Responsibility and "Triumph Insurance"

I actually don't think I'm going to write (at least not often) on Saturdays or Sundays. Everybody needs a day off and I have five busy children who need my attention at gymnastics and soccer and so forth when I'm actually in town. They like having me present and I think that five days a week is probably enough writing. So, I'm writing to say I'm not going to be writing, at least not on the weekends, at least not until or unless I feel duly impressed that something just has to be said and cannot wait until the coming Monday.

For today, I do want to "break with tradition" and write on the weekend, sharing with you a quick  insight that came to me this afternoon. It's about responsibility—I guess because I spent most of the day with my children and was reminded how much responsibility I have to them and we all have to those we have stewardship over and responsibility for. Whether that's your kids, your partner, your employees or whoever ... a big part of leading a "Triumphant" life is being a “pattern of Triumph” that others can learn from … of doing what it takes to make a difference in others’ lives. Only then have we truly Triumphed, at least in this "Umpher's" opinion.

I think it's fair to say that no one can ever, truly say they've Triumphed without having helped a few others along the way, and oftentimes many ... in business, marriage, parenthood, entertainment, innovation, education, or what have you. TRIUMPH, by its very nature, adds to and amplifies the lives of those it touches. We Triumph most when WE touch one another (and I'm not talking foot rubs or bear hugs). You know what I'm getting at.

The following ad from Liberty Mutual Insurance is an effective reminder of this truth. I get emotional almost every time I see it. 

Hey, have a nice weekend, everybody. It's already half-way over but I'm still going to enjoy the rest thoroughly. I hope you do too. Don't forget to watch the clip.

Live responsibly....

Patrick-Riv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw97CfZtyGw&feature=related

A Lost Boy and a Joint Rescue Effort

It’s late and I got home a short while ago from watching a great sci-fi movie called “In Time” tonight, starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. It’s a futuristic film about how the rich have unlimited “time accounts” and the poor "run out of time" at the age of 25, or (usually) go on to live day-to-day trying to make their last few hours stretch. It was a new twist on the old dilemma of and juxtaposition between the incredibly wealthy and all the rest of us.

There are lots of reasons for mentioning this concept in this blog … “using our time well,” “not wasting a minute,” “choosing wisely where we focus our time and efforts” (all good Triumph principles), etc., etc. It wasn’t what I would call a terribly uplifting movie, but it was entertaining. I actualliy want to write on another topic, though, tonight, a story I just saw on CNN tonight.

As you’re seeing, if you’re following this blog at all, there isn’t a specific format or outline that I’m following in my posts. Quotes, historical figures, current events, movie reviews—they’re all options. Anything that strengthens, motivates, encourages or inspires is fair game. One thing’s for certain: I have an unlimited number of topics to choose from and discuss. (The only thing I’m hoping for is that more of you start commenting; as much as I like talking, I don’t like feeling I’m the only voice being heard).

Take this story from CNN.com that I stumbled across this evening—speaking of racing against time. This young autistic boy was just found, having survived five days lost in a Civil War park in Central Virginia (North Anna Battlefield Park). He was found alive this afternoon at a nearby quarry, authorities said, “lying in a fetal position in a creek bed about a mile away from where he'd wandered off.” He was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital, where he was reunited with family and “appeared to be in good shape.” Get this: the boy is autistic … non-verbal … went five days without food or shelter. It’s a wonder he was fine. He is obviously a fighter, an “Umpher,” as we call them on this blog, even if he can’t speak or write or get up and give a speech about it personally.

The most Triumphant part of this story, despite the boy’s personal sacrifice and effort, in my opinion, lies in the fact that about 6,000 VOLUNTEERS showed up and helped out with the search over the last 5 days, along with “about 300 professional searchers in the park and surrounding areas, Hanover County authorities said” (quoted from CNN.com). They literally had to turn volunteers away, not because they didn’t want them, but because they couldn’t support them all. This is another great reminder regarding Triumphant results. We all know this but it’s good to have another example...! 

Often times, for us to Triumph personally, we need a helping hand to make it come to pass. This little boy was lost; a lot of us feel the same way in life. He was "hungry, cold and thirsty;" I think so many of us can relate—in our relationships, our careers, or our financial prospects, and more. I personally have, on many occasions throughout my life, felt this way. Literally or metaphorically, we find ourselves in need of being warmed or filled at times. In my experience, I have often been helped, assisted and “filled” by strangers who often never even knew the role they played. Other times it was the direct result of a friend or loved one reaching out. Both were very much appreciated.

