Pearls of Wisdom…As Far as I Can Remember…Probably…Don’t Quote Me on That

Adults never know when they might make the difference in the life of a child.  A kind word or timely advice can lay a foundation of character that lasts a lifetime.

As a child I remember someone saying—and I can’t remember who it was for sure—either a boy scout leader or maybe a soccer coach, but anyway, my tap instructor said something along the lines of: “The secret to selling the most Thin Mints was something something I did every day that taught me a lesson about character and eating disorders and something something for minorities to overcome discrimination in the workplace by submitting reimbursement forms with the original receipt could make adversity a lesson that helped me win an Oscar and I’m so lucky I had the presence of mind to wipe the place of fingerprints before leaving.”

Now that I think about it, the phrasing may have been slightly different.  Perhaps the team mascot chanted something along the lines of: “The thing about tolerance I learned as a congressman was to find a source of water when lost in the woods and follow it downstream because taxes are too high and applying club soda to red wine stains while meeting Alex Trebek was a great honor and my life would be completely different if I had never stolen his credit card.”

But the exact wording of the juvenile detention warden isn’t as important as the general meaning…

…which is why I really, really wish I could remember the Steven Seagal impersonator’s general meaning.

But it doesn’t matter who said it.

And it doesn’t matter that the basic point escapes me.

Because they say the actual verbiage isn’t as important as the way those words made you feel…

…but I only remember feeling seasick, although I’ve never been to sea.

But here’s the most important part: It made such an impression on me that I vowed to live my life according to that principle and to never forget it.