Learning from the Past

Ways to make life better for yourself and others.

I am showing a photo of a wall to an ancient cemetery in my home town. It separates us from those who have passed away a long time ago. The separation with those stones represents the distance from us today to those who came before us. Sir Isaac Newton, and others at earlier dates, said that we stand on the shoulders of giants. This means that we build our lives today with the knowledge and wisdom of those who have found out good ways, best practices, by which to live. Many times these hard earned lessons fail to go beyond their time and we are unable to use the valuable jewels of life to lift us.

Some of these traits are in science and technology, making work easier and offer us a better quality of life. Other traits have been more subtle, more hidden from plain view; these are the best practices that people present in character. That is, they may display talents like good will, or helping one’s neighbor or withstanding a frightening challenge to make a difference.

By highlighting what I call Profiles in Character I wish to recognize people who have increased the quality of life for our current citizens of the world. They have helped us improve.

For me, an emotional moment was seen in the movie Saving Private Ryan, where the old man, standing at the graves of those who died to save him 50 years before, asks his wife and family: “Tell me that I am a good man.” He wants to be reassured that he was worthy of the sacrifice that others made for him. I hope that this venture can be of value to those who may join me here, and help to enhance the lives of those coming after us.