Land of the free because of the BRAVE!

Regardless of the present political climate AMERICA is the GREATEST COUNTRY on the face of this planet!! As Americans are reminded of the story behind the 5 that wrote an incredible document that has defined our journey we need to see the BIG PIC is that America is great because of those who have gone before us and chosen to be courageous and brave on behalf of the those unable to defend themselves. What’s too often over looked in the twitter wars of today is that America is a land forged by immigrants who came to this country seeking a better life, where they could practice their religious faith or lack thereof without a fear of persecution.

America has never been defined by one, i.e. a president or a politician but by THE PEOPLE with a passion to see all Americans be given the opportunity to pursue their dreams and passions in life. We live in one of the few countries where you can express yourself without the fear of landing in prison or hanging from the gallows. The freedom to speak and protest is the hallmark of our country’s legacy.

America has never been a homogeneous culture defined by one but a polyglot that represents the entire world. Clearly this is the strength of our nation not it’s downfall! I agree that the world has changed dramatically over the last 241 years, yet the same opportunities to experience freedom of thought, life expression and come to the land of opportunity is still what pushes people from all oppressed countries to get here.

Is it not possible to see beyond skin color, religious affiliation, ethnicity and political brand what truly is the ‘thread’ that pulls together all Americans and those seeking to make this great country their home? I’m so thankful that we live in a country where the media, both hyper liberal and conservative are allowed to speak their vision for life. Much like our present president personally believes that he has the freedom to use his political platform to attack individuals that only in America can this happen.

Yes we live in a crazy day where social media and the Internet make it all too possible to know what is happening all across our planet in an instant! Yet, the continued beauty of this is that AMERICA still stands out as the most incredible nation because of the BRAVE who have fought for us to be the LAND of the FREE!

Happy 4^th of July!!

Does hate talk work?

I think many today assume unfortunately that bullying is going to happen in the locker room with adolescents but definitely not in the Oval Office! How is it possible that anyone would ever make an excuse or attempt an explanation to defend someone who continues to attack women in the most sadistic fashion. The words of my mom will always ring in my ears, ‘If you have nothing nice to say then DON’T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL!’ Does combating verbal fire with verbal fire quench the political battle before us? Does hatred and out right animosity make the world a better place?

I am amazed at how one of the commentators made the statement that the issue with the individual in the Oval Office wasn’t about tweets but about character. This struck me that the person who truly has a passion to pursue being all about value and character doesn’t seek to defend themselves but is willing to walk away and let the truth speak for itself! The only reason a person continues to hurl vitriolic talk is that they fear being exposed.

A week ago I had someone slam me for providing disciple to a youth by having this parent come and get their kid for unruly behavior. I was floored when the response was how bad I was as if I had caused the drama. The issue that struck, much like the tweets about a morning talk show host, was that this individual used foul mouth demeaning terms. Initially I couldn’t believe it but knew I had to let go and not respond.

I get it that when someone bad mouths you that the natural tendency is to respond in like fashion. The difficulty is that hate talk only begets hate talk whether that’s on Facebook, Twitter or any social media platform. The opportunity is to rise above the fray and be positive in the face of full out negative dissing. I was impressed by a group of Women Senators who regardless of party affiliation spoke and simply said ‘STOP IT’ this is beneath the dignity of the office.

What happens when the most powerful person in the universe chooses to hate talk and becomes the example for the youth of tomorrow? I can’t fathom having a discussion with my grandson in 4 years about respecting the office of the United States President but not approving of the actions of the individual. How tragic, sad and crazy that this type of discussion is taking place.

Why does a person choose hate talk as a platform of self-expression? Is it because of insecurity and fear of others discovering their true self, warts, zits and all? What ever happened to ‘turning the other cheek’ and being able to develop a thick skin that allows crazy stuff to roll off? Revenge has become the law of the land sadly. If someone hits you then the choice is whether you come back with a weapon or a big cousin to bring supposed justice.

Simply put by many yesterday, ‘STOP IT!’. Yes, an apology would help but at least recognize the continuing damage you are doing to our country and especially women!

What is real leadership?

Real leadership isn’t measured by a salary, newspaper article or how many millions of followers ‘you’ have on social media. The real test of leadership is whether you are willing to do the behind the scenes work with no credit regardless of the outcome! I’m so fortunate to be around a group of seniors who continue to ‘blow me away’ by their true servant leadership skills. It’s true that they won’t be known for their covert work behind the scenes except for those they have helped and loved without expecting anything in return.

The real determinate of a person’s character isn’t what they do out in the public but what they do behind closed doors without any photos or desire to get attention. I know that working with kids, teens and young adults that come out of unfortunate situations won’t get national attention. My desire is to fly underneath the radar to be an influencer that helps others see that going the extra mile for someone that is usually forgotten is what life is all about. The challenge is that the culture of today is all about getting attention, credit or a reward and too often about being right.

So, what is real leadership truly about? Is it about being busy, counting the number of appointments you have in a week or just maybe slowing down to invest in a few not many people to see your life and theirs turn around and get better? I have been so fortunate to be around a few who have taught me so much about servant leadership and the reality that few will follow a bossy leader or have their life transformed. (Yes, I confess to being an Apple fan but not someone that raises Jobs to near divine quality in leadership.)

 A servant leader is willing to sacrifice himself in so many ways that the needs of others automatically come to the forefront. This person knows that life change comes through hard work, self-denial and an openness to learn from another. The opportunity is for servant leaders to be humble coaches who are willing to walk alongside of others who are struggling and do it without making them feel inferior. It’s amazing what can happen when you choose to be all about being a helper without getting any recognition. Imagine what life in the business sector would be like if few were into stepping on top of each other to get to the top of the corporate ladder?

I have a close friend who is practicing servant leadership by choosing to train an older teen about his business. I know that ultimately my friend is taking a risk in that this teen wasn’t the fastest learner initially but now is making awesome progress. Too often leadership is totally defined by how many followers you have, yet, in this context the power of helping one is where most life sees change and transformation!

Time to rebrand and redefine leadership that sees the relevance of the individual and not equating numbers of followers with being successful. Think what will happen when a father chooses to be that servant leader to his son or daughter? Imagine the impact in today’s world if our children are valued more than our business or personal choices? Just as the incredible need to be a big brother/sister or mentor to an at risk youth or consider being a foster parent will change the face of our planet!

We Rise By Lifting Others UP!