strengths that connect us and provide meaning
Transcendence is more than mere knowledge. It refers to refers to strengths that connect us and provide meaning. For instance, appreciating beauty, expressing gratitude, having hope for a better future, finding the funny in life, and having a sense of purpose
Goals
To critically assess …
- The meaning of appreciation, gratitude, hope, and spirit
- How these virtues inspire others, such as contentment and joy
- Ways related words of wisdom guide appropriate action
- How to resolve realistic scenarios based on wisdom in the topics
Appreciation
Appreciation refers to the ability to recognize and take pleasure in what is physically or socially good, such as the arts.
Appreciation is recognizing worth or desirable qualities.
- For example, the patron left a large tip to show appreciation for the waiter’s prompt service.
- Everything has its beauty, but not everyone can see it.
Work and play are the same things under different conditions.
- Something for nothing is often worth it.
- Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.
Attitude is the outlook or way of feeling that a person shows in his or her behaviour.
- For example, a smile and greeting of ‘good morning’ suggest a cheerful attitude.
- Attitude + aptitude = altitude.
If you cannot change facts, try adapting your attitude.
- Enthusiasm without knowledge is like running in the dark.
- Eyes will not see when the heart wishes to be blind.
Beauty is that which is pleasing by sight or sound.
- Similar terms are associated with other senses, such as a delicious taste, comfortable feeling, or delightful fragrance.
- Beauty is mind deep, such as the rich hues of a sunset or a tune that makes your feet tap.
Aesthetics is more presentation than representation.
- Art does not reproduce the original; rather it makes it visible.
- You are unique — just like everyone else.
Wonder is a feeling of surprise mingled with marvel, an experience of being astonished and delighted.
- For example, fireflies were wonderful to watch as they drew lines on the summer night.
- Imagination is intelligence having fun.
Some things have to be believed to be seen.
- A mind stretched to a new idea never retracts to its original size.
- Anticipating is more fun than recollecting.
Based on the Wisdom in this Topic
Case of Would-be Butler
What wise words might help a young man assess his aspiration to be a butler?
- BROTHER. I grew up fascinated with the role of butler as portrayed in the media. In comic books, there was Alfred Pennyworth to aid Batman and Cadbury to help Richie Rich. Higgins in the old time radio series was wise, but snooty. Sitcom butlers seem more personal, like Niles in The Nanny or Mr. French from Family Affair.
- SISTER. My brother wants to become a professional household manager. He has little related experience beyond working part-time in a hotel kitchen. I think he’d look like Lurch from The Addams Family and sound like Rosie, the robot maid to The Jetsons. Taunts aside, his mind is made up. He is determined to learn as he goes.
Case of the Drawn Hands
Can an imitation be beautiful, or is that seen in the eye of the beholder?
- TOUR GUIDE. Beauty was a factor for the walking tour at the art gallery. Tourists had an opportunity to make a painting, applying techniques I mentioned along the way. Each tourist found the task challenging, but ultimately they all enjoyed playing with paint.
- PATRON. I enjoyed the tour and was impressed with a lithograph of two hands drawing each other. I wanted to convey the earthiness of a farmer with a sketch of just the farmer’s hands. It was frustrating, not being able to make the hands as realistic as those in the lithograph.
Case of Right Angle Ride
What wisdom might guide an amusement park in offering wonder on demand?
- PARK OWNER. The problem with rides is that they are become predictable. I want something both beautiful and baffling time after time. By capturing their wonder, I capture their wallets.
- DESIGNER. I made roller coaster ride “at right angles to reality.” It sends the cars through tunnels with random video on surrounding walls so images jump out in 3D without special spectacles.
Gratitude
Gratitude is joy and thankfulness in response to receiving a gift.
Contentment is being happily satisfied with what one has.
- For example, the country mouse, eschewing the hustle and bustle of city life, found contentment in returning to the slower pace of rural life.
- Success is getting what you want; happiness, wanting what you get.
Live each moment, for these are the good old days.
- May you live all the days of your life.
- There is no time like the pleasant.
Honour is esteem or recognition for one’s importance, integrity, or achievement.
- For example, as a matter of honour, the drill sergeant would never ask recruits to do what he was not willing to demonstrate himself.
- If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
A good reputation is won by many acts and lost by one.
- Actions are the best interpreters of intentions.
