“Good friends make us better people. They cheer us on when we hit bottom and keep us humble when we reach the top.”
-Simon Sinek
It is my hope that you have not only friends, but ones that are considered good friends like author Simon Sinek refers to in today’s quote. I’m happy to say that I think I have been very blessed in my life in the friendships I have had in my lifetime so far. This dates back as far as I can remember: from my childhood to my high school years to college and up to now. Each stage of my life has brought forth the type of people who have helped make me become the person I am today. I’m not even sure they actually even know what they meant to me then or even now. So today’s message of thanks is dedicated to my friends, those from my past, present and future.
Good friends do make us better people. I wholeheartedly believe this. How do you know if you have good friends around you? Simon Sinek says they cheer us on when we hit bottom. This can be personally and professionally. For me personally one memory stands out when my Dad unexpectedly passed away during homecoming week of my Senior year in high school. From the moment I was pulled out of my AP English class to be told the news by my Mom and principal the outpouring of love and support by my friends and even those that I hadn’t been close with prior to this happening was overwhelming. I still remember receiving a card the next morning on the dashboard of my Griswold station wagon from my friend Mike who said, “If you need anything please let me know.” Those eight simple words meant so much. I knew at that point that I was never alone, that I would have a strong support system in this time of need. Professionally, it has to be when I decided to step down as an Administrator in 2009 as I felt I needed to be there more for my wife and daughter as I was missing important moments that were happening due to my job. It was not an easy decision, but again the outpouring of support that was given was more than I could have ever expected. They understood and respected my decision first and foremost but also let me know how much I had meant to them as their colleague. I felt in both of these instances I was at my rock bottom but due to a strong group of good friends they helped me rise above to overcome things in what seemed like my darkest hours.
It is the “keeping me humble part” that completes this good friends’ circle of trust as I call it (and yes I have borrowed the circle of trust concept from Robert De Niro’s character Jack in the movie Meet The Parents). No matter what has happened to me in my life, my friends have never allowed me to ever get as the saying goes “too big for my britches.” Whether it was the first or second stint as an Assistant Principal I have always asked of them to let me know that if I ever forget what it was like in the classroom or treat anyone less than I ever have to call me out on it. I made a promise to them and myself never to go down that wormhole of having a title go to my head and allow it to consume me. And as of this writing it is my sincere hope that they feel that I have kept this promise and have always remained the caring and passionate person they have come to know and also love.
I would not be where I am today without them. I could make a list of who specifically these people are but I fear I’d unintentionally leave someone that should be here off of this list, so I won’t. To all of you out there and you know who your are: you have always been and will continue to be my moral compass. It is because of you that I am here today, writing this blog and hopefully continuing to positively impact the lives of others. Thank you and send you all well wishes now and always.
What does this quote mean to you and how can you apply today’s message towards developing your relationship skills?
Becoming The Change 