When my wife worked at Boeing in ages past she shared space with a Japanese-American lady. While talking together this lady shared how her family, and so many other Japanese, endured the concentration camps set up by our government. "We could have moped, spent our energy hosting dreams of revenge or becoming sullen and bored. We had reason. But we did not. We learned -- we learned to write better, speak well, do math, become proficient at everything we could. We were ready after World War II for whatever opportunities there were."
How about each one of us? Are we constantly preparing ourselves for whatever opportunities may come our way? They may be opportunities we never thought about. They may be opportunities that involve risk and possible loss if we don't do well. We may not do well.
The thought I am thinking about, however is summed up in the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared. We all have the possibility of preparing ourselves, our minds, to think new thoughts skillfully, to reason better, to acquire skills, to be surprised with possibilities without being overwhelmed by surprise.
What do you think? Leave a comment and let us know.
Al, if you haven't seen it, a good movie, along these lines, is "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (2012). Among its many themes are being prepared, reawakening, finding self-confidence,and recognizing and embracing possibility.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great film. I agree with your comment. Thank you for sharing.
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