|
My grandfather “Gramps” was 38 years sober when he died. He was 50 when he entered Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and gave himself a second chance.
I think of him especially at this time of year because he looked like Santa Claus: thick white beard, sparkling eyes, round protruding belly, bulbous red nose, and a hearty laugh. I don’t pretend to know what he was like before he was sober, but I am inspired by the person he became after:
But not everyone forgave him. Some people refused to accept the person he had become or see his potential. Their vision was clouded by their experience. In his book Stumbling on Happiness, Daniel Gilbert reflected, “Human beings are works in progress who mistakenly think they’re finished.” We underestimate our capacity to change and grow over time. Unfortunately, we often project this same notion onto others – we interact with people as if they are presenting us with their finished product. We define them by their actions instead of their promise. We gravely dismiss people’s ability or desire to evolve, failing to acknowledge that they, too, are on a learning journey. Every year during this holiday season, people furiously purchase gifts for friends, colleagues, and family – sometimes out of companionship, sometimes out of obligation. What if we also gave people the gift of:
No one needs a gift receipt for hope, validation, and possibility. © 2024. Ann Tardy and MentorLead. www.mentorlead.com. All Rights Reserved. |