Nobility and Character

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Nobility is the quality of being noble in character, mind, birth or rank   Synonyms include virtue, goodness, honor, and decency.

Character is the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.

For me, nobility and character mean that in the toughest of times, you do the RIGHT thing.

Being noble and having good character does not mean that you never make mistakes, but it is defined as in the toughest of times, being counted on to do the RIGHT thing.  And what enables you to make the RIGHT decision is an internal motivation that is greater than yourself and your personal needs.

Two legends were laid to rest this week, Aretha Franklin and John McCain.

Oh, the lessons their lives shared!

Nobility and Character.

Ms. Franklin was born of the church and of the Civil Rights era, she embodied an ideal vision for America.

Senator McCain was born into Navy nobility.

Both came to know privilege.  But for these icons, equality did not feel like oppression.  Even if something was not a problem for them personally, they owned that it was still a problem, and they committed themselves to do something about it.

They were not self-important, arrogant, or pompous.

They were great people who were reinforced with achievements that were widely recognized.

They were people stiffened by failures and successes that they learned from.

They were strengthened by the opportunities and journeys that they experienced.

They were ‘BUILT-UP,’ not ‘PUFFED-UP’.

As we learn from Ernest Hemingway, today is only one day in all the days that will ever be, but what will happen in all the other days will depend on what you do today.

I thank these great icons for the lessons we learn from their lives and for the additional day that will determine the rest of our days.

Rest in peace to Ms. Franklin and Senator McCain.

You taught us about nobility and character.