Reflections & Courage
“The real man (woman) smiles in trouble, gathers strength in distress, and grows brave by reflection” ~Thomas Paine
“Reflective thinking turns experience into insight” ~John C. Maxwell
As we look over the last vestiges of 2017 and see the looming largeness of 2018 before us it is human nature to look back this time of year and reflect upon the events that have led us to this point and time of our lives. I am a big believer in quiet reflection as it allows us to develop a better understanding of the events that have gone on around us. John Maxwell has it right when he wrote that reflective thinking helps us turn our experiences into insight and it is through this insight that we can gain the needed courage to face the challenges of tomorrow.
For the most part, I try and leave the politics of the world out of my post in hopes that my writing can be accepted as thoughts that might benefit the well-being of the community and its members as a whole. With, this past year has brought about many changes to our local, national and global landscape and for many these changes have had or will soon bring dramatic changes into how people live. The thought that comes to mind as I think about the previous year and the one that stands before us is that there will certainly be more changes to come and I’m not sure how those changes will affect us moving forward so the only and best advice I can hope to recommend is to hold fast. Hold fast to all things that are good, hold fast to hope, hold fast to truth, compassion, kindness, patience and most of all, hold fast to love of self and each other. The turbulent and stormy waters of our current society and the never ending rising tide of negative news that seems to swirl and eddy around us in ever gathering strength seems to be enough to drag us all down into a realm of despair and indifference towards humanity. The term hold fast has different meanings to different people, The Scottish Clan MacLeod of the Isle of Skye have this term in the family seal meaning to be strong, be stubborn, to dig in and be strong. I’m asking you to do the same, be strong and stubborn and hold fast to things that are good and edifying in life. I’m an optimist by nature and I believe that even though things seem to be on uncertain footing, I believe in the goodness of people to seek justice in order to right the wrongs and help those who are helpless to help themselves. Might doesn’t always mean right and I ask that as we reflect over the past year, we allow our strengths of love and kindness towards humanity shine through.
Charles Dickens put it well when he wrote in A Christmas Carol, the fit of anguish and regret as Marley's Ghost was despairing over "life's opportunities misused." Scrooge, trembling with fear and beginning to share in Marley's guilt, says: "But you were always a good man of business, Jacob." Upon which the Ghost cried out in anguish: “Business! Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” As community members of the human race, the care and concern for all humanity should be our business each and every day and we should strive to make someone’s life a little better, a little more enriched through acts of love and kindness every single day.
Today, as I reflect back on the last year and look forward towards the next, I will continue to make mankind my business and I hope you have the courage to do the same. From all of us here at Best Home Care Services to all of you, have a very merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year…take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together!
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com