Greetings from My Mountain Cabin,
A few days ago, I returned from two speaking engagements, the annual conferences of the Louisiana Association for Healthcare Quality in New Orleans and the West Virginia Health Care Association in Charleston. A bit butt-sore (airliner seats are not the most comfortable for my skinny behind), it is nice to be back home. Time to decompress, dig out from under a pile of email messages in my in-box, and get back in the groove writing my second book.
Both conferences were special in their own way. I had an opportunity to meet and interact with some marvelous people—new friends with whom I will no doubt be in contact for the indefinite future.
Years ago I felt as if my life consisted of many very different elements with only tenuous commonality. I saw much of what I was doing to not be in keeping with a central theme. What truly was I about? University professor? Healthcare consultant? Father and husband? Spiritual pilgrim? Keynote speaker? Interpretive naturalist? Workshop Facilitator? Mentor and counselor?
I concluded I would be well-served by writing a Personal Mission Statement. I saw such a declaration as being important in tying together seemingly scattered targets of energy. To my surprise, the resulting simple sentence seemed to actually be a virtual umbrella for all of my already existing endeavors.
My mission statement was and is:
"My purpose in life is the elevation of the human spirit—to ease the burden of those in physical, mental or spiritual disharmony by helping them encounter the magic and wonder of their being."
I was recently having a conversation with my neighbor, Gary, when I made the observation that my keynote addresses are like the menu one would find in a Chinese restaurant (I know this is going to sound politically incorrect. Deal with it.) If you order #3 or #17, you are going to get the same food; it is just arranged differently on your plate.
My keynotes are essentially the same, no matter the topic. Standing at a podium, my message is always one of self-empowerment; an invitation for listeners to embrace joy, hope and optimism as important ingredients in the "elevation of the human spirit."
I think (in all humility) my approach is working. My wife, Annette, says there will be always at least one person in my prospective audience who will be in attendance because s/he had a profound need to hear my words. And that has proven true time and time again. Nothing happens by chance. Coincidence is when Spirit chooses to remain anonymous.
(As an aside, you know who you are, special persons in New Orleans and West Virginia. I am honored to have helped you walk in the light.)
I invite you to write your own Personal Mission Statement. In the hurried confusion of modern-day life, such a compass may help you decide if you are remaining on course or drifting away from that which offers you the greatest fulfillment.
Be well, do good work, keep in touch,
Ed
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