I’m grateful for their help and I'm sure many of us can relate. We've all given and received help, both intentional and not. It's one of the beautiful things that keeps this world of ours going around. 

Let me just end by just saying that, whether you’re the contributor or the beneficiary, the “filler” or the “fillee,” as it were, it’s valued. We’re all in this together. And, if we look for ways to help each other out even more, to accept help when it’s offered, to work together and be there for each other, we will never regret it. It is absolutely a key to helping all of us Triumph here in life. 

I hope we’ll all look for more ways to make this a high-frequency occurrence. Best wishes to Robert Wood Jr. and his family. Your son inspires us, as do the thousands of volunteers who came to your aid. We’re grateful for your story … and the way that it turned out.

Welcome home, Robert.... John Patrick “River” Laing

Question For You: Who's Your Idol?

So ... I've shared a few of my idols with you, including Winston Churchill, JFK, Albert Enstein, and my Grandpa Bill. Who are your idols? Who do you look up to...? Come on faceless readers? I've had 300+ visitors in just these first couple weeks (a few repeat offenders, I'm sure). Who do you aspire to be more like...?

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW.

I look forward to hearing your insights. Good night. :0]

Quotable Quotes: John F. Kennedy

I'm big on quotes. You're going to see a lot of them on this blog. The power of words cannot be overstated. One of my all-time favorites is the second quote, below, which has been attributed to President John F. Kennedy. (It certainly sounds like him).

JFK proved to us all the strength of a goal when he said we'd be on the moon in the next 10 years; we did it in 8. On May 25, 1961, before a joint session of congress, he stated:

"I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth." President John F. Kennedy

40 years later, the U.S. moon landing its still one of the most incredible Triumphs of the modern age. This isn’t my favorite quote, though. The one I’m referring to is below. It reads: 

“Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” President John F. Kennedy

I love that. That's what I'm talking about…. Night everybody. JPR

Bill and Grace Laing ... A Quiet Legacy

Speaking of legacies, I wanted to give a quick tribute to my dad's parents, my Grandpa and Grandma Laing, and to the legacy they've built. I'm going to try to make this short--I'm starting to believe that less really is more, in blogs and in life. In fact, I heard a quote recently that said something like "Forgive me, I didn't have time to write you a shorter note," point being that it's often more powerful and more meaningful not when you wax eloquent and long-winded, but when you choose your words carefully and put more thought into actually saying LESS (I think it was by Tennyson or Emerson; I'll try to find the exact quote and author and share them with you later....). Me? I'm still working on brevity myself.

My paternal grandfather, though, William ("Bill") Charles Laing and his bride of 68 years, my grandmother, Grace Scott Laing, are two of my idols and with very good reason. Their legacy is one to be proud of, and they are. They raised 7 children (1 daughter and 6 boys; Grandpa Bill used to always say they had "one-and-a-half-dozen kids"), they have about 40 grandchildren or so and I lose track of how many great-grandchildren (several dozen). I mean, my parents only had 3 kids but they have 17 grandchildren between us, if you can imagine (my sister has 8 of her own)! With six more aunts and uncles and lots of married cousins, well ... you can probably do the math.

Grandpa has cancer now--he's riddled with tumors and Grandma can barely remember her name; she definitely does not remember yours when you go visit. It's actually kind of endearing at times (she's a lot sweeter these days). I went and visited them a couple weeks ago and she kept asking for pictures with names on them and telling us how they used to call her "Great Scott!" whenever they saw her back in school many years ago.

I mention them on this blog, and tell you they're my idols, because they have lived a life FULL of service and caring and unconditional love. When I was a senior in high school I remember many a basketball or soccer game where they were the only ones there cheering me on (my parents didn't even make it, usually). My granddad, especially, has been a pillar of honor, truth and service all his life.

