As we go through life, if we are honest with ourselves we surely recognize there are those people who are always watching our sixes (our backs). Those are the people, some family and many extended family that are always there to encourage us and gently push us on even when the going seems to be more than we can handle. Too often, I find that I have allowed those people – the ones who not only watched my sixes and gently most of the time moved me along – get away without me having taken the time to thank them. Be they mentors, business associates, friends or extended family I believe we should take a moment now and then to thank them for being in our lives at some time or another. Such was the case when I was notified this week that my friend and mentor Lynn Waller , one of the “Greatest Generation” passed on to his next great adventure. It started me to thinking about a number of things most notably that Leland’s Laws are right on spot: 1. Trust no one --- to pack your parachute. 2. Assume nothing --- we may not have another minute to say I love you or give a hug. 3. Triple check everything --- when lives and relationships are at stake. I have been fortunate over the years from my earliest days to have had exceptional mentors and many have become my friends. From my earliest days at the Caldwell County Times when Mr. Gid S. Pool and Mr. Bill Brown, the principal at Caldwell County High School ensured I had a meaningful and interesting job and education. There were the teachers such as Mrs. Crenshaw, my first grade teacher who instilled in me the love of education;Richard Hopper, my speech, drama and debate coach; Mrs. Evelyn Bradley, my psychology adviser; and Dr. L. J. Hortin and Dr. Robert McGaughey, my journalism professors. Sister Mary Foeckler, Sisters of Charity; Harl Barnett, the former publisher of the Benton Tribune-Courier; Mr. Robert Howes, the first Director at Land Between The Lakes; Colonel Robert K. Tener, former Commander of the Nashville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers; Mr. John S. Lyon, TVA; Mr. Howard Shenson, the “Consultant’s Consultant”; Mr. Larry Smith, Institute of Crisis Management; Ms. Margaret Massey-Cox, Ms. Peggy Wright, Mr. Taylor Hayes, Ms. Marilyn King, Ms Rosemary Simms, Mrs. Linda Turner Leith, Mrs. Bernice Trabue, Mr. George Noory, Coast-to-Coast and S/M Wally Bryan. And a plethora of others who have influenced my business model and practices, my life, my spiritual development and that have always saw in me what I couldn’t often times see in myself. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there when you were needed the most. Happy New Year. Let’ stay safe out there. PS. This commentary was actually inspired by watching this video and I am always thankful that I have had the opportunity to have visited and met the trainers of these magnificent horses. Enjoy! https://youtube/watch?v=r2o_yD5rBus
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 19:38:06 +0000