Friday Reflections

A bend in the road is not the end of the road….Unless you fail to make the turn*

Point to Ponder: Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did – Steve Jobs

Story Line: July 10, 1979, Oakland Coliseum. It was the very first concert in my life; courtesy of my wife who had introduced me to western music since the first time we met. The performers were Bee Gees, three brothers who composed, produced and recorded the songs. In the previous three years they had six consecutive #1 singles on the Hot 100 charts; Saturday Night Fever and Spirits Having Flown being the last two of those six.

They entertained the packed audience with many of their famous songs and also introduced their youngest brother (4^th) Andy who also participated and enchanted the audience with his beautiful voice. Not one person in the coliseum that night could have known how an event two days later in Comiskey Park in Chicago will impact Bee Gees and alter the course of their career.

Yesterday while watching the newly released documentary about Bee Gees, I leaned details about that event.

Disco Demolition Night: A Bend in the road….

**In the late 1970s, dance-oriented disco was the most popular music genre in the United States, particularly after being featured in hit films such as Saturday Night Fever (1977). However, disco sparked a major backlash from rock music fans—an opposition prominent enough that the White Sox, seeking to fill seats at Comiskey Park during a lackluster season, engaged Chicago shock jock and anti-disco campaigner Steve Dahl for the promotion at the July 12 doubleheader. Admission was discounted to 98 cents for attendees who turned in a disco record; between games. White Sox officials had hoped for a crowd of 20,000, about 5,000 more than usual. Instead, at least 50,000—including tens of thousands of Dahl's adherents—packed the stadium, and thousands more continued to sneak in after gates were closed. Dahl blew up the collected records.**

Additionally, some conservative groups disliked that Disco fans were pushing for agendas for gender equality, civil rights and gay rights. They vehemently opposed and preached against Disco culture and performers. That resulted in major backlash, many radio stations dropped Bee Gees from their playlists, death threats followed and fallout in their career.

….and taking turn

Music is what Bee Gees loved since childhood. They wrote their own songs. Performing on stage was a vehicle to bring their feelings to the audiences. With the stage career declining, but their love and passion still burning strong, they decided to write songs for other known artists. The songs and albums they created for Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross and other artists became top hits; and Bee Gees stayed true to the theme of their famous song Staying Alive.

Not the end of the road - Comeback.

In 1987, Bee Gees released their first album in six years- E.S.P.-which sold over 3 million copies. That was a resurgence of their career. For the next 16 years, they kept performing until the brother Maurice died unexpectedly due to surgery complication. For six decades they entertained people around the world with their songs.

Reflection: I was introduced to Bee Gees songs in 1978 by my childhood pen-friend then and now my wife. Through the years I have enjoyed their songs. But I did not know much about their life until I saw the recently released HBO documentary The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart.

Bee Gees had many up and downs in their career. What kept them going was their love for music and flexibility to take an appropriate turn. The title of the documentary is very fitting in the sense that the song How Can You Mend A Broken Heart was written at another inflexion point in their career. After phenomenal success throughout 1960s, they had split up in 1969 because of disagreements. But their love for each other was stronger than the differences and they couldn’t stay apart too long. They reunited and created songs that represented their time away: Lonely Days and How Can You Mend A Broken Heart which reached top in the charts in 1971.

Three younger brothers (Andy, Maurice and Robin) have passed away longtime ago . At the end of the movie Barry talks about how much he misses them. He says that he would trade all the hit songs for them to be here now.

Bee Gees singing How can you mend a broken heart after Reunion:

 

*Quote from Helen Keller

**Source: Wikipedia

Whenever Father Vallés Spoke, People Listened

Points to Ponder: Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. - Mahatma Gandhi

Story Line: It was early 1970s. The Town Hall in Ahmedabad-India, the place I grew up in, was overfilled with people from all walks of life; different faiths and social backgrounds. The people from the city of 2 1/2 million comprising of 80% Hindus, 14% of Muslims, 3 % Jains and  1% Christians had gathered to listen to Jesuit Priest, Father Carlos G. Vallés.