Trust me, Grandma was not the easiest mother, wife or matriarch to grow up with, I'll freely admit. Passionate about her family, the gospel, and her nutrition and lingerie business (she sold "intimates" out of her home for a company, I forget the name), she was also pretty batty at times, pretty cranky at others and just not very healthy; she had blackouts about every 60 days or so, which were trying I know. But Grandpa Bill looked after her and looked AT her, and has for almost seven decades now, as the beautiful, perfect young woman he married. I've never once heard him complain, never once seen him lose his temper, never once even seen him roll his eyes over her frequent rants and ravings. No, he would just put his arms around her, compliment her cooking, help her up to bed and tuck her in for the night. He is and has been, for as long as I can remember, a SAINT--the most loving, faithful, and consistent person I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

He is the original "Deep River" and my inspiration to become that man. You would agree, if you knew him ... the epitome of Triumph. I personally believe that this is one of those key principles behind an inarguably Triumphant life: if you can't truly learn to serve ... if you can't truly be consistent ... if you tend to throw in the towel too easily, when things get tough or people aren't perfect around you ... if you can't overcome the hard things in life, even when they are closest to you? If you can't do these things, you can never expect to Triumph over life. And, not just this, but you will also never truly find the joy and satisfaction available to us all. Joy comes through endurance and patience and turning the other cheek, in my experience. It comes through loving those around us unconditionally (except in rare cases of abuse or neglect, of course; then we may love them but we may also exit for our sanity and safety and this is perfectly understood, and personal, of course).

I've watched my grandparents and I've see "Triumph" in their eyes. They have never been rich as to the things of this world, the material "needs" we all think we "need." But they are WEALTHY and they have been ... their entire lives. They may not have much, they may be running out of time--Grandpa is 96 and dying of cancer; Grandma is 90 and I can't imagine her hanging on long without him present in her life--but, they have lived their lives the way any of us would be proud to--FULLY. They have sucked the marrow out of life and built a legacy of which they can be proud. I know I am. I don't know anyone who knows them who isn't.

I appreciate you very much, you two. Don't know if you'll ever get on and read this post; probably not. But, that's okay. It's the thought that counts ... and I think you're both amazing.

Ever grateful,

Your eldest grandchild, John Patrick "River" Laing

Quotable Quote: Hunter S. Thompson

Though I'm not a huge fan of author, Hunter S. Thompson (he was a life-long alcoholic and drug addict and proud of it who eventually committed suicide in 2005 at the age of 67), the author of The Rum Diary (1998) and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1971) penned one of my favorite quotes of all time:

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" Hunter S. Thompson

The man embodied his own quote, and it is an insightful glimpse into the heart of the "Umpher," in my opinion. I ask you: did you THROW yourself into your relationships today, your passions, your hobbies, your kids? Did you worry less about scraped knees and stains on your clothing, or punctuality, or propriety ... than you did about the impact and even legacy you left? I hope not. That we too might embody this reminder, hopefully with healthier livers and less heartache / angst, is my hope for us all. Now I'm really going to bed.... Good night all you "Umphers" out there. I'm cheering for you....  JPR

Movie Review: Conviction

So ... I made a goal to write daily and now it's 5 minutes to midnight here (when I started writing; now it’s 1 am). Let me, just real quick, tell you about a movie I watched the other night starring Hillary Swank, Sam Rockwell and Minnie Driver. The movie is "Conviction," a powerful true story of Triumphing over enormous odds and a corrupt system that makes me shiver a little just thinking about it. Better yet, since it's late, I think I'm just going to cut and paste a segment from Wikipedia and a link to a really good trailer. I’ll wrap up with a few of my own personal thoughts:

"Conviction is based on the true story of Betty Anne Waters, a single mother who works tirelessly to free her wrongfully convicted brother Kenny. The story unfolds in flashbacks, and the film opens with the scene of a brutal murder in Massachusetts in 1980. We soon see that Betty Anne's life in many ways revolves around her brother, who is now in jail for the murder. Despite Kenny's knack for getting in trouble, they have always been close. Two years after his release as a suspect in the 1980 murder of Katharina Brow in Ayer, Massachusets, "new" testimony from two witnesses lead police to arrest Kenny and he is tried. Based on this circumstantial evidence, Kenny is convicted in 1983 of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The three main witnesses against him are Sergeant Nancy Taylor (Melissa Leo) from the local police department, his ex-wife, Brend (Clea DuVall), and his ex-girlfriend, Roseanna (Juliette Lewis).  

