The Power of Choice
A number of years ago I heard a powerful story about motivation. I don't remember where I heard it or even if it is a true story or not, but it perfectly exemplifies the human ability to transcend circumstances.
My memory of it is fuzzy, so here's my version ... with a twist.
A reporter decided to follow up on an incredible human interest story after hearing of two brothers, one a vicious, dangerous criminal to be locked up for the next ten years for his latest crime, and the other a highly respected university professor.
After the arrest of brother number one, he told the police about his brother, his closest living relative.
After the police discovered who brother number two was, a reporter was given the tip that this could be an interesting story.
Upon interviewing both men at length, the reporter learned that their father was a brutal man. He was a hard drinker. And his brand of teaching his boys "right from wrong" involved terrible verbal abuse no matter where they happened to be. When they "got out of line," he hit them with belts, his fists, sticks--whatever was handy.
They both told almost identical stories of extreme cruelty. Neither one was exempt from the old man's anger and drunken rage.
While the boys were 19 and 20 respectively, their father died of a massive heart attack. Shortly afterwards, the brothers had a falling out and never saw each other again - brother number one moved out of state and sort of fell off the face of the earth ... living his life between jail terms.
Brother number two graduated from college and followed a designed path to living a rewarding life of service to his community, his church and his family.
The thing that practically knocked the reporter over was both brothers' identical answer to the same question.
After getting the background on both individuals, the question was, "How did you get here to this point in your life?"
The two answered the question with this same response:
"With a father like mine, how could I be any different."
One used his father as an excuse, while the other used him as motivation - as training on what not to do.
You see, it's not what happens to you in life that dictates where you'll go and who you'll be. It's what you do with it.
From Mike Brescia, Laser Life Lessons, http://www.thinkrightnow.com
Source: Weekend Encounter, by Dick Innes, Copyright 2003, http://www.actsweb.org/subscribe.htm
From http://www.witsandwisdom.org
Used with permission
Categories: daily-thoughts motivation perspective attitude choice
My memory of it is fuzzy, so here's my version ... with a twist.
A reporter decided to follow up on an incredible human interest story after hearing of two brothers, one a vicious, dangerous criminal to be locked up for the next ten years for his latest crime, and the other a highly respected university professor.
After the arrest of brother number one, he told the police about his brother, his closest living relative.
After the police discovered who brother number two was, a reporter was given the tip that this could be an interesting story.
Upon interviewing both men at length, the reporter learned that their father was a brutal man. He was a hard drinker. And his brand of teaching his boys "right from wrong" involved terrible verbal abuse no matter where they happened to be. When they "got out of line," he hit them with belts, his fists, sticks--whatever was handy.
They both told almost identical stories of extreme cruelty. Neither one was exempt from the old man's anger and drunken rage.
While the boys were 19 and 20 respectively, their father died of a massive heart attack. Shortly afterwards, the brothers had a falling out and never saw each other again - brother number one moved out of state and sort of fell off the face of the earth ... living his life between jail terms.
Brother number two graduated from college and followed a designed path to living a rewarding life of service to his community, his church and his family.
The thing that practically knocked the reporter over was both brothers' identical answer to the same question.
After getting the background on both individuals, the question was, "How did you get here to this point in your life?"
The two answered the question with this same response:
"With a father like mine, how could I be any different."
One used his father as an excuse, while the other used him as motivation - as training on what not to do.
You see, it's not what happens to you in life that dictates where you'll go and who you'll be. It's what you do with it.
From Mike Brescia, Laser Life Lessons, http://www.thinkrightnow.com
Source: Weekend Encounter, by Dick Innes, Copyright 2003, http://www.actsweb.org/subscribe.htm
From http://www.witsandwisdom.org
Used with permission
 | Precious Memories |
Categories: daily-thoughts motivation perspective attitude choice
posted by Danny Sutanto @ 6:59 AM
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