Father Vallés, as he was affectionately known in the town, started his speech in Gujarati, the local language of the province. His pronunciations with a Spanish touch added flavor to the theme of his speech: Our differences are a few and similarities many. His speech covered the common values between different religions such as; understanding the pain of others, helping with humility, kindness, alignment between thoughts speech and actions and the service of God. He was connecting with the audience on three levels; speaking in their mother tongue, he was speaking from clear understanding having spent time learning about other cultures and religions, and he was totally dedicated to his faith.

Carlos G. Vallés was born in Spain on 11/4/1924. When he was 10, his father died and soon after his family lost everything during Spanish Civil War. At the age of 15, he joined Jesuit School and dedicated rest of his life in the service of God. Nine years later, he was sent to India to teach mathematics in a newly opened Saint Xavier’s school in Ahmedabad.

Relationships of mind are temporary, Relationships of heart will stay forever.

Soon after he arrived in India, he realized that teaching mathematics in English language was easy but to really connect with the students he needed to talk in their language; the one they conversed in after the class. So he went for two years intensive training to learn Gujarati. His colleagues called it a waste of time where as he felt it was necessity to reach the hearts. The other thing he did was to study the culture and the teachings of other religions. Once asked if he was diverting from his main job, he replied, “This is my main job: Love, harmony and peace amongst people.” He continued to deliver the message of his faith through clear understanding of its teachings.

Thousands of people waited for his weekly column in local magazine and newspapers. People looked forward to his talks at various religious conferences and festivals. He was welcomed in many Hindu, Muslim and Jain homes and stayed with them during day time and bicycled back to his seminary at night. He integrated in the culture just like sugar mixes with milk and makes it sweeter.

He shared his life experiences and learnings in 75 books in Gujarati, 24 in English and 42 in Spanish. During his time in India he received many awards and recognitions for his writings, service to the people and the commitment to his faith. After 40 years he returned to Spain to be with his 90-year-old mother and he continued his writings. She passed away at the age 101.

Reflection: Over the years, I have mentioned Father Vallés in my communication to many friends.  My memory of him is attending his lectures in the first year of college, not missing his weekly columns in in the local newspaper and his talk in the town hall.  

Just two days ago, I received a mail from the childhood friend stating that Father Vallés had left this earth at the age of 95. Every newspaper in Ahmedabad paid tribute to this great soul. The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi sent this message to the nation: "Father Valles endeared himself to many, especially in Gujarat. He distinguished himself in diverse areas such as mathematics and Gujarati literature. He was also passionate about serving society. Saddened by his demise. May his soul rest in peace," 

Father Vallés, Jesuit Priest from Spain, will forever live in the hearts of millions of people of different faiths. He left a rich legacy through his teachings, talks, writings and most importantly his unconditional love for fellow human beings. I am fortunate that our paths crossed in this journey. I will remember him for:

1. Constancy of Purpose: The unwavering commitment to his Faith in Jesus Christ and living life consistent with His teachings. I can guess what his last words were before he left this earth.
2. Living Life with examples: “Love others as I have loved you”, Seek to understand before being understood, not imposing his believes on others.
3. Respecting diversity and bringing peace and harmony through common values and teachings.
4. Understanding “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.*”

On the last day of class in 9^th grade Mr. Mansuri, our Hindi teacher, told us beautiful parting words from Yogananda that I like to repeat today for tribute to Father Vallés: “When you came to this world, the people were smiling and you were the one crying. Live life in such a way that when you leave, the people are crying and you are the one smiling.”

 

 * Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in The Little Prince

 

Enjoy The Little Things in Life

Music: Dois Palhacos by Poin Pequena Orquestra Interativa

Points to Ponder: “Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things” – Robert Brault

Story Line: The most beautiful things in life are the people and places and memories and pictures. They are feelings and moments and smiles and laughter. (Courtesy: from a poster sent by Helen Tan from Philippines).