Three years later, Betty Anne lives with her husband, Rick (Loren Dean) and two sons, Richard and Ben. She is frantic that she has not heard from Kenny, who calls her every week, and she is finally told that he tried to commit suicide in prison. Betty Anne decides to go back to school and become a lawyer so she can free him, but her husband is skeptical and unsupportive, and eventually they split up. As Betty Anne struggles with being a working mother going to law school at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island, we see flashbacks of her life growing up with Kenny. Their mother was callous and uncaring, allowing her eight children (by seven different fathers) to grow up almost feral. Kenny and Betty Anne were very close, and used to break into neighborhood homes together just to feel like part of a normal family, until they were sent to separate foster homes. She continues to visit him, working in a bar while going to school, until her sons decide to move in with their Dad. Struggling in school, demoralized and exhausted, she stops going to classes, until a friend from school, played by Minnie Driver, comes to her house and prods her to just get up, get dressed, and get back to class.

In her study group, Betty Anne learns about the new field of DNA testing and realizes this could be the key to overturning Kenny's conviction. She contacts attorney Barry Scheck from the Innocence Project. The backlog of cases will mean waiting more than a year unless she can pass the bar and find the blood evidence from Kenny's trial herself to have it tested. At first she is stonewalled, then told the evidence was destroyed, but she refuses to give up, and she and her friend Abra (Minnie Driver) embark an an odyssey to recover any evidence that might still be stored away somewhere. At the time of the trial, Kenny's blood type was shown to be identical to the killer's but DNA testing didn't exist. In the process, Betty Anne learns from an acquaintance who is now a police officer that Nancy Taylor was fired from the police department for fabricating evidence in another case. This deepens Betty Anne's suspicions about Kenny's conviction and the "evidence" given at trial."

Finally the DNA results come back and "the survey says...."

I hate spoilers so I won't tell you how the movie turns out. You'll have to see it yourself if you want to. I will say ... there are some interesting twists as they navigate several challenging hurdles along the way. It's Rated R for a bloody murder scene at the beginning and for language (Sam Rockwell and his buddies, especially his co-inmates, make for an intriguing bunch....). If you can get past the f-bombs (I didn't appreciate them but they were true to form), the story is strong—one of the best I've seen about not caving to life's trials. The language is a little jarring, but the story is worth it. The characters are raw and the actors spot on. 


Watch the trailer:  http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4273341977/

Quotable Quote: Albert Einstein

I'm realizing how easily life can get in the way when it comes to posting here on this blog consistently. It's difficult when you have a full time job, five children, a business and social life (though I can't say I have much of that these days; the first three keep me very busy). I want to make a commitment, though, today October 25, 2011, that even if it's 2 in the morning and even if it's just a short Quotable Quote like the one I'm sharing with you today, I'm going to post something before going to bed. I know people are enjoying this blog. I'm hearing lots of good feedback. But I need to make sure it's consistent, even if brief. I commit to you to do this with very rare exceptions (if I ever miss it will be for an unavoidable reason like I'm in the hospital, or one of my kids is, or we're on vacation with no Internet, or something like that).

I'm working on several longer posts upcoming--one about my 90+ year-old grandparents, ("Bill and Grace Laing: A Quiet Legacy...."), another about Steve Jobs, founder of Apple ("Our Own Leonardo Davinci...."), a review of a fantastic book I'm reading that you may have read entitled Leadership and Self Deception ("The True Challenge: Triumph Over Ourselves...." I should finish it later this week), a couple of movie reviews and several others I think you'll enjoy and benefit from.

Right now ... I'm dashing out the door to my job as a regional sales trainer here in the Pacific Northwest. I'll write more about that as well, later, but let me send you off for now with a great reminder quote.... Albert Enstein once said, "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." I really like that. A clear characteristic of Triumphant thinkers and doers is their resilience and persistence, their "stick-to-it-ive-ness," as some call it. They just keep on getting back up. We all get discouraged, delayed and knocked down at times. What matters most is what happens next. Those who Triumph get up, dust themselves off, learn from their mistakes, and "get back on that horse" (or bicycle, in this case). They do so with renewed focus, determination and usually a good dose of wisdom and maturity as well.

Resiliency is a wonderful though often painfully-acquired attribute or trait. I hope we can all learn it and develop it more in our lives, and understand it better, hopefully without too much heartache along the way.

