“I believe in my teachers. I show respect for all who help me progress.” ~Stephen K. Hayes, How to Own the World
It is easy, sometimes, to forget the long and treacherous road that brought me to this point in time. The older I get, the more “successful” I become, the more I seem to credit my own merits and a faulty sense of self-satisfaction when I look back at the processes that brought me here. But it is a narrow-minded recollection. Too much self and too little credit is given to the relationships, environments, and mercies that have helped shape me over the years.
When I truly open my heart to a broader vision of the past, I realize I could only exist in this manner through:
- The careful guidance of those willing and able to nurture my development.
- Trial and error of making mistakes or accomplishments and learning from them.
- Those who have presented themselves as rivals or challengers along my path.
- Those whom I have wronged who have extended grace and compassion towards me.
- Extending knowledge by teaching others.
All of these things are teachers in some form. Beyond a formal education, teachers will present themselves throughout life, sometimes unexpectedly. Every moment is an opportunity for learning. It is when I think I know it all, or feel I’ve excelled enough, or have forgotten where I’ve come from that I risk missing out on a more meaningful life.
Life has plenty to teach me. When the teacher presents itself, I will be open to seek the opportunity to learn. This is how I will honor those who have helped me progress.
CH
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