Greatness.
I do believe this little curious guy is “headed for greatness”. And yes, I’m his Nana.
The other night we were watching a documentary about JFK, Jr., and his wife Caroline.
Didn’t she have a lot of style and grace?
Over and over JFK’s friends and other important leaders said that he was a man “headed for greatness” before he and Caroline tragically died in a plane accident.
All week long I have been thinking about what makes a person great.
What makes us declare that someone is “headed for greatness”? Not everyone is born with the same level of intelligence. Not everyone is born into a family with connections to great role models or access to education. Not everyone is born with beauty and charisma. But perhaps we all can change the world by setting our standards a wee bit higher.
This month has been a brutal one for me and my family. Lots to process and deal with. A ton of health issues -- I’ll spare you the details. Everyone will be fine and manage and “this too shall pass” but it has me going inward a bit. Reflecting on how I really want the rest of my life to look.
The brutal divisive landscape of our country’s politics has also made me sad to be honest. Even though I rarely choose to discuss politics with my friends, I might make an exception today.
Forgive me and bear with me.
It’s been a lot to process on a very different level. I’m honestly considering not being a witness to the chaos in America this go around. Not sure what that will look like because I will vote, but I might not watch the news for a while. I might lovingly disengage. Perhaps sticking my heart and head in the sand is cowardly but I’m so disappointed in all of it. It does feel important to me, but I feel as if what I am witnessing is not helpful to anyone. Let me calmly just say the fact that this country is considering someone for President who is going to pardon the people who violently attacked the White House on January 6th is so puzzling to me. I haven’t got the time or inclination to watch that happen.
But back to my original idea for this rambling. This idea of greatness.
I’ve met and been surrounded by many humans that I believe are truly great people. There are quite a few of them that I can genuinely say this about… “Any time I get the chance to be in their company, I take it.”
Do you have people like that in your life? I hope so. I am lucky to know many.
So, I’m just going to list the things I feel that make me say to myself “Anytime I get the chance to be around YOU, I’ll take it!”
1. I feel better about myself when I am with them. Hard to explain this or why I’m listing this first since it feels so “all about me-ish” to say out loud, but it’s just the truth. I love being around people that inspire me to be a better person.
2. Great people are kind. Period. They don’t gossip or talk badly about anyone. Ever. I think it makes me feel I can trust them with anything. I can be me around them without the fear of judgement. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when a person has strong opinions and values. I do. But I think the people that make that known without trashing others are people well worth knowing. I wish I could say I’m good at this. I often slip, mostly out of frustrations with someone’s actions, but I try daily to remember why this trait is so very important to me.
3. Great people listen to understand. That one doesn’t need a lot of explanation.
4. Great people take care of themselves. They care about how they present themselves in the world. They choose their words and even their attire with great care. They treat their bodies with love and kindness and exercise and good food. They are always clean and well pressed. (Smiling because if you know me at all — you know how important I think an ironing board is.. Ha!)
5. They smile often and laugh with ease. They’re not really concerned with what others think of them. They ARE concerned with the value they place on their own opinion of themselves. Which leads me to this…
6. Great people have real confidence. There’s a lot of difference between confidence and cockiness. Great people are not cocky. They are just extremely sure of their talents and limitations. They push themselves out of their comfort zones because they want/need to know their strengths and weaknesses.
7. Great people care deeply for others. They have a purpose higher than their own lives. They know without a doubt they can make a difference with their talents and time.
8. Great people rarely waste time. Their own or other people’s. I love this trait. They rarely speak it out loud but you just know when someone is not willing to waste time.
9. Great people are transparent and honest and own up to their mistakes. You know not only where you stand with them, but why. No one is perfect and they are willing to course correct when the matter calls for it.
10. Great people are well educated and open minded. Don’t get me wrong. Not everyone can attend Harvard. Not everyone had a family that exposed them to innovative ideas and different points of view. Being educated is not about the school you attend or the degrees you hold. Yesterday someone shared with me the car her husband lovingly restored over the last year in his garage. He taught himself how to restore this old car and believe me when I tell you this restoration was brilliant! It took hard work and lots of self-education to make it happen. I admire that kind of humble greatness all day long.
That is my list of ten things. I’m sure I will think of more. What I know for certain is this — I intend to shoot for this kind of behavior for the rest of my life, however long that life might be. Knowing I will likely die, still trying. And I intend to surround myself with others who are on this quiet journey.
And oh, how I long for our county to be filled with leaders that hold themselves and other to values that make them and therefore this country of ours truly great.
What do YOU think makes someone GREAT? Do share. But let’s not talk politics for today. Okay? Even though I kind of just did that.
With Love and Grace and constant HOPE, Robbin