I'm off.... Hey, travel safe out there. Talk again soon. JPR

Famous Failures: YouTube clip

We don't always get to choose what life hands us. On the contrary, most of us go through trials, heartaches, loss and adversity throughout our lives, even when we're "good people." Life doesn't care. It's all part of our "college experience" here on earth.... The question is: what do we do with our trials; do we control them or do we let them control us. Sure, they MOLD us ... but they don't have to CONTROL us. This is one more characteristic of people who Triumph over life.  

The following YouTube clip, entitled Famous Failures, echos this truth. 

If you've never failed, you've never lived. LIFE EQUALS RISK. What will you do with it...? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6hz_s2XIAU&noredirect=1

A Reminder of ... FAITH

Here's a great story about Triumph ... of the four (or should I say TWO)-legged variety. I thought you'd enjoy it. 

In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction. This dog was born on Christmas Eve in 2002. He was born with two legs. He, of course, couldn't walk. When he was born even his mother didn't want him.

But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him. His first owner didn't think that he could survive and he was thinking of just putting him to sleep. Jude became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself.

She named him Faith and, in the beginning, put him on a surfboard to let him feel the up-and-down movement. Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure to reward him for standing up and jumping around. Even the other dog at home encouraged him.

Amazingly, after only six months Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward. After further training in the snow, he could now walk just like a human. 

Faith loves to walk now. No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him. He is fast becoming famous worldwide and has appeared on multiple newspapers and TV shows.

There is now a book entitled "With a Little Faith," being published about him. He was even considered to appear in one of the Harry Potter movies. His present owner, Jude Stringfellow, has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to teach that without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul. 

I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each day. Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life."

 

A Nickname with History

I’m going to try to make these entries a little shorter as often as possible. I tend to wax long-winded at times and, I’m learning, you don’t need to be verbose to write something folks will enjoy reading. If I don’t keep them shorter, it's usually for a good reason, but these posts are going to show up few and far between. I don't want that. I’m going to do my best to be more succinct so you can see new updates more often. I have about a million topics I still would like to write on.

I thought I'd take a quick minute and explain why I've been called River or Riv, as a nickname, for the past decade or so. It all started after my unexpected divorce from my first wife, Asti. One minute I was married and working away at it (with all its ups and downs), the next minute I came home from a business trip to find my home gutted and my world torn in half. [In Asti's defense, she was very fair when she chose to skedaddle. She carefully divided our books, movies, and other belongings in half and left all the ones she knew I liked and took only the ones she preferred and knew I didn't care for; "gutted" probably isn't the most appropriate word]. I can remember clearly the dust outlines, though, around where pictures she’d taken had hung. It’s an image that stays with me and even haunts me at times today.  

Asti and I completed an amicable, though devastating (to me), dissolution of marriage ... mostly through email. I've only seen her once (on accident; at a concert in Utah; we didn't speak) since the day she made love to me the night before, kissed me goodbye and said she'd see me in a week. I came home expecting a wife who, though struggling, was hanging in there … but instead found a house and home that were suddenly empty of the best part.

Fast forward a year and I decided to relocate from Anchorage, Alaska to Vancouver, Washington to work for Dennis Burback and the Trendwest Resorts office there. My brother Adam and his wife Kimmy, together with my sister Chi and her little boy Mejai, all moved down together. We got three apartments in the same complex and Adam went to work for Trendwest too. I went to work on my new life and prospects, primarily on myself. 

You see, Asti's and my divorce was a sum result of several things, as most dissolutions are, I'm sure. She had an emergency surgery that wreaked havoc on her emotions, and our marriage. This is true. But we were already struggling ... mostly because of me, I hate to say—my issues with anger, my immaturity, my struggles with self esteem, and so forth. Long story short, even though we had been friends for years—ever since high school—our marriage was in turmoil, and I didn't really blame her. She was a great woman, doing the best she could, working with a guy who had a lot of baggage (as we all do, unfortunately). In the letter she left sitting on our kitchen counter, the one I found when I came home to our empty house, she said "I love you but I can't be with you. I need to work on my own issues and I'm not willing to do that and be married to you at the same time." Can I just say ... I read the letter, reeling, and spent the night in shock, lying on the linoleum floor in our kitchen. 

So ... I was now in Washington State, trying to sell timeshare for Trendwest and really questioning what had gone wrong. How did my marriage fail? Why did I feel angry so much of the time? How could I overcome it? What could I try to do differently in any future relationship...? (the irony of this statement is that I recently went through a second divorce; though I’ve learned a lot in the last ten years, and I really tried to be a good husband and father, I'm still learning and still trying to Triumph over myself; still not quite there quite yet, I guess; I think it will take a lifetime to fully get there).

