Halloween ends and Autumn begins

I suppose that tomorrow I must tear down what few Halloween decorations we put up.  The air-filled Tigger in the front yard, a few signs, and a handful of spooks and goblins strewn about.

As another week concludes and another corner is turned, the season seems to represent perfectly some of the loss and fear that many people are feeling with regard to the economy, their savings, and their future.  Times are tough, no one is immune, and the 'end' is uncertain.

I am reminded of a wonderful quote, most recently spoken by Michael Jordan several years ago when he said, "Tough times don't build character -- they reveal it."

Indeed.

As leaders -- of organizations, communities, families -- we must carry on.  We must keep our chin up, our back flexible, and our faith strong.  People are counting on us, just as we count on them.  Remember the ancient Japanese proverb, "One stick is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle."

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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

                                                                                                                                                                        Teddy Roosevelt 

 

Now take to the arena.