During last 30 days, many friends around the world shared images of different events in their lives. These included nature, travel, innocence of children, appealing food dishes, beautiful photography, woodwork, art, exotic flowers, rich fruits and vegetable harvest, sharing between neighbors, 50th anniversary of penfriendship and nice refreshing drinks as the days wind down.

These are the friends I met in my workplaces, during our travel adventures, social gatherings, one through accident (literally speaking) and ones who were with me from KG to high school graduation. Also people who have known me since birth and ones I have known since their birth continue to share the events from their journeys.

They come from many cultures and countries. The video above is compilation of the images of their journey in order they were received.

Reflection: I often remember the words of Barbara Bush from her Commencement Address to the Wellesley College Class of 1990.  They have appeared in few reflections over the years. Looking at the current times, I would like to reflect on a few lines from those profound words, Yes Once Again.

“The third choice that must not be missed is to cherish your human connections: your relationships with family and friends. For several years, you've had impressed upon you the importance to your career of dedication and hard work, and, of course, that's true. But as important as your obligations as a doctor, lawyer or business leader will be, you are a human being first and those human connections --- with spouses, with children, with friends -- are the most important investments you will ever make.

At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend or a parent.”

Entire speech: https://www.wellesley.edu/events/commencement/archives/1990commencement/commencementaddress

 

 

The things you are passionate about are not random, they are your calling

Photo by C T Ong of Penang, Malaysia.

Point to Ponder: Anything that gets your blood racing is worth doing - Hunter S. Thompson

Story Line: Passion lives on even during self isolation as shown below. During last six months, many friends around the world shared some of their activities during the global crisis. Following are some of those:

1. Know your passion. Dream it. Live it: C T Ong is an Engineer working in semiconducor Industry in Penang, Malaysia. During his various business travels, after work hours, he used to follow his other passion; capturing images of places and people. Following two exhibits are some of the marvelous images captured by his lens in his local area during this self isolaton period.

2. When one loves what he does, it is no longer work, it becomes a way of life: Nimish Vyas is a research biologist from Maryland. From childhood he had passion for birds and related ecosystem. He followed that throughout his life; degree, job. During his business trips he spent time in the plane rides drawing pictures of birds. He has continued that passion during the stay@home period.  

3. Follow Your Passion:Photos of unique flowers taken by Lee Min Chong of California, Gordon Ching of Hawaii and Yan Bee Lim of Malaysia.

4. Discover your passion: Wonderful images captured during travels by Nanseng Jeng of Washington, Boon Seng Tan from Oregon, Kim Ocampo from California and Dipankar Bose of Sunnyvale, California.

5. Working hard for something we don't care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion: Mini Vegetable farm of Dave and Analisa Hightower of California and mini fruit orchard of Luisa and Anand Shah.

Fruits of Passion

6. Passion for Nature: Photos from gardens by: Kim Foong Chong Malaysia, Lee Min Chong California, Sharvary Trivedi London, Luisa Shah, Birds enjoying bath by Thad Gardner Oregon and Stunning roses Alankar Naik from North Carolina. 

7. Stunning colors amidst smoke: Photos of noon and evening sun by Anand, Majestic tree by Neil Simpson, Golden Sky over the house by Ray Pineda in California and very smoky Oregon by Mike Goodner.

8. Finding the right work is discovering your own soul in the universe: Childhood love has continued for: writing and acting continues for Rajiv Shah, love for singing  continues for Namrata Shodhan and Hetal Raval of Ahmedabad India and Paintings for Shweta Parikh of Ahmedabad India.

Reflection: Even during this Pandemic, People have continued with or discovered their Passion. And Passion leads one to his/her purpose. 

Bill and Melinda Gates - Let your life be your message

Point to Ponder: “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”

Story Line: What prompted this late reflection are two things. 1.A Facebook post by an old colleague about one article* that covers Bill Gate's contributions to humanity and criticizing the people who are spreading heinous rumors about him. 2. Some mails/messages and phone calls by people inquiring why they did not see Friday Reflection this week. Since our visit to Bill and Melinda Gates Discovery Center in Seattle (must visit) last year, I have been wanting to write about it and this opportunity came up. Eventhough images taken by camera are not of the highest quality, the readers will be able to see the immense contributions of these kind souls to humanity.