- The reward of a thing well done, is to have done it.
Gratitude is showing appreciation, being thankful, acknowledging a benefit one has or will receive.
- For example, we’re thankful that all of you could make it here for the memorial service; it means a lot to the family.
- Sorrow complements joy, as a rainbow needs rain and sunshine.
Appreciation requires awareness, understanding, and respect.
- Celebration is a way of appreciating.
- Memories are a second chance at happiness.
Based on the Wisdom in this Topic
Case of Lawns at Odds
Which words of wisdom apply to two neighbours contented for opposite reasons?
- NOEL. I am rather fastidious about the lawn: mowing, raking, and removing any weeds. My grass is predictably lush and full. When autumn leaves blow across the yards, I set about raking them up. Leon and I get along, although he wastes the moment.
- LEON. I’m a bit lackadaisical. My yard has dandelions and patchy crabgrass, but I prefer to spend the day on the deck with a good novel. Why rake the leaves in autumn when the wind will do the work? Noel and I get along, although she wastes the moment.
Case of Dr. Feel Fine
What words of wisdom would you offer the physician who so wants to be liked?
- PHYSICIAN. I practiced family medicine in a small town for years, but wanted a bigger challenge. When my daughter married the son of the university’s regent, I leveraged this social connection to become team doctor for university’s major sports teams.
- INVESTIGATOR. The physician liked to be liked. In a bid for popularity among the players, he distributed steroids and pain relievers without prescription. Some athletes tested positive for banned substances. A scandal ensued and the doctor was caught up in it.
Case of the Rare Bird
Gratitude can be offered, but can courtesy be expected?
- PALAEONTOLOGIST 1. As a pair of retired fossil hunters, we are engaged in surveillance of a bird bearing that looks a lot like the Archaeopteryx. This animal may have been the transition from dinosaur to bird and here it is — alive! This could be the discovery of the century. The bird has a nest in the hollow of an ironwood tree.
- PALAEONTOLOGIST 2. To not alarm the bird or alter its natural behaviour, we are staying nearby in a boarded-up farmhouse. A bulldozer appeared this morning. We approached the landowner, but the farmer does not take kindly to us being there and intends clear stumps to ready the field for planting.
Hope
Hope is directed toward a future that is better than the present.
Aspiration is hope or ambition of achieving a goal.
- For example: the apprentice aspires to become a mechanic one day.
- People support what they help create.
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
- When people aim for what they want out of life, some aim too low.
- One who does not hope to win has already lost.
Optimism is being confident in a successful outcome, being hopeful about the future.
- For example, the lawn mower hasn’t had a tune-up, but I am optimist it will still start.
- Stumbling blocks can sometimes be turned into stepping-stones.
Optimism sees opportunity in difficulty, not difficulty in opportunity.
- Great opportunities are often disguised as insoluble problems.
- To get an opportunity, one must take the opportunity.
Prosperity is social or material success, such as flourishing financially, vigorous health, numerous friends, fortunate circumstances.
- For example, our real estate agency had a prosperous year with so many sales.
- Early to bed, early to rise — ’till you earn money to do otherwise.
Quality of life is proportional to commitment to excellence.
- People will be happy to the degree that they are helpful.
- The test of pleasure is the memory it leaves behind.
Hope is desire or aspiration with the belief that it is obtainable.
- That was a nasty fall; I hope you are okay.
- We hope to land astronauts on another planet one day.
Hope is only effective is one is a willing to be a part of the answer.
- Don’t deprive others of hope since it might be all they have.
- The placebo cures 20% of patients, no matter what they have.
Based on the Wisdom in this Topic
Case of Gus’s Garage
What advice best suits a garage owner and potential heirs with their own aspirations?
- DAUGHTER. My dad is Gus of the Gus O’Lean Garage. It’s an independent gas station and auto repair garage. It was hand down to him by grandpa. Dad has no male heirs, but hopes my sister and I will take over the family business when the time comes.
- GUS. My daughters have different ideas of what they want. My eldest dreams of fame and adventure as a celebrity chef. She encourages her sister to become a drummer in a rock band. However, I might persuade the youngest to take over the gas station and garage.
Case of the Promising Singer
How does hope depend on accepting our circumstances?
- JAY, COACH. I have high hopes for Kay as a promising singer. Still, she needs to develop stance and control for a more powerful delivery. Instead of accepting advice, however, she moves from venue to venue. That isn’t the answer; accepting what she lacks lead to improvement.
