I was reading the other day about the founder of Dollar General, the store...
It was written by the founder’s grandson that had also run the company.
He shares that his grandfather had never finished school. In fact, I believe he had quit school at the age of 11 when his father died and he had to help support the family.
Not finishing school made him a lifelong learner. The founder believed that he was at a disadvantage because he had not had a full education, so he took every opportunity to learn from everyone.
He was a humble man who worked hard and never stopped learning.
I could relate.
While I didn’t have the tragedy of losing my father at a young age, and was, all things considered very fortunate, for various reasons I grew up feeling like an outsider.
I felt inferior in what I knew and how I fit in...
and in many ways that has been my greatest gift in life.
The lack of a sense of worth has made me, I believe, more willing to reconsider everything I believe.
The lack of sense of worth made me observe everyone with great curiosity and interest to figure out what I could Helen from them...
How do they approach the world?
What do they do and how do they do it?
What do they know? read?
It has been the lack of sense of worth the majority of my life, I believe, that has kept my mind open... and hungry.
While it comes with many downsides, I am convinced that my lack of sense of worth has made me so very worthwhile.
I realize now that we are all worthy, but that has been a fairly recent revelation.
It’s amusing and ironic...
My lack of sense of worth has given me a perspective and an approach to leadership and being that I know gives me a tremendous edge... and ability to contribute and live to fulfill my life’s purpose.
It got me thinking...
My father’s disharmony which weighed on me so very heavily for so many years was my greatest gift in seeing, articulating and embracing the tenets of Harmony.
The deep disharmony in my mother and father’s marriage that was so very disturbing growing up was the greatest gift and motivator in creating and living a different and more meaningful and joyful existence than they lived...
Its ironic...
I am not suggesting I am perfect in any way...
Nor am I trying to pass judgement...
I am grateful for my parents and sad that they struggled as they did...
And, their struggle became in many ways my struggle...
for the majority of my life...
but those hardships and struggles...
they not only defined me,
but liberated me,
evolved me...
Those things which at one point felt like my nemesis, my cross to bear, my disfortune...
where actually wonderful, meaningful gifts that transformed me and my life...
I am amazed by how differently I am able to understand them and appreciate them now...
It makes me wonder...
what other unwrapped gifts do I have left to open...
what are the hardships in my life now that will provide me with the greatest strengths and wisdom as I continue to evolve?
what unwrapped gifts
are you unable to see right now
that will bring you great clarity and joy...
what
suffering
remains
tightly
wrapped...
What aspect of my life that I today reject... will I learn to appreciate and love?
What aspect of your life?
I wonder...
in Harmony,
Nestor