Tuesday; June 27

According to one of those “This Day In History” lists, on this day in 1991 Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall resigned from the United States Supreme Court. Justice Marshall had become the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States when it opened its 1967 session. Much can be said about Marshall, but I want to focus on one of his statements, “None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody – a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns – bent down and helped us pick up our boots.” Americans have grown up with the notion that the pathway to success begins with hard work and self-reliance. While this is important, we must not overlook the impact others have made on us. Being self-made is a misnomer that belittles the influence others have had in our lives. Competence may help us sustain our opportunities, but often the thing that opens the doors is the influence others have had in our lives.

Fully realizing this truth requires a few things. First, we must acknowledge those who have helped us in the past. Understanding the support we received teaches us to avoid pride and arrogance. Second, we should thank others for the influence they have had in our success. Giving them credit keeps our lives balanced. Finally, we need to assist others in their journey. The help we have gotten in the past provides the foundation for us to pay it forward into the next generation.

Let’s be thankful for what we have and appreciative of what we have accomplished, but let’s never forget the shoulders upon which we stand. When we reach out to others we are reminded of those who have had a hand in our development.

Think About It!

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