I say all this just to make myself clear: I understand pain … I know what loss feels like … I’ve had my own share of challenges and hurts … and I continue to learn greater resiliency and stick-to-it-iveness, year in and year out. 

One day, there in Washington, I was reading a book about the life of Christ called Fishers of Men. While doing so I came across a quote by Alexander the Great: "The deepest rivers flow with the least sound." This quotation struck me with great force and I shared it with my parents in one of my emails home. It seemed to say to me that the deeper the PERSON, the less "SOUND" (i.e. grumbling, complaining, whining or yelling) they make. In other words, the deeper YOU are, the less you let things GET TO YOU. It's a great reminder, and it is so true. My parents agreed, adding their own insights to the analogy. 

Well, I'm not sure who started it—it was either my mom or my dad, or maybe both—but they started referring to me as Riv shortly thereafter and I guess it stuck. They said they did it because they thought I was really embodying the quote. They liked what they saw. I don’t know if that’s true, but I did like the nickname because it served as a reminder of who I WANTED to be. It helped me focus more on my goal to become that man ... more patient, more mature, the kind of person who is deeper than the trials he faces. This, in my mind, is one of the key characteristics of someone Triumphing over life. It's one of my goals, to embody the principle more. It's a lifetime process, as I mentioned.

There's a great quote by the founder of the LDS church, Joseph Smith, that also complements this principle well. He writes, "Deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all…." (Doctrine & Covenants 127). It’s a good testament to resilience and faith, to "running deep" as it were ... a good reminder for us all, whether you're a Mormon, Christian, Atheist, what have you.

If you're familiar with his history, you know that Joseph Smith actually gave his life for what he believed. He hung in there in the  face of terrible persecution (he and his older brother Hyrum were both martyred in Carthage, Illinois on June 27, 1844). They sealed their testimony with their blood. That we might have the same conviction in whatever we set out to do, that we too might "Triumph" in our own ways, is my hope. 

Here's to hope, 

J. Patrick “River” Laing 

Quotable Quote: Winston Churchill

I've always loved the statement by Winston Churchill that is usually quoted as "Never, never, never give up" or "Never, never, never quit." I even have it on my key chain as a daily reminder. The quote actually originates, from my research, from a speech he gave to the students of Harrow School in Middlesex, England, October 29, 1941.

I thought you might enjoy seeing it in its original context. As World War II was still raging on, this Triumphant leader inspired his countrymen to dig in and not give in. He inspired them and reminded them of just how powerful and capable they were, even in the face of incomparable odds.

Here's the speech, followed by a short bio on Mr. Churchill.

Never Give In, Never, Never, Never

Speech given at Harrow School, Middlesex, October 29, 1941

"When Churchill visited Harrow on October 29 to hear the traditional songs again, he discovered that an additional verse had been added to one of them. It ran:

Not less we praise in darker days
The leader of our nation,
And Churchill's name shall win acclaim
From each new generation.
For you have power in danger's hour
Our freedom to defend, Sir!
Though long the fight we know that right
Will triumph in the end, Sir!

You cannot tell from appearances how things will go. Sometimes imagination makes things out far worse than they are; yet without imagination not much can be done. Those people who are imaginative see many more dangers than perhaps exist; certainly many more than will happen; but then they must also pray to be given that extra courage to carry this far-reaching imagination. But for everyone, surely, what we have gone through in this period - I am addressing myself to the School - surely from this period of ten months this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

We stood all alone a year ago, and to many countries it seemed that our account was closed, we were finished. All this tradition of ours, our songs, our School history, this part of the history of this country, were gone and finished and liquidated. 

Very different is the mood today. Britain, other nations thought, had drawn a sponge across her slate. But instead our country stood in the gap. There was no flinching and no thought of giving in; and by what seemed almost a miracle to those outside these Islands, though we ourselves never doubted it, we find ourselves in a position where I say that we can be sure we have only to persevere to conquer.

You sang here a verse of a School Song: you sang that extra verse written in my honour, which I was very greatly complimented by and which you have repeated today. But there is one word in it I want to alter - I wanted to do so last year, but I did not venture to. It is the line: "Not less we praise in darker days."

