in the community.
Few of us will ever have the opportunity to run a publicly traded company or some multi-national conglomerate. We also may not find ourselves coaching young people in some form of athletics. In the end, however, we all have a leadership role to play. How we live, the choices we make, the way we treat others and seek to help those less fortunate than us – this is who we are. We need to make the right choices in all of these areas of our life if we are going to lead our life and not just live it. Leading a life and living one are two very different things. This week, think of yourself as a leader. Take the time to think through your decisions and actions, and most importantly, do the right thing.
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Go With All Your Heart |
Posted: 01/20/2008 |
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Wherever you go, go with all your heart – Confucious.
What was Confucious trying to tell us when he made this statement?
Certainly, he never knew what our world would be like. Both parents hustling off to work, arguing as to who will drop off the kids at the day care center while the other one is on the hook for breakfast. The cell phone rings as you’re putting “Junior” in his car seat and you still need to go back in the house and shut down your laptop before you back out the driveway. Our world can be fast paced, hectic, stressful and quite frankly, cluttered with a lot of crap. So, Confucious “Dude”, How do I go forward in this mess “with all of my heart?”
Maybe what Confucious was trying to say to us was, wherever you go, Be There. That’s right, Be There. Our lives are busy and fast paced and we cannot be two and three places at a time, even though that is what technology is telling us we need to do. As the old Latin Proverb says, “To Do Two Things At Once Is To Do Neither.” So, wherever we go, at that moment, that is where we need to be.
So, when we are fixing a hurried breakfast in the morning for our kids, even if it has to be “hurried,” be there. Don’t be at the office or thinking about the two o’clock conference call. Be There, at the breakfast table, and…your heart will be there.
And yes, when you get to the office, Be There. Don’t worry about the issues at home or the argument that you had long distance with your sister two days ago deciding who would bring what to the annual, family Thanksgiving dinner. You are at work, and while you are there, you need to Be There. Stay focused, do the very best work you can do and be as productive as you can be.
And then, Tuesday night when you attend your son’s elementary school play, turn off your cell phone/blackberry'iphone etc. You are going to your son’s play, so, Be There.
Being There, being focused on where you are at, at a given moment in time, is what brings quality to our lives. This is the ability that lets some people “suck the marrow” out of life while others wander around aimlessly looking for the scraps.
This week, make an extra effort wherever you go; go with all your heart. Be There!
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Are We Really Good Enough to Change? |
Posted: 01/13/2008 |
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As we start the New Year, change is a prominent theme is most of our lives. We make resolutions to let go of bad habits and behaviors so that we can truly “change” and be better. Changing our ways means changing, to some extent, who we are. That isn’t easy.
Changing one’s self begins by making the cold, hard honest assessment of who we really are. For many individuals, that is next to impossible. Being honest with oneself is one of the hardest things to do, for none of us like to admit how flawed we are. If we are willing to make that assessment, however, and admit to the need for change in our lives, it then takes tremendous discipline, perseverance, and to some extent, courage to successfully make that change. My question is….are we really good enough to make the CHANGE?
Wanting to change, to improve ourselves in whatever way that may be, is logical. If we make the improvement, somehow, we become a better person and in turn, our life actually improves. Changing, however, making a true transformation is not that easy. In our lifetimes, we have all attempted and failed at change in some form or another. When that happens, it doesn’t exactly bolster our self-confidence. We become filled with self-doubt and we become discouraged and frustrated. The end result is that many of us just end up being satisfied with ourselves and our lives the way they are. We become set (stuck!) in our ways and never really grow.
Considering how this works in our personal lives, I find it interesting that right now in this country the ‘slogan du jour’ of every political candidate running for President, regardless of party affiliation is about CHANGE! Oh yeah, but this is a different kind of change – this is the one that someone promises to us and we are not going to have to do anything to get it (just vote for them!). Interesting, isn't it? When someone promises us change, change that will certainly make our lives better but we don’t have to work for, we want it and we want it now! But, if we have to change ourselves, I mean do the work and hold ourselves accountable for the results….well, uh, that’s different.
Well, as we approach what will be one of the most important Presidential elections in our lifetimes, I would hope that all of us might change. How? I would hope that each of us would start by committing to ourselves that we are going to be smart enough to open our minds, consider all of the possibilities, and become the most intelligent voters we can be as we view and participate in the election process that will take place later this year. Yes, this means flushing all of our predisposed, ugly, judgmental views about each of these candidates from our minds (yes, this means stop sending any more politically-driven ‘why you should hate this candidate’ e-mails!). We need to become the best informed voters we can be. We need to READ about the issues and the candidates and not make our decisions from 30-second sound bites on the network news. Let’s understand the issues, the candidates, what truly is most important to each of us and where each candidate stands on those issues, and then cast our vote accordingly.
Of course, to do that, that means we must change, and I’m not sure….Are we really good enough to change?
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