LIFE’S Observations…
By David Mosdal Guest Columnist
“If shoe shine boys are giving stock tips, then it's time to get out of the market.” said Joseph Kennedy about a hundred years ago, or so the story goes. A contemporary of Mr. Kennedy, economist Bernard Baruch said “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those
who matter don't mind.” I have to wonder if there may be a lesson in century old thinking that could have relevance today. I think we are at a point in history where we are inclined to believe that we don't matter much unless we have strong opinions, and strong opinions need to be served up with a mouthful of salt or something worse tasting that we have spit out so we don't choke on it. But have we gone a bit too far?
This newsletter is making a change and will be called Prime Connections. The focus of this issue is the same, that being Prime Connections. So where will that lead us? I don't know for sure but I'm along for the ride. To gain a little insight, a good way to start, is with the dictionary. Prime is defined as “first in rank” or “of superior grade” or a number that cannot be evenly divided by any other number. A prime number is foundational. Remember, that three points determine a plane. There are seven days in a week, and so on. Those are prime numbers.
...in an effort to accomplish this goal, I think we should listen more than we talk. We should search for truth. Trust in what we learn.
So what little gems will be revealed as we search for prime connections? We all know someone who is “first in rank” in our lives. Perhaps we are “of superior grade” to someone else. Given that we are all unique in many ways, the term “prime” should be a way to define who we are to those around us.
— David Mosdal
When we are with our friends and neighbors, or worse yet, our own families, do we descend to the lowest common denominator and regurgitate the latest babble we've been spoon fed from social media or our favorite news provider? Are we really saying what we feel or is the dominant speaker in the room reciting the litany so that heads will nod or people will start looking for their coats to go home?
So, in an effort to accomplish this goal, I think we should listen more than we talk. We should search for truth. Trust in what we learn. We should be willing to tolerate and even celebrate the differences in each of us. And we should not be afraid to be someone's Prime Connection.
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