Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise perspective today!

July third, with great anticipation, we streamed the stage play Hamilton. Days later songs still hang in my head.

George Washington, who is portrayed as an older, more experienced statesman and soldier offers Hamilton morsels of perspective throughout the play. To an eager Alexander Hamilton, anxious to lead troops into battle and freedom, Washington reminds:

Dying is easy, young man. Living is hard.

Experiencing 2020 many can appreciate that notion.

Addressing Hamilton’s excitement following the Battle of Yorktown that translated into independence from British rule, Washington responds:

Winning is easy.  Governing is hard.

Experiencing 2020 many can appreciate that notion as well.

                                                                  

 Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.com

To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise history-making today!

In high school in the 1960s, I had a role in the musical South Pacific. I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair and Happy Talk still echo in my head every now and then. However, recently, the words to another song have been resonating in my soul:

You’ve got to be carefully taught.

 You’ve got to be taught

To hate and fear,

You’ve got to be taught

From year to year,

It’s got to be drummed

In your dear little ear

You’ve got to be carefully taught.

 

You’ve got to be taught to be afraid

Of people whose eyes are oddly made,

And people whose skin is a diff’rent shade,

You’ve got to be carefully taught.

 

You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late,

Before you are six or seven or eight,

To hate all the people your relatives hate,

You’ve got to be carefully taught!

What we call history – the agreed upon story of those in power – is being displayed in our collective mirror. Our chronicled past has left out major events, contributions, pain, anguish and suffering of those not in power. Let the reflections remind us of our selectively documented past and the power of the history we are creating today. Future generations are observing, experiencing, and learning from our words, intentions, and actions.

Let’s not waste this healing moment.

 

 

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

 Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.com

To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise living today!

In a couple days we’ll celebrate the end of another glorious journey around the sun and the beginning of the next for my husband, Curt.

Milestones, like birthdays, are landmarks that demarcate meaningful intersections in time. A birthday delineates our past and present self, pondering the future that’s within our reach. Being present to such benchmarks offers us the opportunity to reflect upon the life we’ve experienced, to recalibrate, and to continue on the path of writing the story we desire. On our journey, several have reminded us that:

There are 2 significant days in a person’s life: The day we are born and the day we discover why.

Is the world that immediately surrounds you truly a better place because you were born? Are others’ lives enriched because they have you in theirs?  Do you make enough of a positive impact with the people surrounding you that they want to celebrate the fact that you’ve been on the earth for another year? For you, Curt, the answer to all of the above is a resounding “absolutely!”

Happy, Happy Birthday to a man who intentionally continues to be kind, compassionate, decent, supportive, respectful, and noble.  A significant influence. A rare example of how a principled, honorable gentleman behaves.

                                                                 

 Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.com

To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise cultural change today!

Since my semi-retirement, the majority of my work has been assisting organizations and municipalities to build and sustain high functioning teams though intentionally created, productive cultures. Alexander Den Heijer expresses it well:

When the flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it glows, not the flower.

Parents, as in every other culture, know this to be true. As leaders are we intentionally creating an environment within which our children feel supported, honored and inspired to learn and grow?

In your workplace are people respected, valued, supported and heard? Do all understand and live the established and agreed upon behavioral norms expected by all? Or, are they guarded, constantly comparing, competing, and criticizing? Is there consistent tension, power struggles and/or an inability or unwillingness for people to work together productively? Are people able to take the required risks to produce results?  Look inside.  That’s where the answers typically breathe.

Collectively, justice within the American environment is being called into question. After centuries of inequity and injustice, citizens are pleading for a deep look into our collective mirror, with brutal honesty, and a just beginning to the process of integral change. That process that will take relearning, listening for understanding, an awareness of socialized unconscious bias, and plenty of compassion. If we meet this moment with an empathic heart and an open, respectful mind there’s a chance we’ll live with the results of increased integrity, humanity, justice, and unity.

If not now, when?  If not you, who?

                                                                 

 Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.com

To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise connections today!

Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.                                                                                                               ~ Dr. Maya Angelou

What trigger hate varies for individuals; however, there are some common causes of pent-up, repressed, contained anger, such as feeling unheard or unappreciated, lack of acceptance of a situation, or unmet needs. Often, without realizing it, some also experience anger when they’re hurt.

Today, while walls/barriers are being built between anger on opposite “sides” of so many issues. It seems, to survive, we need to become competent at building bridges/connections. We can each become conduits for humane change. Listen for understanding rather than response, listen with compassion rather than justification and ammunition, learn about our own socialized biases and ignorance, look deeply into our own mirrors with brutal honestly, acknowledge the pain and anguish of others, act with an intolerance for injustice, and stand up for justice . . . just the beginning of a list of things we can do.

There is a way up toward the better world we have seen in our dreams, but these stairs won’t build themselves.     ~ Wisdom from StoryPeople

                                                                   

 

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.com

To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise change today!

Although it was not ratified until August of 1920, one hundred years ago, June 4, 1919, Congress passed the 19^th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. As much as celebrating would be wonderful, the fact that our nation is experiencing protests to continued injustice disturbs our minds and devastates hearts.

In the midst of chaos earlier this week, I listened to Bishop Michael Curry attempting to calm and comfort:

According to Hebrew scripture, the opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is selfishness.

Justice requires a step out of our own convenient world with a sincere desire to understand the world of the oppressed. The cry for systemic change is soulfully deafening and needs to be addressed as rapidly as possible. However, hearts and minds cannot be legislated. If both do not change, legislation will be mute.

Last night, in a conversation about the frustration of being beyond angry, but to no end, our first born asked the question, “How do you want to show up in the world?” Today is a day to make a significant decision. My prayer is for a choice of compassion, a desire for equity, and a search for effective action toward justice.

 

                                                                   

 

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

 

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.com

To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise living today!

Wilson Roosevelt Jerman served as White House butler through 11 presidencies, from Eisenhower to Obama. May 16^th Mr. Jerman died at age 91, after contacting COVID-19.

Garrett spoke of her grandfather:

He never judged and never complained, ever . . . He taught us that there would always be obstacles in your life. They won’t disappear. It doesn’t matter your status, it does not matter your role or what you do, there will always be obstacles, but you keep pushing forward.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama said of him:

With his kindness and care, Wilson Jerman helped make the White House a home for decades of first families, including ours. His service to others – his willingness to go above and beyond for the country he loved and all those he touched – is a legacy worthy of his generous spirit.

Former First Lady Laura Bush, daughter Jenna Bush Hager, and former First Lady Hillary Clinton all used the same words, making The White House feel like home, to describe their experience with him.

A life well-live.  Do you ever think about how you’ll be remembered?

                                                                  

 Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

 Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.com

To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise being today!

Over the last few months, consistently listening to difficult news reports, stories of the humanity’s goodness also surfaced. There’s not a shortage of generosity, kindness, compassion and courage around our beautiful globe.

Speaking to the Class of 2020 (collectively), during a special massive virtual graduation event last weekend, former President Barack Obama said:

If the world is going to get better, it’s going to be up to you.

So true, on so many levels. As we slowly return to connect in community again, I pray we remember the noble, honorable, moral, and respectful side of our nature to create a tipping point, rising above the lesser us.

Today, we could be the reason someone believes in good people.

                                                                

 Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.com

To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise truth telling today!

Albert Einstein knew a thing or two. Unfortunately, the world seems to have veered away from elements of character once considered essential, especially in leadership. His words echo distinction today:

Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.

Facts, evidence, truth  . . . required for serious discernment and decision making. Let’s expect nothing less.

                                                              

 Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

 Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.com

To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise responsibility today!

I read this yesterday and it seems worth taking seriously today: 

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities is not freedom, it is adolescence.

As a nation, who are we? Are we currently living our collective values? Is the divisive rhetoric that surrounds just about everything that’s happening in this time of unprecedented crisis helping us? It seems time for fact-based decisions, responsible behaviors, and intentional compassion for each other. Future generations deserve at least that amount of maturity.

 

 

 

                                                                    

 

Life is calling . . .  Today’s the day!

 

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

www.marilynnsemonick.com

To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com