is it the kindness we see in the eyes of a stranger?

“things which matter most should never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” - goethe
robert k. cooper presents priorities for life™
leadership: uncommon reminders for bringing out the best in yourself and others.

leadership is…
*the act of making a difference.
*the ability to achieve results through people.
*who you are when no one else is looking.
*knowing what you’re best at, what brings a light to your eyes, and what you most love to do – and then doing it.
*honoring the greatness – and uniqueness – in others.
*knowing how deep the place is from which life flows.
*connecting everyday to your deepest and most enduring values.
*doing whatever it takes to honor your word.  doing whatever it takes to care for your family.  doing whatever it takes to making a difference through your work.  doing whatever it takes to give hope to the people around you.
*experiencing life not by looking in from the rim but front and center.
*making adversity your ally.
*greatness is born during tough times and unexpected circumstances.
*knowing that from time to time you have to look backward to see forward.
*excelling instead of competing.  no one has to lose for you to win.
*knowing when to come up for air.
*having an irrational sense of hope.
*being grateful for every genuine effort.  being grateful for every act of kindness.
*knowing your most unused potential and committing yourself to liberating the other 90% of your hidden capacity.
*knowing that everyday you have the same number of minutes as edison – lincoln – galileo – thoreau – king – davinci – Gandhi - Mother Teresa – mandela - einstein
*aligning your daily efforts with big dreams and great goals.
*glancing farther ahead.
*viewing life as a laboratory instead of a stage.
*challenging times are meant to be a test of spirit, not theatrics.
*knowing that the gap between what can be imagined and what can be accomplished has never been smaller.
*learning faster than the world is changing.
*constantly discovering and applying new strengths, talents, and passions.
*valuing even the smallest moments of inspiration.
*facing the truth about weaknesses – first in yourself and second in others – and managing the weaknesses out of the way.
*learning from every stumble and setback. no blaming. no defensiveness.
*trusting enough to be trusted.
*having a curious mind. having a listening ear. having an open heart.
*acknowledging that every day is a battle for control. not of the world around you, but of your responses to it.
*envisioning how your choices and actions today may influence the next ten years.
*never forgetting from how far back a human being can come and still make a difference.
*knowing that your path has a purpose beyond where it leads.  knowing that the biggest risk in life is not to risk at all.
*being fun to be around. the way you used to be when you had no money.
*knowing that home is where the great are small and the small are great.
*doing all you can to have the heart of a lion, the skin of a rhino, and the soul of an angel.
*living so that when other people think of integrity, enthusiasm, commitment, and caring they think of you.
*knowing you were born an original.  knowing you were born to make a difference in the world.  knowing you can’t play it safe.  knowing you can’t sit this one out.
*the time is now.  the leader is you.  if not now, when?

taking life in its broadest sense

today my friend christine saved me.  she saved me earlier this afternoon, i mean really saved me.   when i was on the verge of falling apart, christine saved me.  she put me together, i took a deep breath, and went back to preparing for my meeting.  my friend kreena stood by me on saturday, she held my hair back.  my friend stacey gave me the courage and reassurance i needed last night.  i miss stacey, it's been a long time since i've seen her, but we always can pick up so easily where we left off because we live in parallel worlds.  all in all, this past week or so, i've been reminded that i have the most incredible friends.  i am so unbelievably lucky. 

so later tonight, christine invited me over, and we chatted and watched two week's notice.  in this movie, sandra bullock played this woman who believes in helping the community and making a difference, and of course there's a boy, hugh grant.

at one point, hugh says to her, "you are a cause.  you make Gandhi look like a used-car salesman...none of us can keep up with you.  that's probably why all those other guys bolted.  because you're intolerable!  no one wants to live with a saint.  saints are boring."

i've been told before that i'm too nice.  i've been told before that it's boring when there's never any fights.  i've been told before that i'm too happy all the time.  i've been told before there's nothing enjoyable about the rain.  it's so easy to believe all that because when i've been told this, these people have genuinely meant it.

but through this past week or so, i've been reminded by all sorts of people that i am the person i want to be (for the most part, there's still a lot more life i have to live, a lot more growing).  i've been told that i'm amazing as i am, that i have a profound effect on people, that i live life how many often want to, that i have an enormous ability to take life in its broadest sense.  and the people in my life, tell me not to change, that i inspire them because of who i am.  even my marketing director told me don't change, don't stop playing, don't start wearing shoes.  play.  indulge in life.  believe in neverland.  be happy, spread happiness.  this is who i am, all that i believe in, this is what makes me, me.  and someday, i'll find someone who wants to be a part of it all.  the one big change that i am making is installing some needed filters in my life to protect myself because at the end of the day, i still live in reality.

anyways, the next few weeks in india should help re-center me.  it'll be a time for me of much needed self-reflection.

and in case you are wondering, sandra bullock does win hugh grant in the end:
"i need your advice on one last thing, then i promise you will never hear from me again. you see, i've just delivered the first speech i've written entirely by myself since we met, and i think i may have blown it. i want to ask your thoughts. okay? then i will read it to you. i'd like to welcome everyone on this special day. island towers will bring glamour and prestige to the neighborhood and become part of brooklyn's renaissance. and i'm very pleased and proud to be here. unfortunately, there is one fly in the ointment. you see, i gave my word to someone that we wouldn't knock down this building behind me. and normally, and those of you who know me or were married to me can attest to this, my word wouldn't mean very much. so why does it this time? well, partly because this building is an architectural gem and deserves to be landmarked and partly because people really do need a place to do senior's water ballet and cpr. preferably not together. but mainly because this person, despite being unusually stubborn and unwilling to compromise and a very poor dresser, is... she's rather like the building she loves so much. a little rough around the edges but, when you look closely, absolutely beautiful. and the only one of her kind. and even though i've said cruel things and driven her away, she's become the voice in my head. and i can't seem to drown her out. and i don't want to drown her out. so, we are going to keep the community center. because i gave my word to her and because we gave our word to the community."

someday, a boy will find me perhaps somewhat intolerable and a little rough around the edges, but also absolutely beautiful, maybe even stunning, only one of her kind.  in the meantime, i'll be loving life in every other way.

just gonna stand there and watch me burn

i learned some really important lessons today from an incredibly smart person.  since it's been awhile since i've written and since today i've learned some things that i'll remember for the rest of my life, i figured i'd write them down. 

Our lives are not events to sit back and watch and we cannot pick and choose what will happen.  We only choose our responses.

The realities of our lives play apart whether we want them too or not.  And in order to find genuine happiness we must deal with our realities both good and bad.

Be careful - ideals and dreams and hopes are wonderful things but you need to remember the realities that we all have.  The realities that make those hopes and dreams possible - something we can actually have and achieve not just wish for.  And sometimes if we wish for too much we forget how much we already have.

There is a wonderful joy and satisfaction that comes from people trusting us.  However, as i have grown older I learned that it is sometimes dangerous to know too much.  And that we need to pick and choose who we are close to as emotions and feelings  often take on a life of their own when we get too personal.  

so as i figure out life and my life's purpose, i'll always remember these.