I believe we are all put on Earth to learn a few essential lessons. In 2006 my family most all of our wealth to two different Ponzi schemes which cost hundreds of people their life’s savings. Having held jobs since I was 12 years old, I had built the financial freedom to not have to work for a living. This allowed my wife and I to spend our time as community volunteers and philanthropists. We went overnight from having our three daughter’s college saving accounted for and our retirements fully funded to restarting careers, taking on an oppressive amount of debt to fund college costs and to allow us to keep our home, and seeing no clear path to retirement at any reasonable age. From this I believe the essential lessons I am to learn are patience, forgiveness, and what is of true value in life.
I have come to the conclusion that there are but three things in life that have true value: love, time, and integrity. (Chocolate shall be characterized under love).
I believe love is immeasurable, unqualified, caring, allowing, and understanding. Love is the infinite well of energy we share that can recover us for the lowest of lows and carry us to the highest of high. I believe that if what you know as love is not all of these things, you must keep searching for you have not found love yet. Love allows for all systems of belief and worship. We love others by respecting their belief systems and allowing them to have those beliefs. I believe anything less is bigotry.
I believe time is the equalizer of all people. It takes less than a minute to change a life through a kind word, active listening, recognition, or support. Each sunrise welcomes us with 1440 new minutes. We will all squander most of these. I accept that. I believe you must cherish the few golden moments in which you have the opportunity to change a life and strive to capture that time to make a difference.
I believe integrity is truth and honesty in all dealings. First must come truth and honesty with one’s self; what you do “when no one is watching”. Integrity is the strength to stand up for what you know is right, fair, and just no matter how uncomfortable, inconvenient, or personally risky. I believe a person has nothing if he does not have integrity; for without your word having unquestionable and absolute value, you are not worthy of trust. Without trust, all forms of human interaction are suspect and fruitless. I believe if we could teach our children only one thing it should be Aristotle’s golden mean: “Always do the right thing, in the right proportions, at the right time, for the right reasons”. This lesson provides, in all circumstances, all the guidance that is necessary to weigh the integrity of one’s actions.