“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.”      

Just as intellect or athleticism are gifts, so too is natural curiosity.  And as with all gifts, they are advanced if/when we apply self-discipline.  Or they can be left undeveloped by ignorance or complacence.

Editor’s comment:  This incredibly bold article by Professor Patrick Stokes says he informs his students that they “are not entitled to any opinion they cannot rationally argue and defend”.  What a concept!  These days, I worry that “twittered opinions” become accepted as truth.

Editor’s Comments:  This is a courageous book, by the author of another favorite book of mine “Start With Why”.  The courage Sinek displays is that he takes some fairly unpopular concepts to make his points about leadership:

Editor’s Comment:  The Beatles covered such a broad array of styles that my “fandom” is highly selective.  This, along with a half dozen others, is epic in my view; one of my top twenty all time songs.  Harrison says he wrote it at his mother’s house while contemplating what he’d learned in India, essentially that whatever happens has a purpose we can learn from (or not).  I just learned one line that didn’t make the final cut would probably have been my favorite:  “the problems you sow are the troubles you’re reaping”.  Yeow!

"Moral reflection isn’t easily accelerated by mechanization, like hamburger cooking. The Internet is a whiz at processing, but it doesn’t make truth, justice, kindness, decency, love or courage easier to define. "

Over the next few months, this blog will feature the very few things I’m sure about.  Below is my wire-frame.  Each month, I’ll get into a bit of background about how I arrived at such certainty, in each case.

Editor’s comment:  Such a great reminder: that’s life’s grandest cures are as simple as life itself.