A Tribute To Acts Of Selflessness And Greatness

Trancending my own prejudices.

I am not a golf fan. I love football but disliked Dobler as a player. I do recognize the difference between a sports or celebrity persona and a real person. I also recognize when people reach out to others in time of need greatness is born. Phil Mickelsen obviously is a man of tremendous humility and does not want to call attention to his act of kindness for all the right reasons. I am exploiting his selflessness out of selfishness.

My confession.

I admit I am using the Mickelsen-Dobler situation to make a point. The point is a theme I have long crusaded for throughout my life. People do not need to have a reason to reach out to others in need except because they want to. In my published story, “A Holiday Legacy”, the theme was even when you have nothing you have something to give. As I wrote in “Giving A Celebrity Notice For What Everyday People Do?” lesser minded celebrities get more notice for lesser acts of humanity. This was an act of extreme selflessness. It is an example of the power of the heart to reach out to someone in a time of need. We can’t all pay for the college tuitions of the “Holli Doblers” of the world, but we can give extend them a hand. What Phil Mickelsen did was not about having money. It was about having pride, heart, and a conscience.

In the same league on a different field of play

I came across a person who complained about the conditions he was forced to work in while performing a community service at a local shelter. In his rant he made it sound like he was complaining because he was forced to volunteer. As we communicated I discovered his complaint was not about the job but about what the so-called volunteers that came before him had left him with. His predecessors were careless and belligerent about their work performance. More than likely, they were people who volunteer to say they volunteer and not really do much of anything. My friend, who chooses to be anonymous, was left to do double the work. In fact, because of the prior crew he stayed longer to make sure the job was done right.

To my bear of a friend and to the Phil Mickelsen’s of the world, I say thank you for giving us the opportunity to know of you. I thank you for your silent humility and for making the world a better place for someone else. I thank you for being a leader by example and not be the accolades your deeds might bring.