- KAY, SINGER. Advice on how to stand is helpful, but I am looking more for a winning spirit that will motivate me. I need to move about to practice with successful singers. Winner’s associate with winners. Practice with the pros will take my performance to the next level.
Case of Coal Cave-In
What advice would you give to relatives of missing miners?
- RANCHER. The old Trail Light coal mine is in the hills of my neighbour’s ranch. He lets us locals dig deposits for fuel, excavating at our own risk. I was going dig an emergency exit next month.
- RELATIVE. This morning a cave-in at Trail Light sealed the only way out for two ranch hands. One is my cousin. For now, efforts to locate them have failed. The landholder is about to update us on the rescue.
Spirit
Spirit is finding value and purpose beyond personal, corporeal needs.
Joy is expressing and sharing delight or happiness.
- The wedding was a joyful occasion, for example, to the point of tears.
- Laugh and the world laughs with you; frown and see who cares.
Occasionally pause in the pursuit of happiness to be happy.
- Before you desire, watch how happy are those who already possess it.
- A contented person enjoys the scenery along a detour.
Belief is accepting as true; trusting in it and act accordingly.
- For example, some people believe it unwise to walk under a ladder and will intentionally step around it.
- If you want others to heed, then put your creed into your deed.
We often see things not as they are, but as we are.
- A belief is not true just because it is useful.
- Some believe, others believe they believe, some just make believe.
Character refers to a person’s pattern of behaviour based on basic beliefs.
- For instance, it would be out of character for an honest person to be found fibbing.
- If you don’t live it, you don’t have it.
Don’t just believe it, behave it.
- Making a living is what you get; having a life is what you give.
- Often a change of self is needed more than a change of scenery.
Zeal is passion and enthusiasm in pursuit of purpose.
- For example, the fox ran in zealous pursuit of the rabbit.
- According to an unknown author, “life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: wow, what a ride!”
Life is a handful of short stories pretending to be a novel.
- A person arrives as a novice at each chapter of life.
- Wrinkles are the receipts for experience.
Philanthropy is promoting the welfare of people or groups.
- She gave little in comparison to the wealthy, but a lot for all she had.
- Poverty is one thing that money can’t buy.
No goals; no glory.
- One thing you can give and still keep is your word.
- In youth we spend health for wealth, then wealth for health.
Purposefulness is having and showing determination or resolve or having reason for happening.
- Rather than respond to the reporter’s incongruous question, the fire fighter merely stared with silent purposefulness.
- She felt that her accident served a purpose, if only to bring the family together again.
Maybe the meaning of life is finding purpose in the moments.
- Life is short—make the experience as broad and varied as possible.
- Perhaps the greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.
Based on the Wisdom in this Topic
Case of the Junta Vote
Can one yearn for what has been all but forgotten?
- JUANITA. On our tropical island-nation, the army overthrew the government and installed one of its own as dictator. The central government controlled the lives of its citizens: who could go to school, move to another town, or be hired at the factory. People hoped for long lives if only to live again in freedom, but their wishes were unheeded.
- FIDEL. The dictator ruled for fifty years. Then, upon his demise, an election was held. One candidate advocated civil liberties. Another candidate championed unions. A third espoused artistic expression. And yet, the winning party was the same as that of the deceased dictator.
Case of Right Makes Might
Is the basic belief of righteousness reason to believe in success?
- CAPTAIN. The upcoming engagement will be decisive. We need to take the hill or hostile forces take the town. We are outnumbered; that is true. They have might, but we are right and right will prevail.
- MEDIC. To muster courage, the captain offered to lead the charge. He told the troops of their situation and asked for volunteers to join him. Some stepped forward, some remained as they were.
Case of New Views
How best can one transform when expectations meet with new experiences?
- RESIDENT. I lived and worked in Port Spindrift for decades. I like the way things were. Parades and pageants. Festivals for jazz, for harvest, for pond hockey, for springtime. Vendors offered traditional snacks at events and everybody rooted for the local sports teams.
- NEWCOMER. That’s as it had been. The town is now more diversified. Some folks lobbied for changes in school practices and zoning. Many shops now offer a diversity of food and clothing. Even so, a few older residents resist and want newcomers to adopt to their culture.
