In 1984 the great philosopher John Waite once said words that I will never forget. His song went number one that year and I still carry one simple phrase with me today…
I hear your name in certain circles and it always makes me smile.
Let me ask you, what do people say of your name in certain circles?
Does it always make them smile?
Last week I shared something with a friend via direct message. Their response to me made me smile. That’s what we do now. We text. We “DM.” It’s what our kids do too.
Last week, I was within earshot of a conversation about a man that I think might be the worst human being I have ever met. In that conversation they mentioned his name. Even though I wasn’t in that conversation, I was close enough to hear his name and I walked away. I didn’t walk away with a smile.
We have a choice in life.
We make choices in life.
To be clear, I believe the best in every one. I really do. Our best days are still ahead.
The name and man I referred to earlier once told me, upon finding out a great man we both knew was diagnosed with cancer…
“It couldn’t happen to a better guy.”
I have never forgotten that. Hopefully you all will forgive me for walking away when I heard his name in a certain circle. I can’t forget how heartless, cruel, brutal and gutless that statement was.
So think about this today……
What we say in certain circles has weight. It means something. I would rather be mocked for telling people I love them than saying something as awful as “couldn’t happen to a better guy” when a father, and husband found out he had cancer.
I hope when my name is mentioned in certain circles….
It always makes people smile.
AARON CONRAD 