Defining Ourselves As Successful

"Although I was distressed by the controversy my behaviours were causing at home and at school, all in all I was curiously upbeat much of the time. Some scrap of identity was left for me by my defining myself as a unique and original person, despite the obvious social stigma. Compared to so me of my blander classmates, I never had the problem of walking around feeling unnoticed. I chose to see that as a positive thing." - Brad Cohen

Walking Right

"A good leader presents an image that gives confidence to his team. And I make it a point to transform that image to the players by encouraging them to walk right, to stand right, to look good. 'If you want to be a really good player,' I tell them, 'you have to walk like a good player.'" - Mike Krzyzewski

Slight Difference

"It's amazing to me, whether I'm considering my own life or someone else's, how often I see examples of people reacting with anger or pain to a personal slight without being able to realize that they are in a situation in which they have another choice: they can decide that the comment or behavior they consider hurtful might also be legitimately classified as a flattering piece of attention." - Brad Cohen, 2nd grade teacher afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome

Same Kind Of Different As Me

Jane recommended a fantastic book!

These are the real-life memoirs of millionaire art dealer Ron Hall and homeless former cotton-picker Denver Moore.

Moore, shuffled from place to place growing up in a surprisingly slave-friendly Louisiana in the 1940's, ultimately hops a train to Texas and runs afoul enough of the law to spend a decade in prison.

Hall, a lower middle-class kid whose talents lead him to material glory, has the kind of angst toward the less fortunate not uncommon by those in his situation.

What they have in common is Deborah, Ron's wife who eschews the riches of her life and colorfully envisions a bright future for the homeless. Persistent and bold, she becomes a fixture of the homeless community, starting with weekly volunteerism at the shelter.

But this is more than the tale of two unlikely friends, each writing in a style befitting his education. It's a book of spiritual inspiration starting with Deborah's vision in which Denver, by that time a hardened cuss, becomes a pillar of the community. As that vision slowly becomes reality, life's twists and turns test the faith of all to the extreme.

I could hardly put this thing down. Find a way to read this if you can. Thanks Jane!

Life Is But A Gleam

"Life is a candle before the wind." - Japanese proverb

Two Things

"If I could have two things in one: the peace of the grave, and the light of the sun." - Edna St. Vincent Millay

Deep Thought

From my friend Matt Giordano:

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.