This I believe — Version 2.1

(I published a version of this story first in October 2023. I’ve made updates to the list.)

When I was in grade school, I went out for pee wee football. When we lined up in three or four rows and did our calisthenics before the start of practice — everything from jumping jacks to leg stretches to ab crunches — our coach would walk up and down each row. He’s offer some encouragement and wisdom, before whistling for us to start the next routine. 

I guess it was his way of keeping us listening to his voice, instead of focusing too much on the pain we were feeling and whining that we wanted to stop. His favorite piece of advice, “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” He must have repeated that gem every practice. It’s so entrenched into my head.

I occasionally think about my old coach. I suspect he would like today’s post. I occasionally like to write about what I believe and know in my heart. It’s like a personal mission statement that keeps pushing me forward. I add a few things, cut a few so that it doesn’t get incredibly long. 

Like the 1950’s This I Believe radio program, hosted by journalist Edward R. Murrow, and the essays featured in regular broadcasts on National Public Radio (NPR) in the United States from 2005 to 2009, here’s what I believe: 

• Kindness, fairness, and justice matter.
• A sense of humor is a necessity to thriving in life. I’m serious about my work and others, but I try to not to take myself too seriously. 
• Work hard. Give a full day’s work, other’s deserve your best. 
• When you’ve done something wrong, say you’re sorry. It doesn’t mean we’re any less to say we were wrong. We made a decision with the best information we had. We were wrong. Be the bigger person and say you’re sorry. 
• It doesn’t matter what you call it — meditation, yoga, self actualizing — but spend a little time each day alone in silence. 
• Laugh out loud. See number 2. 
• Smile often. 
• Be truthful, forthcoming, offer a firm handshake, and make only promises you can keep. 
• Root for the underdog. Goliath may win nine times out ten, but there’s always the chance that David wins will shock the world.
• The Power of the Written Word. Write out your thoughts and feelings a little each day. It will kickstart your creativity and take you places you never imagined. 
• The goal for each day remains the same: Laugh each day, learn something, have your emotions moved to tears. 

• Challenge yourself. Beat your old record by 50 points. If you make it, great, raise it again. If you miss it, get back up on the horse and try again tomorrow. The goal is continuous growth. 
• Have a dream. Share it with a friend. 
• Remember the little people who helped you along the way. 
• Have faith in something bigger. For me it’s my Christian faith and my family. For you, it could be something else, just make some time for something bigger than yourself. 
• Volunteer. Give to others. Help someone else. You’ll feel better about yourself. 
• In the words of my grandmother, be “good people” — the kind of person that others respect, love, and want to be around. 
• Listen to others. Be empathetic to others. Remember that everyone carries a burden that you may never know or see. Try your best to give others the benefit of the doubt. 
• Be genuine. We were out with family recently and the topic of a particular doctor came up. He’s brilliant, there’s no question, but he was described as being an egomaniac narcissist. I’m not a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon, I’ve never been in demand like one of those professions, but if someone described me in the same terms, I would be crushed.  
• Tell others who mean the world to you that you love them. Never be afraid of saying I love you. We don’t get a gold star for holding in our love. 
• Be grateful and say thank you. 

I’ve thought a lot about this essay in the past two years. I’ve decided to add a few additional items to the list. Let me know what you think about my additions:

• A good vinyl record beats streaming music any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Oh, there may be a few scratches and skips, but nothing beats it.
• Look in the mirror every day and tell yourself: “I’m proud of you. You’re doing a great job. Keep it up. Believe in yourself.”
• Remember where you came from and thank the people who helped you along the way.
• Prioritize sleep. It will help you in your old age.
• Go for a walk every day.
• You can fake some of the people some of the time, but authenticity and being who you are will always win out.

What do you believe? Thank you for reading.