Lighten up Francis (Stripes)

Over the years, I have tried to share and exercise positive examples with my staff.  One thing I've done, and no pun intended, is to implement "One Thing" sharing.  My entire staff is encouraged to share, One Thing, any day, any time, of one thing that has made a positive difference to them.  As a team, we can share, one, One Thing per day...  I don't want to overwhelm folks with too much, nor take away from they work day too much...  thus, if one staffer sends out a One Thing message to all and you have one too...  you hold on to yours until tomorrow...  unless it is so darn good you just can't hold it in any longer, then send it along for others to enjoy and contemplate.  There are no limits on the subject...  it might be a work thing, it might be about little league...  as long is there is a positive message, thought or insight that could lead us to be better than we are today.

There are so many good examples, but this one, that was shared today, sad as it seemed as I read it, did make me smile.  I hope it does the same for you and we all follow the imortal words from the movie Stripes and "Lighten up Francis".

The Funeral

Time is like a river. You cannot touch the water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again. Enjoy every moment of life.

As a Bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Nova Scotia back country.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do,
so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played "Amazing Grace", the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished, I packed up my bagpipes and started
for my car. Though my head was hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothing like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

Apparently I'm still lost....it's a man thing.

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I hope that's One Thing that will bring a smile to your day and lighten your load.  #Yay