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My last 50 years many might say I spent as an ordinary person. Probably like most of you. I never made a lot of money, wasn't elected to public office, never played professional sports, never held a high church office, never invented anything that changed the world or saved a life. My list of accomplishments over the past 50 years may mirror your own. I simply tried to do what many of you have probably done to make your way in this uncertain world. Does this make me or you of no special quality or interest; commonplace; unexceptional; ordinary? My accomplishments and yours isn't the list itself, but the amount of work, worry and stress that I and you put into building it. Throughout the past 50 years I have fought battles with fear, depression self doubt and discouragement, however, I always kept trying.
I met and married my sweetheart Nancy Rose. We have been married for 41 years. Together we raised two children Brooke and Ryan and created wonderful memories. Our two kids and their spouses gave us six grandchildren. I found solace in playing with my children and grandchildren, participating in or attending their events.
Nancy and I worked hard to financially support our family and try to achieve our dreams. Some years were good other years not so good. Often the obstacles of fear, self doubt and discouragement loomed over us like a mountain. However, we simply did what most of you have done, we found a way and struggled over the mountain. We focused on the needs of each other, our children and their spouses and our grandchildren. Together we paid our bills and saved what we could for the retirement years. We built the house of our dreams, paid a mortgage for 30 years, kept our yard impeccably manicured, the house well maintained and kept our cars clean and full of gas.
We were good neighbors, concerned about others and strove to bring love and laughter into others lives.
None of us should be measured by our list of accomplishments. The author Orison Swett Marden said it best: "Success is not measured by what you accomplish but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds." Each one of us have had struggles and have faced demons over the past 50 years, it's been our ability to overcome that makes us all extraordinary.
