5 Simple Rules For Thriving In Challenging Times

Reading my son, Nathaniel, his bed time story this evening I came across what I'm calling "5 simple rules for thriving in challenging times." In more ordinary times I’d likely have glossed over this wisdom but these are most certainly not ordinary times.

Be Cheerful.
Lesson sorrow and give hope.
Be brave.
Put aside your own feelings.
Don’t give up.

As I learned these “operating instructions” were carried in the pockets of nurses who cared for wounded soldiers during the Civil War. In the most difficult of conditions the nurse’s primary duty was to ease the soldier’s pain and elevate their spirit; to give hope.

As I read the words aloud I hesitated. Then read them again. Nathaniel urged me on, my mind remained, pondering the transcendent nature of these words. Whether 1863 or 2008 this is timeless wisdom for times of crisis—and for life.

The Civil War was a dark time for America—a country divided, a future uncertain. While it’s thankfully no Civil War, today America has once again come upon challenging times. The economy is in crisis and the presidential election has our attention and affection divided.

In a few short days half of us will celebrate, half will be solemn. And yet, whether celebrating or mourning, our work will just be beginning.

Whether you vote red, blue or green, we must come together quickly and recognize that we are on the same team—that you and I are Team USA, literally. And together we’re fighting not just to “get back” to a stable, “good enough,” economy but to fully revive America’s great strength, as a global leader financially, philosophically and in every way.

This is not a “nice to have” option but an obligation to our country, our fellow citizens and mostly to our children—for I am certain that you, no more than I, wish to be the first generation who failed to leave a stronger, more robust country to our children.

Long after you and I are gone, our children’s children will be carrying the seed that we will implant through our actions in the coming weeks, months and years. Many books will be written to convey the lessons of this time. We now get to decide what those lessons will be.

Will they tell of our strength, self reliance, courage and hold this time as a shining example of “the great American way” or will it be something less—a story of compromise, settling for less, surrender; more akin to the fall of Rome?

That is the story that you, I and we are writing NOW. If you ever doubted your importance in human history recognize that how this story ends is as much up to you as it is me or them.

My advice is to aim high, keep your eye on the ball and remember those 5 simple rules that those brave nurses lived by:

Be Cheerful.
Lesson sorrow and give hope.
Be brave.
Put aside your own feelings.
Don’t give up.

For no matter how challenging life can be, in the immortal words of Emerson, "This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it."

Let’s make history and write the story that inspires Americans for generations to come.

Comments

[Mark]

The last rule from that list was omitted:
"Do not forget the ones who love you."