Pay It Forward

Two days ago, our family said goodbye to a humble, hard-working, sensitive, soft-spoken man—my Uncle David.

Uncle David was a devout Christian who tried to follow the path of righteousness every day of his life. My uncle practiced random acts of kindness, always lending a hand or giving encouragement. He never expected remuneration for his kindnesses. Instead, he hoped that those he helped would pay it forward, doing good deeds and spreading goodwill to others.

Unassuming and modest, Uncle David would not have wanted accolades. However, because he was such a special person, I wanted to honor him in a way that would best exemplify the way he lived his life. So, in memory of my Uncle David, I am paying it forward.

One Percent

Twenty-four years ago, I had the honor to spend a day with Maya Angelou, a truly phenomenal woman. She was caring and compassionate, eloquent and empathetic. Even though more than two decades have passed, her wit and wisdom impact me still.

These days, with all the violence and vitriol swirling and whirling in our words and our lives, a few more gentle, giving, and gracious souls are needed to negate the negative.