Reflection: Images from visit to Bill and Melinda Gates Discovery Center on July 23, 2019.

Talking about the responsibilty and opportunity they have and visit to Africa in Fall of 1993.

Formation of Gates Foundationin 1994: The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others

A Family Affair and Commitment

Saved hundreds of thousands of lives with many healthcare intiatives

Dropped infant mortality rates throughout entire developing world by funding vaccine programs and vaccinating 40,000,000 children for polio.*

Spent 30 years of his life and $50 billion of his own money to support humanitarian causes.*

 

Funded free educational and innovation programs*

 

 

After all these, pledged to donate 90% of remaining wealth to charity. *

Arguably doing more to better life on earth for humanity than any other human being to ever lived*

Let your life be your message - Mahatma Gandhi

 

*article refrenced is by Scott Brynan of Scientific Meme Correction Team on FB. Title: Imagine being Bill Gates right now. It highlights immense contributions of Bill Gates to humanity which are in *captions over some of the abve exhibits and then tells the people who are spreading false rumors about Bill: " You then hop on the internet only to find a million scientifc illerate ....imbeciles that are using very computer Bill Gates pretty much invented in the first place to call you a child murdering arch villian antichrist because they watched a youtube video made by some other yoke!with the comprehension of a ....potato.  

If You Can Think Of It If You Can Dream Of It You Can Achieve It

A Family Project: From Swimming Pool to Koi Pond. And a wonderful ten years journey since. 

June 24, 2010 - 2020.

Happy Father's Day Wishes and Love to You from Your Friday Reflections Family.

Point to Ponder: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Story Line: The video above covers the journey of a family project we started in the spring of 2010. The first part was to remove the high maintenance, low use swimming pool that was occupying majority of our backyard. The second part was to create a Koi Pond with the help of an expert. And the third part was where we enriched the surroundings with varieties of fish, trees, flower plants and other items. What you see in the video is the evolution of surroundings through the years; majestic colors of the landscape through four seasons, reflections of sunlight during different parts of the day, many varieties of plants, flowers, fruit trees and diversity of wildlife (Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Animals and of course Lizards and Garden Snakes. Not to forget manyfriends from various countries have blessed this pond with their presence. People may find hard to believe that this 'not so secret garden' is very low maintenance compared to what it was before the change.

Reflection: Next Wednesday, June 24th is the tenth anniversary of this creation. It has been a wonderful journey full of fun and a lot of learnings about gardening and wildlife. Every member of family was involved; our son and his mother very intensely, me providing the management guidance (lol) and vision for the size of the pond, our son in law and daughter providing vegetable plants and share their deep experience. Some friends also provided flowers and vegetable plants. Many new lessons learnt; here are the top three.

1. Hire the best man for the job, the second best is too expensive. The person who built our pond was professional, knowledgable, responsive, with high degree of integrity and good people working for him. Till today we haven't had any major issues with the pond. 
2. Let things evolve and don't give up too soon. After getting only 5,7 and 6 cherries from 4th to 6th years, I was thinking of removing the tree. My wife suggested to give some more time. I guess the tree heard us and since then we have had years with continuously increasing crops; this year yielded  2000 cherries. Similarly after the drought years, three old evergreen trees looked pale and terrible. Called tree doctor who recommended doing expensive lab analysis and also removal of two out of three. Our gardner suggested to water them a lot and give some tender loving care. Since then those three are blooming with beautiful white flowers every February and early moring sunshine turns them into majestic gold colors. (in video)
3. Maintaining a balanced eco-system is very important. In nature there is a good reason for the way things are. Removing garden snakes created an imbalace that opened up opportunities for frogs and rats to invade the garden. Only when the park ranger saw us dropping a snake in the woods, he educated us about the benefits of garden snakes and their harmlessness. Since then the rats and frogs have moved away.  Garden Snake

Enjoy the video. Happy Weekend. 