I have obtained the Head Master's permission to alter darker to sterner. "Not less we praise in sterner days."  Do not let us speak of darker days: let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days; these are great days - the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race."

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill - biographical sketch

The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill is generally regarded as one of the most important leaders in British and world history.  An accomplished speaker, author, painter, soldier and war reporter, the mere sight of him, with the characteristic Cuban cigar in his mouth and two fingers raised in the “V for victory” sign encouraged the population. He was John Bull, a British mythical character and the symbol of the common people, come to life. With a powerful command of the English language, he wrote histories and biographies. Churchill served his country from 1895 to 1964. At 78, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. In 1963, at the age of 88, the US Congress conferred on him honorary American citizenship.

Churchill died at the age of 90 with his wife and other family members at his bedside. His remains lay in state in Westminster Hall for three days—an honor not accorded any English statesman since Gladstone in 1898. The funeral followed at Saint Paul's cathedral.

By the way, two other Churchill quotes give us additional insight into the man. I appreciate them both. He said "History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." The writer in me of course loves this.... He also stated, "My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me." Sounds to me like Sir Churchill had his priorities straight, and was a not just a statesman but also a talented salesman.

Cheerio.... JPR

Welcome to Triumph Times

I posted the following on my Facebook page a few days ago. It probably says better than anything why I've started this blog and hope to contribute to it on an ongoing basis:

I'm going to start a new blog on Endurance and Thriving (versus just surviving). It's going to discuss subjects like faith and expectation, progress over perfection, commitment, building resiliency, etc., etc. I plan to highlight books like Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, and Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl, etc. We'll discuss various speakers, movies, historical figures and the like, not to mention movies like 17 Miracles, Invictus, Fireproof, and more.

For years people have wondered about and even shaken their head at my knack for seeing the silver lining on every cloud--my ability for being "resilient," if you will. I think I was born with it, to a large degree, but I've also learned a lot from a lot of different people about how to make it a part of me and work better in my life.

I really want to WRITE ... so this is partly selfish, of course, but my real hope is that this blog can inspire others and help them find solace, hope and encouragement as they go through their own dose of challenges, trials and hurts.

No matter your faith, your focus, your family background or your fears ... we can all stand to face our struggles with a few extra strengths and tools in our bag. Hopefully this blog can help and we can share, discuss and debate in good spirit and, in the process, all grow a little more resilient along the way (this will be more of a forum and a discussion group, ideally, than just a monologue from me; I really want your input)! Please take a sec to comment or hit Like if you think you'd take the time to follow such a blog.

Personally, I think we quit or give up too quickly too often. Even with as optimistic as I am, I've done the same thing in my life at times. With very few exceptions (serious abuse and the like), I personally think Winston Churchill had the right idea: "Never, never, never give up." It is in the stretching and the hard times that we truly grow and BECOME. Keep watching. I'll post the address and the blog itself here very soon. Onward and upward. JPL

SInce I posted this a week ago, I've given a lot of thought to what I wanted to put into this blog. I’ve polled a number of people, I've received some great comments and feedback, and I even prayed about it and pondered on it awhile.... (can I say prayer without turning people off? I hope so). I really do believe that many of us are looking for answers to how to do / be / accomplish more in our lives. Whether this refers to your finances, your relationships, your aspirations or other goals, it doesn't really matter. The same principles apply, I believe, and there are countless examples of what I call "Umphers" (those who've triumphed) throughout history and even today's society. I decided that TRIUMPH was the perfect theme. 

Don't be surprised to see a few movie and book reviews, biographical sketches, historical treatises and stories from the news. I'm going to include favorite quotes, start a few forums and get input from those who want to share; I ask for your insights into what you're learning and continuing to learn that seems to make a difference. Yes, I'm an optimist ... but I didn't get there over night. And I really am still not where I want to be. 

Most of all, I personally want to keep learning and growing in this vein. I can't imagine a reason why anyone wouldn't feel the same. So ... whether you're an optimist, a realist or even a pessimist, I look forward to sharing and learning together. Welcome to "The Times...." It's not The New York Times or the LA Times but, give it some time. You never know what's possible...? ;0) A massive oak grows out of a tiny acorn, right? Strap on your seat belts. There are few things I enjoy more than writing and helping others (being with my kids is one thing). Don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to the ride.