Schadenfreude

In 1994 I wrote an article called "Tips For Success". I found it Thanksgiving morning looking for something else. I was these boys' father's age back then. Kurt, their Dad, was their age. Thanks for spending time with your kids Kurt. Thanks for your favorite view of the day Emily.

Success is doing the best you can with the options or assets you're given. Brynn helped Grandpa put up the old Christmas tree we found in an abandoned house Mark was cleaning up last year. We had a tree like this when I was a kid. They were popular in the 1950s and 60s.

Be Generous. Back then my article had 10 tips on how to succeed. I'd like to share them with you this morning. The pictures of our work week might have to speak for themselves so this don't get long winded. Thanks for this picture Doug. Mike is volunteering his time and mulcher at Developing Great Relationships future retreat site.

Be a Person of Vision. See further than tomorrow. Believe in something. See the big picture. Don't have tunnel vison. And don't worry about nit-picky details.

Have the Right Kind of Outlook. Stay positive. Help folks feel better about themselves. Don't complain. Compliment others. 

Always be Willing to Learn. Never lose your curiosity. Be willing to grow. Don't be a know it all. Know how to handle mistakes.

Be Persistent. Never quit. Thanks Jim, Jon, Pablo, Matt, and others for continuing to haul grain. This pays the obligations and helps us prepare for next year.

Know How to Love. Yourself-have self esteem and stick up for what you believe. Your family-be comfortable in telling your spouse and kids you love them. Your friends-know how to express your affection in an appropriate way. Sometimes a hug or other times a helping hand. Your country-we were blessed to watch our flag unfold over a football field and listen to our national anthem at an NFL game last week.

Know How to be Yourself. Don't always try and impress folks. Don't be something or someone you're not. Thanksgiving afternoon we continued our tradition of shooting clay pigeons. All ages from 7 to 70 participated. Below the grandkids are playing Annie-Oakley. 

Know how to laugh. You can't laugh and worry at the same time. This was the scene at our farm shop on Friday morning after Thanksgiving. We enjoy each others company at early morning coffee when it's too cold for NH3 or chiseling and do our share of laughing, often at each other. 😊

Know How to Forgive. Pray every day for a rival. Don't keep score. Learn to live unoffended. Kurt and I had to take the bean head off on Tuesday when a log got in the feederhouse custom combining re-replant bottom soybeans. They were planted in late July.

Schadenfreude is a German word. I couldn't find one in English. It means taking pleasure in others' failures. Feeling good at others' misfortune is NOT a way to succeed. However it's something we're all tempted to do at times. One thinks they will feel better about themselves when others' stumble. It's artificial, temporary, and definitely not Christ-like. Be authentically and genuinely happy when others succeed.