Theodore Isaac Rubin

"Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom."

— Theodore Isaac Rubin

American Author

1923 -

For me, this quote challenges much of what I believe.  While knowledge is something I am constantly seeking, wisdom is something I hope to find one day.  Wisdom has always been more important than knowledge and more difficult to reach.  Then Rubin comes along and says that kindness is even more important than wisdom.  When we look back on our lives, most of what we remember are the relationships we developed.  Have you been kind to the people in your life?  Or have you been so absorbed in your art that you have ignored the people in your life?  When I have read the life stories of some artists and writers, I have found some to be mean and cruel to those they love.  But my question is does it have to be this way.  Can an artist or writer be kind and caring to the people in his life?  What do you think?

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Charles Kuralt

"The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines."

— Charles Kuralt

American Journalist

1934 - 1997

Most of the stories one finds in the media create a very negative image of people as greedy, corrupt and immoral.  The truth is that only a small segment of society fits that image.  Most people are by nature kind and generous and go out of their way to help others in their time of need.  

Given the stories that we hear every day, it is easy to lose faith in people and the institutions they manage.  Yet, for every corrupt, greedy person, there are thousands of kind, caring people who shovel the sidewalks of their neighbors, serve food to the homeless and share car rides to work.  Remember most people have good hearts and give of themselves to help others.  Don't let the greedy few distort your view of the world.

Here is an update to one of Charles Kuralt's famous stories about the Chandler family.

  

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Jane Goodall

"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."

— Jane Goodall

British Primatologist/Anthropologist/Author

World's Foremost Expert on Chimpanzees

1934 - 

Are you making a difference?  Are you leaving your small corner of the world a better place than when you found it?  More than 25 years ago, I was fired from a job and immediately put my house up for sale because I knew I would have to move in order to find another job in my field.  A couple weeks later, my wife and I stopped at a nursery and purchased a cherry tree that we planted in the backyard.  Now, we were never going to see this tree grow, but we did it anyway.  I have strong belief that you need to leave a place better than you found it.  You need to give back and that is what I was doing.  On a couple of occasions, I had a chance to revisit this house and I saw that the tree had grown into a beautiful tree. 

In the moments before I speak, I motivate myself by repeating over and over to myself:  "I will touch the life of at least one person.  I will make a difference in the life of one person."  I know I won't touch everyone, but if I am able to motivate one person to be better than he is, then I know I have done my job.  As writers and artists we have the same opportunity to make a difference in people's lives.

I had an opportunity to hear Jane Goodall speak about her work about ten years ago.  My wife, daughter and I drove three hours to hear her speak.  Then we stood in a long line so she could sign a book for my daughter.  We did not arrive home until about 2 am.  Jane Goodall was an inspiration for my daughter.  She made a difference in my daughter's life.  

How are you touching the lives of the people who view your paintings or read your books?  Are you leaving your corner of the world better than you found it?

Watch this video of Jane Goodall and her research.

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Zig Ziglar

"You never know when one kind act, or one word of encouragement, can change a life forever."

Zig Ziglar

American Speaker/Author

1926 -

Words are very powerful.  A few words here or there can change a life.  Who have been the encouragers in your life?  Maybe it was a parent, a teacher, a friend, a child or a preacher? What did they say to you?  How did they touch your life?  How did they change your life?  

Many motivational speakers have inspired me over the years.  Driving to Texas from Illinois in December of 1982 to start a new job, I discovered Zig Ziglar, the grandfather of motivational speaking,  on the radio.  I didn't know who he was or the impact he would eventually have on my life.  I have since met him and seen him on several occasions speak.  The last time I saw him speak was at the 2000 National Speakers Association annual convention in Washington, D.C.  Like many speakers that I enjoy, I have listened to him dozens of times on tape.  I, with his permission, actually tell some of his stories.

One of my favorite Ziglar stories is the story of the man who had an opportunity to visit heaven and hell before he died.  St. Peter asked the man where he wanted to go.  He told St. Peter to take him down to hell.  There he saw a beautiful banquet hall with the finest food and drink you could imagine.  When he looked at the people he saw that they were skin and bones and that they were cursing and swearing at each other.  He told St. Peter to take him up to heaven.  In heaven, he saw the same beautiful banquet hall filled with the finest food and drink.  When he looked at the people, he saw that they were healthy and robust and that they were laughing and singing.  The man asked St. Peter what was going on.  St. Peter responded, "Did you see the silverware."  Strapped to each arm was a four foot fork and a four foot knife.  Now, we all know we can't eat with such large silverware.  The people in hell were so busy getting everything for themselves that nobody got anything.  Up in heaven each person would feed the person across from him and that person would feed him back.  The message is very simple but powerful:  if you help other people get what they need and want you will get everything you need and want.

As creative leaders we have the opportunity to touch the lives of the people we meet through our books, paintings, songs, photographs and stories.  Whose life did you touch today?




Here is Zig Ziglar telling his famous primp the pump story.

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Bernie Siegel

"In the face of uncertainty, there is nothing wrong with hope."

Bernie Siegel

American Author / Physician

As a young writer hope is one of the few things that kept me going.  I would read a story about someone who was 50 or 60 or 7o and he had just published his first novel.  After years of toiling in the salt mines of writing, he found success.  These stories inspired me to keep writing.  I had hope that one day I would be discovered and become successful.  Even today I have that sense of hope, that belief that one day I will be proved right.  Yes, I am a writer.

When we lose hope, we give up on life.  We quit.  Some days all we have is hope.  As the old saying goes: every dark cloud as a silver lining.  We just have to find it — to look at the world with new eyes.  No matter how dark the night, there is always a sunrise.  Everyone faces challenges and difficulties.  The sad thing for me is people who see no way out of a problem but to take their own lives.  Never give up hope for a better tomorrow.

As creative thinkers, we need hope.  We need to believe in ourselves, our ideas, our art.  Have faith that you have been given a gift.  Have faith in your dreams.  Have faith that the sun will rise again.

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Fyodor Dostoyevsky

"It is not the brains that matter most, but that which guides them: character, the heart, generous qualities, progressive ideas."

— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Russian Novelist

1821 - 1881

Think of the stories you have heard of intelligent, educated people who have done evil things.  Intelligence and even education do not make us good people.  It is what is in the heart that matters most.  Are you caring, compassionate and generous?  Your character and nature will show through.  That which lives in your heart will be visible in your art.  

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Isaac Bashevis Singer

"Two important things are to have a genuine interest in people and to be kind to them.  Kindness, I've discovered, is everything in life."

— Isaac Bashevis Singer

Polish Novelist

1902 - 1991

Are you curious about people?  Are you interested in their stories?  Novelists and storytellers need to have a strong interest in people.  To tell a great story, a novelist has to understand people and their motives.  I think the same is true of a portrait artist?  In order to paint someone, an artist needs to see inside the person.  An artist is painting more than the surface.  An artist must paint the heart and soul of a person.  So again, my question:  Do you seek people out and listen to their stories?

The second part of this statement is even more important — being kind to others.  The world is in need of a lot of kindness today.  Kindness must start one person at a time.  I must first be kind before I can expect others to be kind.  Am I kind to those around me?  To family, friends and strangers on the street?  How should I demonstrate my kindness?  How do I show my caring?  Can you be kind without loving the person?  What is the demonstrable difference between love, caring and kindness?  Or are they cut from the same cloth? 

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