Have you seen the movie, The Greatest Showman? There were many songs that touched me but the song “Never Enough” (https://binged.it/2tkIZFk ) is not only a reminder of a burden attributable to a family of origin, but also of the joy and blessing of knowing that life is not meant to be stagnate and needs to be constantly evolving and filled with learning and growth.

Speaking of learning, I’m privileged (and excited!) to work with the staff of Augsburg University  on moderating a series in the months ahead with the  Staff and Student Leadership group for Augsburg’s Step Up program and another with the Augsburg Men’s Soccer team during their fall pre-season. Each of these projects focus on the principles found in Lessons Learned from a Third Grade Dropout by Rick Rigsby. The author shares some of the wisdom his father, who only completed the third grade, gave him about living a life of character and integrity, being responsible, the importance of serving others, and what it takes to be socially and professionally successful in life. I am convinced that the moderator will learn as much if not more than the participants. What a big win and lesson to learn in going outside our comfort zone.

As I’ve been preparing to do this work I’ve been questioning myself and wondering if I’m up to the challenge. I have asked myself “What do I have to offer?”, “ Do I have the intellectual capacity to provide the value these groups deserve?”, “ Can I pull this off with humility, vulnerability, honesty, and compassion?”—all principles Rick Rigsby talks about? There’s a statement I came across in the book that has helped me with answering these personal self-assessment questions:

“ . . .find a wise mentor. The mentor must have endured some setbacks, failures, and disappointments – for wisdom rarely is acquired without a storm. Remain with this person as long as you can. Learn, grow and prosper!”

I’ve come to realize that the answer to my questions is, YES! I can do this. We can all do far more than our self-talk tells us. Trust and Confidence in ourselves is critical, however easy to say, yet at times very hard to instill. That said, in my case,  I have lived through storms, gained amazing humility, and overcome the shame and guilt of failure. Considering all of that, I now know that yes, I am “enough.”

This book and the preparation for the classes have allowed me to think more intentionally about going “back to the basics” of life, the core values that are worthy of intentionally developing in (my) life. Here are some of the life principles I believe are worthy of discussion, debate, application, and integration into life: (As you read these, reflect on how you feel, how you react and if these traits are appropriate for our living a wholehearted and meaningful life going forward).

• Accountability and expectations
• Are we looking and developing a plan as to who we want to be!?
• Responding to criticism, (try with an open mind and reaction maybe?)
• Kindness – how does it look, how does it feel, how is kindness developed and how does it impact those around us?
• Discipline
• Boundaries
• Responsibility
• Commitment
• Words or actions?
• Building community
• Helping ourselves and others
• Doing a job right – commitment to excellence!
• Hearing vs the Power of Listening
• Character! What you do when no one is looking
• Dependability
• Appropriateness
• Honesty, with ourselves and others
• Authenticity – be true to yourself and to others
• The Power “TO STAND TALL!”
• Never, I mean Never Give Up!
• Be joyful and positive as happiness is fleeting and volatile

 

 

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As I wind down my Ramblings for the summer months I find myself thinking about what the theme will  look like for this coming fall. As I go through notes on ideas and thoughts for future Ramblings, I am planning on my “Fall 2018 Series”  to center around some of the following themes. These are fun (at least I think so) and deeply thought provoking, each creating the potential for meaningful conversation with those in our lives:

• Fascination with “Observations from Life” and my mentoring experiences
• Are we “Out of Focus?”
• Thank you for listening – I would rather have you actually absent than virtually absent
• We need more than a living, we need a life, let’s talk about Living! Let’s talk about Kindness and its impact on life and those around us!
• Are you a Tigger or Eyore?
• Outsourcing life does not work!
• Buying a car? Don’t drive it without looking under the hood!
• You can’t be amazing without practice!
• Avoiding confrontation is sharing in the guilt of a problem
• Trust and the Thread of Life “the invisible thread”
• Wheel of Fortune
• Hot fudge and the whipped cream of life

Have a great summer and I’ll look forward to connecting with you again in the fall!

 BOB

(this is spontaneous, unedited rambling, excuse structural deficiencies and hear the heart of the message)
It is sad to know that someone you never met, who is no longer is with us. Someone who will no longer add to my life, not just for his intellectual perspective on political landscape, but in my watching with incredible interest the manner in which he handled himself.

Charles Krauthammer was consistent in his deflecting accolades and praise, deflecting discussion as to himself and refocused on those around him.  His soft spoken manner, his unexpected humor, his grace in challenging others perspective is a hallmark trait worthy of emulating.

As I reflect on the life of Charles Krauthammer and the tributes that have flooded the airwaves, I am struck with this thought:

Intellectual brilliance should never be overshadowed by personal elegance, kindness, graciousness in listening to others opinions even though they maybe disagreeable.
We need to consistently and genuinely be intentional in our interest in others around us. This being done at the same time you are true to ourselves in expressing our opinion in a blunt, well thought out respectful manner. By not doing so is a betrayal to who we are! 

Differing opinion should not be confused with kindness, love, appreciation of perspective and deep appreciation and love for those around us.

Charles Krauthammer consistently wanted to know others life, how they grew up (family of origin you may say) as this helped to shape Krauthammer’s a deeper understanding of others perspective and who they where as a person. This keen interest in others added to Krauthammer’s  perspective, his thought and his wisdom.  What an amazing personal attribute to have in defining one’s life in how he lived a wholehearted life that he intentionally intended.

I hope that when the day comes that I am taking my final breaths on this earth that I too can say and honestly believe what Carl Krauthammer wrote earlier this month;

“I leave this life with no regrets,” he concludes in his letter. “It was a wonderful life — full and complete with the great loves and great endeavors that make it worth living. I am sad to leave, but I leave with the knowledge that I lived the life that I intended.”  Charles Krauthammer June 8, 2018

Charles Krauthammer had a giant intellectual capacity and insight that at the same time he possessed  humility, kindness and elegance that is seldom witnessed. Charles Krauthammer was so selfless in his interest in everything other than himself.  His soul, his commentary was sincere, honest and direct, however not in a manner  that was offensive. Krauthammer’s perspectives and commentary were filled with deep thought, often a touch of humor and worthy of consideration.

Krauthammer was direct, he was committed to telling you what he believed, what he learned,  Charles Krauthammer was REAL in every sense of the work! He consistently said that if you do not express with kindness and gentleness what you truly believe and feel is a betrayal of your life, not to mention those around you.

When asked  to speak with others who had experienced similar injuries that Charles Krauthammer experienced, he spoke directly, but with such great wisdom when he said…..(somewhat paraphrased),

“ learn to accept who you are now! Do not dwell on the past, but instead, focus on your life today and that your life has so much to offer for others around you. GO FOR IT!. embrace your talents and ability to impact others around you with gentleness, humility, grace and candor.”

I will feel a void as a result of the Death of Charles Krauthammer’s and his ongoing perspectives. I will honor him and will find the coming years fascinating as I commit to the next best thing to future earthly Krauthammer perspectives , to become a student on Charles Krauthammer, not  focusing on his politics, but focusing on how he lived his life. I will  start with this book.

Thank you Charles Krauthammer. You impacted my life, my perspectives and added to my life a model how to live going forward.

Your transparent, elegance in all aspects of your life will be sorely missed, but not forgotten