Thursday, July 1, 2010

CHEERING CHANGE OR CONSISTENCY

Two vastly different sets of words may distinguish today's generations from earlier ones. Without imposing any value-judgments, they are: Change & Challenge! Consistency & Commitment!

Today's generations were born into a state of change where the subsequent challenges have made life a skittish journey. The young travel with the cliffs of uncharted disaster on one side and the slopes of extraordinary opportunity on the other. If you like drama, this is the time to be born.

Earlier generations were surely not without drama, but the rates of change were considerably slower. As a consequence, values like consistency and commitment made more sense. And so consider 95-year-old Chester Arthur Reed of Redlands, California....!

Chester is the oldest postal worker in the nation. After 37 years years of faithful service, Chester is retiring this month. His sense of consistency and commitment blinks like a marquee for all the young to see. Not only the same job for 37 years, but never took a single sick day off work. Chester started and finished his career without a blemish on his record.

A record not likely to be challenged by any newcomers soon. In this career or any other. Of course while some cheer this kind of "devotion," others can sigh "how dull." Take your pick! Only know this. Chester is not retiring without something to pass on to both the cheerers and the sighers: "I've stayed healthy all these years from a daily diet of watermelon, alkaline water, and onion sandwiches with mayo."

I may not like your menu, Chester, but I do like your style. Congratulations from one of the cheerers.....

1 comment:

  1. When I grow up I want to be like Chester. Content and old

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