Light & Thought
A collection of Steve Graves' reflections.
Not long ago, a friend of mine, Max Shimer, passed away unexpectedly.
At his funeral, they asked if anyone wanted to share a memory. I did not stand up, but if I had, I would have said this:
"I am proud to say he was my friend. My life was better for knowing him. My reputation was better for knowing him."
Afterward, I realized this was true for many of the people I have lost — my sister Kathy, my dad, my brother-in-law Bill, my friend Phil, my Uncle Tommy.
These were people who lived in a way that made everyone around them better.
Just being associated with them was an honor.
It reminded me that the people we stand beside in life become part of our story — for better or worse.
It made me think about the choices we make in life — not just in how we live, but in who we stand beside.
The people we align ourselves with say as much about us as our own actions.
One day, all of us will leave a reputation behind.
The question is whether the people we care about will be proud to say they knew us.
Will our friends and family feel that their own lives were better for having shared the road with us?
Next in the series:
Self-Awareness as the Key -- I'll talk about the mirror we all need to hold up now and then - and the questions we should ask ourselves if we want to live by the values we claim.
Series index:
The Curve of Civilization � Table of Contents