Be the energy you want to attract

Points to Ponder: When our minds prioritize others’ peace and happiness, the one who benefits is not just others, but ourselves too.

Story Line: This short story is an excellent example on mindfulness. - Sent by Sujat Shah from India.

Zhao Zi Hao's made it big in business so he spent money buying a piece of land in the suburbs and built a three-storey villa.

He had an impressive swimming pool in the garden with a hundred-year-old Lychee Tree in the backyard to boot. In fact, he bought the property precisely because of this tree. His wife loved eating lychees.

During renovations, his friends urged him to get guidance from a fengshui master, just to tread on the side of caution.

Zhao Zi Hao's never quite believed in Fengshui yet surprising he took the advice to heart and went out of his way to engage a feng shui master from Hong Kong. The Grand Master was non other than Master Cao who's been in the profession for thirty over years, renowned in the Fengshui circle. They had a meal in the city then Zhao Zi Hao drove the Master to the suburbs.

Along the way, when cars behind them tried to overtake, Zhao Zi Hao would simply give way.

The Master laughingly remarked: "Big Boss Zhao, your driving is really safe." He spoke really fluent mandarin for a Hongkie.

Zhao Zhi Hao laughed at the remark: “Usually people who need to overtake have some urgent matter to attend to, so we shouldn't hold them up.

Arriving at a small town the streets grew narrow and so Zhao Zi Hao slowed down.

A giggling child suddenly darted out from an alley and as the child ran across the street, Zao still didn't speed up. Instead, he kept his gaze on the alley, as if waiting for something. Out of the blue, another child darted out, chasing after the child ahead.

Master Zao was surprised and asked: “How did you know there'd be another child following suit?”

Zhao Zi Hao shrugged: “Well, kids are always chasing after each other so it's impossible for a child to be in such glee without a playmate.”

Master Cao gave him a big thumbs up and laughed out loud: “That's really considerate of you!”

Arriving at the Villa, they got down from the car. Suddenly about seven to eight birds flocked from the backyard. Seeing so, Zhao said to Master Cao: “ If you don't mind please wait here for a little while.”

“What's the matter?" Master Cao was taken aback.

"Oh, there's probably some kids stealing lychees in the backyard. If we walk in now we might give them a fright, let's not risk anyone falling off the old Lychee Tree." Zhao replied humorously.

Master Cao stayed silent for a while before stating matter-of-factly: “This home doesn't need a fengshui evaluation anymore.”

Now it's Zhao's turn to be shocked: “Why's that?”

“Any place graced with your presence naturally becomes the property with the most auspicious fengshui.”

When our minds prioritize others’ peace and happiness, the one who benefits is not just others, but ourselves too.

When a person is considerate of others at all times, then this person has unconsciously accomplished Buddhood.

The Buddha is in fact a person who through benefiting others becomes enlightened.

Have a mindful week ahead.

Reflection: Many people view Feng Shui as about things and good fortune but in reality it is about us and the energy we want to transmit. For Zhao Zi; his believes, thoughts and actions were in harmony and radiated positive energy in the universe. In life one gets what one puts out. 

As Master Cao rightfully said " When our minds prioritize others’ peace and happiness, the one who benefits is not just others, but ourselves too."

Always keep in mind that the strongest factor of your Feng Shui is You. - Stefan Emunds

In current times, we found appropriate to repeat this story from November 8, 2018 reflection. 

Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you.

 

Points to Ponder: I was concerned about going out in the world and doing something bigger than myself, until someone smarter than myself made me realize that there is nothing bigger than myself!

Story Line: Recently in a conversation between two adult friends reflecting on their high school years, one of them mentioned: It seems we all turned out well. The other one replied “We would like to think so.” “But…” (What others think of us). It was puzzling especially more so coming from a guy who, per society’s normal measures of success, has incredible accomplishments. That conversation reminded me of Jim Carey’s important tips about life and career that he conveyed to the graduating class of 2014 at Maharishi University.   

