COMMENTARY: A Call for More Civility

When George Washington was 16, he discovered a booklet of 110 maxims describing how a well-mannered person should behave. He was so convinced that these maxims would help him become a better person that he set out to incorporate them into his daily living. Among Washington’s many virtues, his commitment to civility marked him as a gentleman and helped him become …

COMMENTARY 985.4: Slow Dance

I once heard the chairman and CEO of a huge public company tell a roomful of ambitious, hardworking, dedicated executives that if he had to do it all over again, he would have spent more time with his family. That’s not news, but to Type-A personalities, it’s easier said than done. David L. Weatherford’s poem “Slow Dance” sends the message …

TREASURE EVERY MOMENT THAT YOU HAVE!

To realize the value of ONE YEAR ask a student who has failed his final exam. To realize the value of ONE MONTH ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of ONE WEEK ask an editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of ONE DAY ask a daily wage laborer who …

Now & Then

“Every now and then its a good thing to stop looking for happiness and just be happy.” – Michael Josephson

Life is a Mystery

“We must be willing to fail and to appreciate the truth that often ‘life is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be lived.’” – M. Scott Peck

Time & Money

“If you want to know a person’s real values…look how they spend their time and their money.” – Michael Josephson

COMMENTARY: A Jar Full of Rocks

Prioritize Your Life – What You Can Learn From a Jar Full of Rocks It seems that no one has enough time to do all the things they want to do. After all, there’s only so many hours in a day. It’s true we can’t expand our day but we can make better use of it by being more intentional …

Faith

Faith is not believing that everything will turn out the way we want it, but that there is a divine purpose in how things turn out.

Only Character Endures

Fame is vapor, popularity is an accident, riches take wing; only character endures.” – Horace Greeley

What To Do With Time

Invest time; don’t spend it. Save time; don’t waste it. Enjoy the time you have; Don’t regret the time that’s gone.

Lonely vs. Alone

I don’t have to be lonely just because I am alone. I am in the company of thousands of good memories of people I’ve known and know, places I’ve been, things I’ve done, and the feelings of joy, gratitude and pride that are still a part of me.

Commentary: INTELLECTUAL HUMILITY AND THE PURSUIT OF WISDOM. “Don’t believe everything you think.”

INTELLECTUAL HUMILITY AND THE PURSUIT OF WISDOM. “Don’t believe everything you think.” This is a reminder of the need to be as rigorously honest, informed and objective about our own ideas as we are when we evaluate those of others.   Wisdom requires courage and humility to receive and consider new facts, opinions and perspectives, even when they challenge long …

Success Comes In Cans

Success comes in cans. Failures come in can’ts. Never say, “I can’.” Say, “I can’t…yet.”

Hmmm…

If ignorance is bliss, Why aren’t more people happy?

COMMENTARY 985.1: Making Lives

A few years ago I came across a video by a very dynamic speaker, a former middle school teacher named Taylor Mali. He is now what’s called a performance poet — someone who delivers poetry as singers deliver songs. The poem that caught my attention was “What Do I Make?” an articulate and aggressive response to a critic who was putting down teachers. …

Some People

Some people want it to happen. Others hope it will happen. Be the one that makes it happen.

Auditions for Life

Never, ever give less than you best. Treat everything you do as an audition for the new thing you want to do.

COMMENTARY: Do I Have to Tell Everything?

COMMENTARY: Do I Have to Tell Everything? Should a job applicant properly withhold information about a criminal record or termination from a previous job? Should a woman starting a new relationship say nothing about a previous marriage or abortion? These are problems of candor: When does an ethical person have a duty to reveal negative information about his or her …

Tune Out

“Know when to tune out, if you listen to too much advice you may wind up making other people’s mistakes.” – Ann Landers

Your Part of the World

“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” — The Talmud

COMMENTARY 984.4: Is It Really Only About Winning?

Long ago, I entered law school wanting to do good. I left more concerned with doing well. In an atmosphere dominated by raging competitive instincts, persuasive rationalizations, and real economic pressures, cynicism drowned out idealism. My notion of the legal system as a grand forum for the pursuit of truth and justice was reduced to the idea that, in the …

The Man to Become

“Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.” – Albert Einstein

COMMENTARY 984.3: The Scorpion and Human Nature

Terry and his dad Glen were walking along the shore and came upon a scorpion struggling in the tide, trying to get back to the sand. Glen tried to scoop the creature up, but the scorpion stung him and fell back into the tide. Glen tried again and was stung again. Terry said, “Dad, leave him alone! He’s not worth …

Small Steps

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

New Beginnings

“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” – Lao Tzu

COMMENTARY 984.2: How to Change Attitudes and Behavior

In yesterday’s commentary, I talked about a teacher named Shavonne who was at wits end with several students, including Leon, whose lack of self-control when he became angry or frustrated constantly created trouble.  She was certain that nothing short of intense therapy could change his behavior. Changing Leon’s behavior will be a challenge, but it has to start with changing …