I spent a good part of yesterday cleaning out our downstairs so that some family could move in with us for a couple of months.

Normally when I start a project like that, I spend most of the day walking down memory lane as I move around things from out of my past.  While going through a file full of old things this is what I found.  It means as much to me today as it did 15 years ago and maybe even more so.

Note: What I find remarkable is that I found this 15 years to the day from when I wrote it.

Monday October 19, 1998

“Resilience is what allows us to struggle hard and long with tragedy or misfortune or change and still manage to dig deep and find our second wind.  It is a kind toughness.  Each life-blow no longer shatters us like a hammer hitting brick; rather, it makes us stronger.  It tempers us, like a hammer hitting metal.  Imagine the comfort in knowing that by never giving up, by accepting the bad breaks and going on, you have lived life to the fullest and maybe will have lived a little longer.  Such peace of mind is often reward enough.”

“Above all, imagination enables us to see beyond the moment – to transcend our circumstances, however dire they appear – and to reply to the common wisdom that says we cannot soar by saying, JUST WATCH!  When you inspire others to do the same, that’s leadership.  Leadership means getting people to think, believe, see and do what they might not have without you.  It means possessing the vision to set the right goal and the decisiveness to pursue it single-mindedly.  It means being aware of the fears and anxieties felt by those you lead even as you urge them to overcome those fears.   It can appear in a speech before thousands of people or in a dialogue with one other person – or by example.  The great leaders in basketball have never been afraid of change, and they have let from the strength of their own convictions.  And, above all, they have brought out the best in the people they led.”

I found this in the October 18^th edition of Parade magazine that comes in the Salt Lake Tribune.  It is from the book VALUES OF THE GAME by Bill Bradley.  I typed this up because it teaches three very important things that are vital to having a happy and successful life.  It teaches us about overcoming adversity, rising to the challenge and leadership.  I have a great deal of love for these three topics.  If you can develop the fire and desire in your heart you will be able to handle the first two things and absolutely become the third.

Adversity comes for many different people in many different ways.  Our reaction to those things is what helps us to grow and progress.  If we can overcome each obstacle placed in front of us we will find great satisfaction and be able to look back at later times and realize that those are the things that shaped our lives.  

Rising to the challenge is all a matter of heart.  There is no question in my mind that those with the most heart and drive are those that are most successful in every aspect of life.  When someone tells me that I can’t do something or that I am inadequate in some way the only thing that comes to my mind is how I am going to prove that person wrong.  Not to make them look bad, but to show them that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.  No one has the right to tell me what I can and cannot do.  They don’t know my limitations, my goals, my desires, my dreams; so how can they possibly know my heart and what I’m truly capable of.  The people who do know those things are the kind of people who would never tell me that “I can’t.”  At this point in my life nobody really knows those things.  I don’t confide in anyone.  I want to find that special someone who will both support me and also helps me reach those good things and overcome the limitations.  Someone I can talk to and fell totally comfortable with.   Where there’s no pressure.

The last thing that was talked about was leadership.  Leadership to me is all about example.  It once was said that, YOUR ACTIONS ARE SPEAKING SO LOUD I CAN’T HEAR WHAT YOU’RE SAYING.  You can be the most eloquent orator but if you don’t do what you say it means nothing.  That is not a very capable task for many people.  That is why there are so many followers and so few leaders.  You must also have great courage to be a leader.  You can’t be afraid to fail.  You must have the strength to make tough decisions and stick by them.  That is not always the easiest thing.  You can’t deviate from your priorities.  You can’t be a leader if you waiver.

It is necessary to realize that these things are entirely up to you.  If you want to overcome adversity – do it.  If you want to rise to the challenge – search within yourself to find what will get you there.  If you want to be a leader – be an example.  These things should be used in accomplishing worthwhile things.  Why put all your energy into something that has no meaning.  It’s not worth it.