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 …

True Character Seeks Significance

“A person of character seeks true happiness in living a life of purpose and meaning, placing a higher value on significance than success.” – Michael Josephson

BE THAT ONE PERSON!

“Never forget that you are one of a kind. And never forget, no matter how overwhelming life’s challenges and problems seem to be,

A-N-G-E-R

A-N-G-E-R is only one letter short of D-A-N-G-E-R.

Light, Work, & Will

Let your light show the path. Let your work make it a road. Let your will change the world.

A Lie is A Lie…

Whether or not you cross your fingers. Be LOYAL. Be FAITHFUL. Be worthy of TRUST.

COMMENTARY 984.1: Changing Self-Limiting Beliefs and Bad Behavior

Shavonne, a third-grade teacher, was at the end of her rope with disciplinary problems, but she wasn’t enthusiastic when she was told that her school had adopted the CHARACTER COUNTS! program. Now she was expected to explicitly seek to instill and enhance in her students core ethical values like honesty, respect, and responsibility, and to help them develop positive social …

Be Authentic

Be Authentic. Know yourself. Accept yourself. Be yourself. Reject all that is fake – friends, emotions, ambitions. Reject all forms of dishonesty – lies, pretenses, deceptions. Insist on and give nothing less than truth and sincerity. – Michael Josephson

COMMENTARY 983.5: Living and Reading

One of the most insightful and useful books I’ve ever read is a small volume by Harold Kushner called Living a Life That Matters. Today, I want to suggest ways of getting the most out of books, at least nonfiction books, which is about all I read. Reading shouldn’t be a passive experience. If you allow yourself to be absorbed …

COMMENTARY 983.4: Working Together

I want to be thin — especially when I’m not hungry. And it seems the President and members of Congress want to work together — especially if they don’t have strong feelings about the issue. I liked President Obama’s call for more civility and greater cooperation, but I’m not convinced it will happen. There’s always a lot of room between …

Do More

Do more than care: HELP. Do more than believe: PRACTICE. Do more than belong: PARTICIPATE. Do more than be fair: BE KIND. Do more than forgive: FORGET. Do more than dream: WORK. – William Arthur Ward (adapted)

Do You Matter or Mind?

“Be who you are and say what you mean, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Derived from a quote by Bernard Baruch (often falsely attributed to Dr. Seuss)