Verbosity does not an extraordinary or awesome personage make. A person who can utter words with long-windedness beyond the scope of another man, or who can write without ever running the inkwell dry, is not for all intents and purposes the wiser, nobler or better man. Rather, he is quite possibly, through juxtaposition of an outlet for his over usage of vocabulary and his use of another's thoughts, one who can fool the feeble-minded into adoration of his self because of a false perception that he holds a vast wealth of knowledge. Should such a man actually possess an abundance of book knowledge, and at the same time be able to spew forth such with a certain lilt of the tongue, there is no proof therein that such a man has ever in his life, not even once, experienced any practical aspect of that about which he speaks. While the benefit of good vocabulary and a flowing pen is not to be belittled, the pen is mightier than the sword only in the mind of a man who has not experienced what life has to offer.
It is the doer of deeds who knows of what he speaks when he orates or writes based upon his life's experiences rather than basing his words upon knowledge gained only from a book or from second hand sources. This is the man who has lived a life about which it is worth telling tales. This is the man to whom I would lend my ear. This is the man whose words I would read with eagerness. This is the is the man who's opinion I might value so long as it is within the values that I cherish. This is the man with whom I could join in life's daily celebration. This is the man whom I would choose as a friend. This is the man who I would see as an equal, or even as a superior and possibly as a leader. This is a man who has tasted life and its overabundance of gritty soil along with its fleeting moments of joy and worthy accomplishment. This is a man among men, a truly noble being. This is the company I prefer, and this is what I have striven to become. How do you live your life, by word of mouth or by course of action?
Whether or not I have achieved the goal(s) I have set for myself, or whether or not you have achieved yours, will not be determined by mere self examination. Self examination, while of great importance in guiding us throughout our lifetimes is all to often marred by shameless self pity, pomposity, narcissism, and the ambition to reach a certain desired end. Therefore, any lasting and worthy examination of our lives, and any value derived from our living them, must, in the long term, be made given credence by someone other than ourselves. This is true whether or not such comes about within our lifetime, and whether or not we as a particular persons are even remembered for having lived as we did. In the end our names, and our achievements, are usually forgotten over the long term. It matters not that we are either remembered or forgotten, but instead that we have through practical example imparted to another our experience and values so that at least one other person will carry on in our stead upon our having parting from the world. Should that one other person influence just one other soul, who then in turn does likewise, we may well have contributed to a chain that can last throughout eternity. Can you, even for a moment, fathom the import of having done such? Live life as best you can, live it as person who can, and who will, make a difference for the betterment of mankind. Even though your words be important, base your life not merely upon words, but upon the deeds you have performed, the tasks you have completed, the trials you have withstood, the good you have done. While your life's works might not make a noticeable difference during your lifetime, they may make all the difference in the world somewhere far down the road, even if your footfalls have long since been heard by anyone traveling along the same path as did you.
All the best,
Glenn B
