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“Grant that I may not criticize my neighbor,
until I have walked a mile in his moccasins.”
—Indian Prayer (which hung in my father’s office as a daily reminder)
L
ife can (and often does) change in a second. As many of you
know, I recently had a health scare that reminded me —as much
as we would like to think so—we are not bullet proof. The days
between the initial doctor’s visits, the surgery and getting the allclear phone call reminded me of an important life lesson.
It’s funny how things in life can seem SO important (ISPA Conference,
25th anniversary, keynote speakers, etc.) and then can suddenly become
unimportant when things come to a grinding halt.
I began to focus on the little gifts—the gestures of kindness we show
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to those we love the most and the subtle differences we can make in people’s lives
with a smile, a handwritten note or a personal touch.
During Pope Francis’ recent trip to the United States, he delivered a mass on this
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topic. As I listened, it connected me back to the life lesson I am trying to practice as
I move past this recent reminder to slow down and breathe.
“… little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family. They get lost amid
all the other things we do, yet they do make each day different.
They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers
and grandfathers, by children. They are little signs of tenderness, affection and
compassion. Like the warm supper we look forward to at night, the early
lunch awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work. What
kind of world do we want to leave our children?”
As we approach the time for New Year’s resolutions and family reunions at holiday
get-togethers, don’t wait for a scare to focus on the things that really matter. Explore
what is within yourself, be grateful for what you have and focus on the little gestures.
What are your little gestures—and can you do more of them?
—LYNNE McNEES, ISPA PRESIDENT
72 PULSE
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November 2015