Making History
It's official, Barack Obama is the first African American to be nominated for President of the United States by a major political party. For a moment, do not consider yourself a Democrat, Republican, Independant or otherwise. Don't politicize this. Just take a moment to realize that only 50 years ago in 1968, the Supreme court made racial segregation unconsitutional, though it still happens today. Take a moment to breath in the significance of the moment. A man who represents a group of people that were considered property and counted as 3/5 of other human beings, a group who were not allowed to drink water from the same fountain as white people, a group still very much in the minority, has been selected by the Democratic party to be the leader of the free world. That is progress. That is enough to give me chills. The simple fact that we can see a black man in the race for president is amazing, the fact that he may actually win is simply inspiring. No matter what political party you are a member of, you have to admit this is pretty significant for the United States. Don't get me wrong. I certainly don' think this means we are all good now, and racism is gone, it simply gives me hope that a combination of time and education can cure the painful disease of ignorance and hate. Take a moment to realize you are experiencing a very important moment in the History of the United States. Consider this, If Barack Obama wins the presidency, African Americans will be the first and second most powerful people in the world, Obama being second only to Oprah.
Exactly
I went to a concert recently of a friend, Amy Steinberg. (www.amysteinberg.net) She is an incredibly talented songwriter and singer who is truly documenting her adventures in life through song. She is the type of artist who reflects the human condition in her music with such imperfect precision. You know, the kind of music that just makes you say, yes, thats exactly what I am feeling!
One of her older and possibly most popular songs is called Exactly, which starts with the lyrics:
i am exactly where i need to be
i need to be exactly where i am
These words are such a reminder that yes, no matter where we are in life, this is where we are meant to be at the moment. Good times or bad, its all part of the journey. She claimed the know the purpose of life in one song and it was simply put.
The purpose of life is to live.
One of her older and possibly most popular songs is called Exactly, which starts with the lyrics:
i am exactly where i need to be
i need to be exactly where i am
These words are such a reminder that yes, no matter where we are in life, this is where we are meant to be at the moment. Good times or bad, its all part of the journey. She claimed the know the purpose of life in one song and it was simply put.
The purpose of life is to live.
Dorthy was right!
I've spent the last two weeks traveling quite a bit. First to North Carolina on a train, which, by the way, was a lot less adventurous and exciting than I had imagined. (Lesson learned, fly the friendly skies) Then I returned home for a few days of back to back meetings, late night events and packing and unpacking. I was then off to San Antonio, TX, a former home of mine, and current home of some family, whom it was very good to see. Talk about crazy households, they have a sweet puppy, a 1 and 1/2 year old genius child, a super dad, and an 8 month pregnant mommy. I applaud people with children, simply for their ability to keep the child alive or as my friend Jan put it, keep from killing their spouse!
I took a brief trip down to Laredo, TX to speak and train a group of outstanding Resident Assistant's at Texas A&M International University, which is practically in Mexico. The RA's were great, funny and really committed to helping their residents succeed. Leadership opportunities such as RA, Orientation leaders and SGA can be such a valuable experience for students who want the edge. I also applaud incredible RA's who make it their job to care.
During these trips, I couldn't help but click my heels and think, "It would be great to be home." Not that I wasn't enjoying myself, but moreso that I really enjoy my home. I missed my bed, my dog Henry all of which have apparently become my comfort zone. In education and training, we often motivate people to leave their comfort zone, but I now know that we also need to spend some time in it. That's why its called a comfort zone. What is your comfort zone? Where do you feel most at peace?
I took a brief trip down to Laredo, TX to speak and train a group of outstanding Resident Assistant's at Texas A&M International University, which is practically in Mexico. The RA's were great, funny and really committed to helping their residents succeed. Leadership opportunities such as RA, Orientation leaders and SGA can be such a valuable experience for students who want the edge. I also applaud incredible RA's who make it their job to care.
During these trips, I couldn't help but click my heels and think, "It would be great to be home." Not that I wasn't enjoying myself, but moreso that I really enjoy my home. I missed my bed, my dog Henry all of which have apparently become my comfort zone. In education and training, we often motivate people to leave their comfort zone, but I now know that we also need to spend some time in it. That's why its called a comfort zone. What is your comfort zone? Where do you feel most at peace?
Is Yelling Love?
I just got back from a great trip to see my cousin in North Carolina. My cousin is more like an older sister to me and it has been a few years since we caught up so it was definitley good to see her. While I was there, however, I noticed something very different about her and her family. They are the Yelling Family. You know, the family that seems to live on the edge at all times so that when something mildly disagreeable happens, all hell breaks loose...yes, the yelling family. Well, apparently, some people live in this daily environment and still love eachother, settle down at the end of the day to watch a movie together, and act as if they were not cussing each other out earlier. I started looking around and realized that many of my married or partnered couple friends live like this. (As a single guy, I live pretty drama free.) My first thought was: Why is everyone yelling?
Is this what modern love looks like? To be quite honest, I'm not sure I want to be a part of that. And while I was grateful that they felt close enough to me to be open and honest, rather than put on a show, I would have appreciated a bit of forced smiles and explative depression.
It really got me thinking. Why are we so much nicer to strangers and people we first meet? Well clearly because we don't want them to think bad of us. But what about our family? What must they think? I know we want to be "real" with them, but is it hurting our relationships?
We do take our family for granted. My challenge to you this week is to make sure you are as nice to your family as you are to a customer at work. As for being real, BE REAL, but do so and treat your loved ones as if they are truly your loved ones.
Taking people for granted is easy. Living with the regret of taking them for granted is not.
Is this what modern love looks like? To be quite honest, I'm not sure I want to be a part of that. And while I was grateful that they felt close enough to me to be open and honest, rather than put on a show, I would have appreciated a bit of forced smiles and explative depression.
It really got me thinking. Why are we so much nicer to strangers and people we first meet? Well clearly because we don't want them to think bad of us. But what about our family? What must they think? I know we want to be "real" with them, but is it hurting our relationships?
We do take our family for granted. My challenge to you this week is to make sure you are as nice to your family as you are to a customer at work. As for being real, BE REAL, but do so and treat your loved ones as if they are truly your loved ones.
Taking people for granted is easy. Living with the regret of taking them for granted is not.
