HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
Sept 16, 2003 Mike graduated from college and got a job. This is what happens when you do things the way that you are supposed to. No "year off" to "find himself". Just a degree and a job. Then a marriage. Then came kids. He worked his way up through the ranks at his job. He was by all determination a success. He bought a house. He got another raise and then another. Soon, he was one of those people that are referred to as "comfortable" or maybe even "well to do". Yet he was missing something. He was missing a smile. He was missing that bit of joy that certain people have. You know the type. The kind of happy go lucky people that you meet who seem to really enjoy what they are doing. This puzzled me. I met Mike when I first came to work the store in which I worked for so many years. I looked up to him and I saw his success as a prototype for my own future success. I watched his style and I saw his success. I watched him buy a newer, bigger house and I saw how that purchase was more trouble than it appeared to be worth. I would talk to Mike about all sorts of things. I valued his advice on matters of life. Here is a short sampling f what Mike had to say about certain things: On Gambling: "I never saw a casino go out of business." On Women: "You have to know how to pick your battles. About one week a month their hormones make them lose their minds. If that happened to me every month, I would probably kill myself." On Golf: "You hat golf. I hate golf. It is that one good hole out of 18 that makes us want to come back and play another round." These and other tidbits of knowledge were valuable to me. What was really valuable to me though was what Mike never did say. The fact that you can live your life according to the rules and, in doing so you won't necessarily be happy. The facts that you can have a new house built and drive a nice car and are successful at your job and you still will lose your ability to smile. This was a profound lesson. It changed my life. I was going to stay at my job and try to work my way up. I was going to try to have a good position at work and complete my education in business. Then I decided that I didn't want to be another Mike. A business degree was not for me. I said all of that to say this: Many times in our lives we interact with people on a social or professional level and we don't take note of their true essence. We don't look at what they are and how they got to be that way. We are too self absorbed. Take a minute and take note of those around you. If you like what you see find out their secret. If you don't like what you see. Resolve to avoid the same mistakes that they made. I think that is why God puts us in the company of others. That is why we interact. So many times our role models are on a silver screen, or on the 27" tube in our living room. No, your role models are in your family, they are punching the same time clock as you are. You are a role model as well. What you say and what you do can have a profound effect on even the least of those around you. Try to make it a good effect. ------------ About the author: Wesley Mills is a full time student and writing instructor at Empire State College in Rochester N.Y. He also does freelance editing and writing and has his own company, "Writng Resources" which helps writers of all genres to write better and also does "book doctoring" and editing of all types. Email Wesley Mills: wmills1@rochester.rr.com Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
