Trustworthiness

Friends heading to sea today to spread ashes of a loved one

“The smallest good is infinitely greater than the grandest promise..”  - Macauley

“The only true decisions are the ones made with our hands and feet.”

     There is an old riddle about three frogs basking in the sun on a log in a pond.  One of the frogs makes a decision to jump into the water.  How many frogs are left on the log?  The answer is three.  Without action a decision is nothing more than a glorified intention, and we have all heard about the road to hell being paved with good intentions.  Our minds are fascinating things, and we can convince ourselves that we have done something when all we have done is to ponder it and engaged in wishful thinking. 

     There are many things that can help with this, but for me there are several that are particularly useful.  One is a “to-do” list.  If I train myself to jot down at the end of the work day those items that need attention, not only do I forget fewer things but the very notation on the page is a cue for action.  Rolling this list over day to day helps me see where I am procrastinating or lacking.  Another is forcing myself into accountability to people around me. The outside observer is much quicker to spot patterns of self-deceit, and those around me are usually willing to point out my inadequacies.  Giving them permission just takes the sting out of it.  And finally, taking the last few minutes of the day to review the day, looking for where I did well, where I was lacking and looking for any corrections I need to make helps not only to stay on track with what I am actually doing, but as a bonus the more that is off of my mind and on paper, the quicker to sleep and the more restful the night. 

Today, may I remember that lasting trust only materializes from trustworthiness.  D.Emch

All have a great Sunday

David