-
In the Face of Resistance
There are three paths when facing resistance…stay the course, adjust, or abort. If you spend any time with groups of humans, you are bound to be greeted with resistance. From mild indifference to out right opposition, we humans often disagree. When choosing how to go (boldly) forward, we can turn to the 23rd century engineer-cum-philosopher, Montgomery “Scotty” Scott of the USS Enterprise for wisdom… I’m giving it all she’s got, Captain! First choice, stay the course. This may feel like the most natural approach at times. After all, when you’re right, you’re right, right? Other people just need to get in line with your logic. Maybe. Or maybe not. Even when we think…
-
Dig Deep. Stand Tall.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Stand a little taller.” – Stronger, Kelly Clarkson
-
Deep Roots
“I am Groot.” – Guardians of the Galaxy Walking through our neighborhood this week, my son pointed out a half-moon shape cut out of the edge of the sidewalk. He was curious as to why the sidewalk would be shaped that way. I explained that a large tree had probably grown there, and the force of the roots had buckled the original walk. A new sidewalk had been poured to accommodate the trunk. Like trees, sometimes the most visible parts of us are not our strongest. While leaves play a central role in the growth of a tree, without an established root system, a sapling will fall in a storm. Our…
-
The Force
“Luminous beings are we…not this crude matter.” – Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back Who wasn’t enthralled by the Star Wars movies growing up? The decade in which you were born dictates which trilogy first captured your attention. While the franchise itself is cinematically exceptional in its own right, it would never have made the cultural impact it has if it weren’t for the fundamental human struggle that is represented in each installment. Not one of the characters central to the plot is exempt from some internal discord or, at the very least, dissonance between behavior and beliefs. It is this tension that makes the stories so accessible and beloved. And no one…
-
What Would The Hulk Do?
The Hulk always wins. Whether the challenge is facing a super villain or answering the question, who is your favorite superhero? In my book, The Hulk always wins. But, would Dr. Bruce (David) Banner agree? One of the reasons I have long appreciated the Hulk is that his “human” struggles are obvious and visceral. We may wrestle internally with anger or struggle to express our feelings appropriately showing only a flicker of frustration through a clenched jaw or closing a kitchen drawer with a bit too much force. The green guy has virtually no self-control. He always goes for the SMASH! There are few better illustrations of the effect of anger on us that Banner and…