Reflection: excerpts from the speech.

Because Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you. How do I know this? I don’t, but I’m making sound, and that’s the important thing. That’s what I’m here to do. Sometimes, I think that’s the only thing that is important. Just letting each other know we’re here, reminding each other that we are part of a larger self.

Now fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much. You can spend your whole life imagining ghosts, worrying about the pathway to the future, but all there will ever be is what’s happening here, and the decisions we make in this moment, which are based in either love or fear.

So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. What we really want seems impossibly out of reach and ridiculous to expect so we never dare to ask the universe for it. I’m saying, I’m the proof that you can ask the universe for it — please! And if it doesn’t happen for you right away, it’s only because the universe is so busy fulfilling my order. Party size!

My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant, and when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job and our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love. It’s not the only thing that he taught me though: I watched the affect my father’s love and humor and how it altered the world around me, and I thought, “That’s something to do, that’s something worth my time.”

The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is. Because everything you gain in life will rot and fall apart, and all that will be left of you is what was in your heart. My choosing to free people from concern got me to the top of a mountain. Look where I am — look what I get to do! Everywhere I go – and I’m going to get emotional because when I tap into this, it really is extraordinary to me — I did something that makes people present their best selves to me wherever I go. I am at the top of the mountain and the only one I hadn’t freed was myself and that’s when my search for identity deepened.

I wondered who I’d be without my fame. Who would I be if I said things that people didn’t want to hear, or if I defied their expectations of me? That peace that we’re after, lies somewhere beyond personality, beyond the perception of others, beyond invention and disguise, even beyond effort itself. You can join the game, fight the wars, play with form all you want, but to find real peace, you have to let the armour go. Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world. Don’t let anything stand in the way of the light that shines through this form. Risk being seen in all of your glory.

I’ve often said that I wished people could realize all their dreams of wealth and fame so that they could see that it’s not where you’ll find you’re going to find your sense of completion. Like many of you, I was concerned about going out in the world and doing something bigger than myself, until someone smarter than myself made me realize that there is nothing bigger than myself!

Are you going to look at a person like me and say, “How could we ever hope to reach those kinds of heights, Jim? How can we make a painting that’s too big for our home? How do you fly so high without a special breathing apparatus?” This is the voice of THE EGO. And if you listen to it, there will always be someone who is doing better than you. No matter what you gain, ego will not let you rest. It will tell you that you cannot stop until you’ve left an indelible mark on the earth, until you’ve achieved immortality. How tricky is this ego that it would tempt us with the promise of something we already possess.

So, I just want you to relax, you know, that’s my job. Relax and dream up a good life!

As far as I can tell, it’s just about letting the universe know what you want and working toward it while letting go of how it comes to pass.

Your job is not to figure out how it’s going to happen for you, but to open the door in your head and when the door opens in real life, just walk through it. And don’t worry if you miss your cue because there’s always door opening. They keep opening. And when I say, “Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you.” I really don’t know if that’s true. I’m just making a conscious choice to perceive challenges as something beneficial so that I can deal with them in the most productive way. You’ll come up with your own style, that’s part of the fun!

You will only ever have two choices: love or fear. Choose love, and don’t ever let fear turn you against your playful heart.

The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember

 

Points to Ponder: If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of others you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.- Mister Rogers

Discovering the truth, about ourselves is a lifetime’s work, but it’s worth the effort. -Mister Rogers

Story Line: The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember

You rarely have time for everything you want in this life, so you need to make choices. And hopefully your choices can come from a deep sense of who you are.

The thing I remember best about successful people I’ve met all through the years is their obvious delight in what they’re doing and it seems have very little to do with worldly success. They just love what they’re doing, and they love it in front of others.

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster”, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers-so many caring people in the world.

It’s very dramatic when two people come together to work something out.  It’s easy to take a gun and annihilate your opposition, but what is really exciting to me is to see people with differing views come together and finally respect each other.

