I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow elsewhere. ~ Henry David Thoreau Who do you trust? I mean, who do you really trust, with your life? My guess is that you have a short list …
Tag: gregory hake
On seeking and offering advice
In giving advice, seek to help, not please, your friend. ~ Solon Some of the hardest things I've had to hear about myself came clothed as advice. Advice, pointers, tips and hints stream from every direction on a regular basis, if you are listening. Delivered by the mouths and pens of both friends and strangers, …
The Simple Things in “L”ife
My youngest son, who is now four years old, learned to pronounce the letter "l" properly this weekend. I daresay that I will miss the "w" that typically stood in the place of a properly pronounced hard "l", but hey, "wife" goes on. He spent the entire weekend searching for words that began …
The Natural Aristocracy
Friends of mine were discussing politics and leadership the day before yesterday and one raised the question: "I wonder why the most successful people, financially speaking, like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett shouldn't be running the country?" The question carried a bit more weight in my mind given Donald Trump's recent indication that he would …
Happiness and Righteousness Redefined
As a young man approaching middle age, I often ask myself what it is that human beings truly seek. Material wealth and comfort appear on the surface to shape the thoughts and dictate the actions of many, but scratch a little deeper and you will find that the common goal of man is happiness and …
A Seed of Greatness
(an excerpt from Robert Fulghum's book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten) All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile …
Obedience, Respect and The Future of Humanity
There is nothing more humbling than raising a child. Children are both a reflection of you - your values, your expectations, your worldview - and a fountain of self-expression. They offer constant reminders of the need to refine your own capacity of self-expression while challenging you to grow and develop as they do. I had …
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Change, Vulnerability and Self-Respect
"He that respects himself is safe from others; he wears a coat of mail that none can pierce." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow I am surrounded by people who aspire to excellence. They push themselves, dream big and take risks. They questions assumptions, test their limitations and welcome correction. They learn to use pressure to …
Just say no to negativity!
I came across a scientific explanation why humanity progresses in fits and starts rather than on the basis of eternal progress. Apparently our brains are hard-wired with what is called "negativity bias," a trait that proved favorable as the process of natural selection worked its magic on our species. Negativity bias is the tendency to …
The “Inner Go”
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman used an interesting quote yesterday from Lewis Mumford's book "The Condition of Man," about the development of civilization. Reflecting on the American nation in 1944, Mumford drew a chilling parallel to the decline of the mighty Roman Empire: Everyone aimed at security: no one accepted responsibility. What was plainly …
Gregory Hake 