Hope - The Human Condition: Inattention

By Alan Weiss

I’m an optimist. We who live here, in America, reside in the greatest experiment in freedom and liberty in the history of the planet. We are basically a good people, albeit not perfect, and we have shed our blood for those in other lands, we have provided innovation and resources, health care and safety. I’m sometimes disappointed in our foreign and domestic policies, but I’m never embarrassed by our system or what it represents. I’m deeply appreciative that, as an accident of birth, I live here, I’ve prospered here, and I can help others here.

As we age, our horizon grows closer. There is less distance to travel, less room to maneuver, but if we are energetic and inventive, there remains more than enough space to create meaning. I don’t know if people are as disturbed and frightened by death as they are by what they realize they’ve left undone. A legacy doesn’t begin when you die, it began when you were born.

I believe optimism is contagious and infectious, and I’ve opted to be a carrier. I think life is exciting, every day and, if it isn’t, it’s our fault for enduring the unhappiness.

The Chinese say that death comes to everyone, but it varies in its significance. I know that prior to death our life is a about meaning. But not “finding” meaning. Our calling is to create meaning. That’s what I’ve intended to do over these 200 issues, create some meaning that may be of help in your lives. I want to thank you for tagging along. I hope you’ll consider reading the next 200.

But I need to stop writing now, because the dogs and I see an empty gate that we absolutely must run through together.

Best, Alan.

Alan is a friend, colleague and international business consultant ■