Mutual caring relationships require kindness and patience, tolerance, optimism, joy in other’s achievements, confidence in oneself, and the ability to give without undue thought of gain.

Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.

Reflection: From Mr. Rogers’ speech at Emmy for Life Time Achievement Award*

"So many people have helped me to come here to this night. Some of you are here, some are far away and some are even in Heaven. All of us have special ones who loved us into being. 

Would you just take, along with me, 10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are, those who cared about you and wanted what was best for you in life."

"10 seconds of silence. I'll watch the time. "

"Whomever you've been thinking about, how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they have made.”  

*Entire speech is in the video at the top of this reflection. Thanks to Mary Abel, former colleague and a good friend, for introducing me to this video. It inspired me to write this Friday Reflection; coincidently a day before the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood with Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers is going to be released.

You Can Win It in the Late Innings If You Don’t Quit - Robert Forster

 

Points to Ponder: I don’t care what kind of story you tell yourself, if you know what is truth but do not let that motivate you, you get what you deserve. - Robert Forster

Story Line: Every Life Tells a Story and Every Story has some lessons.

Robert Forster made his Hollywood debut in 1967 movie Reflections in a Golden Eye with two of the greatest; Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor. His performance received praise and what followed was The Stalking Moon with Gregory Peck, and then in 1969, another legendary film Medium Cool. First Five years in Hollywood were thunderous success. But soon after his career hit strong head winds and the age of 30 he was struggling to find movie roles.

"If you deliver excellence right now, that gives you the best shot at the best future you've got coming."- Robert Forster

The next 27 years were an intense struggle. He had to support his four children. In addition to occasional movie roles, he took jobs as a dishwasher, a waiter and railroad worker. In an interview for AARP magazine last October he said: Any job can be raised to the level of an art form, I don’t care what it is. I used to hate washing dishes. I got so good at it now I tell hostesses, ‘Listen, I’ll wash stemware for you, I never break them.’ I used to hate changing babies, and then I had four. I taught them self-respect and satisfaction. If you’re looking for the good life, these are huge components. And you can get them every day by offering your best effort to whatever it is you’re doing. It’s simple."

Who knows at which precise moment your fortune can change?  For those 27 years, every morning Robert used to go to a coffee shop right across from where he lived. One day Quentin Tarantino, Director and Screenplay writer of highly acclaimed film Pulp Fiction walked into the restaurant. Quentin was a fan of Robert since he was a kid. They chatted for a while and the next time Quentin walked in, he offered him a role in his upcoming movie Jackie Brown. Robert was thrilled and for the role of Max Cherry, he received Oscar nomination. That reignited his career. Since then Robert has been in 70 movies and 37 TV shows; and 46 major roles since turning 70. “You put in enough years and every once in a while something terrific comes along,” said Foster in AARP interview “You’ve got to keep sluggin’ until that happens.”

 Everything teaches you something. The job of real life is the job of caring for others. Everything you do in life is superfluous compared to that" - Robert Forster

About 25 years ago Robert started a program called 'Interacting' to share the lessons he had learnt from hard times. Initially it was for actors but through the years the scope expanded to people from all walks of life. Until his last days, he continued to encourage, motivate and help people for free by telling the stories from his life. As he used to say” The Truth is Free. It is BS that costs a lot of money.”

Robert gave his best for any role he played. However, one line from him will stay with me forever: First time I ever played a bad guy. I didn’t want to do it. I got stuck in bad guys for 13 years after that.

Forster once said that when his career was at its lowest ebb, he had what he called an "epiphany." "It was the simple one," he said, "when you realize, 'You know what? You're not dead yet, Bob. You can win it in the late innings. You've still got the late innings, but you can't quit. Never quit.'"

Reflection: Robert left this earth last Friday (October 11), the same day his latest ‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie’ was released. Robert was a genuinely kind, humble, caring soul. Through his many roles in movies and in life, he helped, mentored and inspired many people. He will always live in the hearts he left behind.

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived-This is to have succeeded.”

 

Special Thanks to Brian Landberg for sending Best Story Ever video.