Thursday, March 25, 2010
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My heartfelt thanks for all the responses to the last letter. Some who knew my father sent me wonderful stories about him as well as his jokes. Enough to make you both laugh and cry.
Thanks for sending the newsletter to others, and thanks to those who have signed up. It's not too late to sign up, it's not too late to get others to sign up. The time is NOW. Be a friend, be sure your friend signs up. See sign up block below on the left. Reflecting, and talking, I found people comparing themselves, and their obituaries to his. NO. Your life is yours, to be lived as is best for you. Compare NOT. Do what works for you and that is success, that is a life well lived. You are the measurement of yourself. OK? Following his death I have been made aware of things and actions of my father that I was not aware of, but certainly am proud of. Isn't that they way it is with most people? Most do more and are more than others give them credit for. The key is being true to yourself and your values. What others say and think is their business and not yours. Agree? One of the values of another's obituary is not comparison to ourselves, but to bring into focus that we will have an obituary, we know not when, and it's time, time right NOW, to work on it. It's time to do what is right for us, and only us. It's no surprise the article this week is Compare. As you compare you might also consider a mentor. A mentor can and will help you keep it all in perspective. He/she will challenge and empower you while supporting all that you have done and can do. Find a mentor and be a mentor to someone else. Sure, you can be a mentor, and you can be a great one. Just try it. And again, if you haven't written your obituary, do so. Then remember at the end of each year to update it. You'll see how much you've accomplished in the past year and it will help you in the upcoming year.
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Inspiring
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Spotlight Article
How do you compare? How do you measure up? Who do you compare yourself to? Why? What's the value? Does who you compare yourself to change over time, or with the comparison itself? Do you compare to another in order to win, show how great you are or to prove to yourself that you do not measure up? Is it both or just one? How do you feel comparing yourself? Who is the judge? Who is the jury? Who cares? Isn't the comparison at a moment in time? The problem is you are incomparable, you are unique, and you are the best in your own special way, as is everyone else. When you try to compare you are using your perception of yourself, which could be negative or positive, and a perception of the other person. Either or both could be wrong. Plus, comparison usually involves a point in time and something specific. You might not have thought you compared to a famous golfer. Now, the golfer you wanted to be you may no longer want to be. Often we look at others wishing we were them only, later on, to find out we are better being ourselves than they. How many examples of that can you think of? How often have you realized how lucky you are to be you? Often, we do not give ourselves credit for all that we do and accomplish. Sure, the grass always looks greener on the other side. But, it isn't. All that glitters is not gold. In sports, you are really competing against yourself. It's about doing your personal best. Sure, we all want to win. Winning is doing our best. Winning is not about the other person losing. Everyone that makes it to the Olympics is a winner, medal or not. We all have lessons and learning. We all have strengths and lessons we need to learn. Ideally, we all improve as life goes on. If you want to compare then compare yourself to yourself. Compare how much you have learned in the past year, how much you have accomplished, how much you have given back. Every January 1st write your obituary and compare it to the previous year. Did you accomplish anything to be proud of in the past year? How do you compare to the you of the previous year? This is the comparison you can and should use to help you decide what you will do in the next 12 months. Compare on a positive basis. Compare how far you have come, how far you want to go, and what you need to do to get there. Compare where you are today to your ideal obituary, which should be a stretch, but attainable.  | |||||
Russell R. Shippee
Who Compares?
Yes, my great grandfather was a role model. Grandpa says I can still use my great grandfather as a mentor. Usually, we know what he'd say and I can use that to guide me. I already have spots on my ties too. 
