J. Davy Crockett III

Each day as I peruse the obituaries in our statewide newspaper, I am struck by the number of deaths of World War II veterans. These men are now in their eighties and nineties, so it is not unusual that they are reaching the end of their lives, but what is remarkable is how many lives were touched in that awful conflict. It was the “greatest generation,” as referred to by author and commentator Tom Brokaw in his book by that title. Each of these veterans has stories to tell of their experiences and of the impact the war had on their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Staying sharp—being aware and honing one’s skills—is essential in today’s fast-paced world. Regardless of one’s endeavor, staying abreast of developments, improving communication skills, and increasing business acumen is very important. With this in mind, several years ago I took the Dale Carnegie course. It was a great experience, and was very helpful in the conduct of my business at the time.

As summer winds down and autumn approaches, millions of youngsters are getting ready to go back to school. Some have already started. Most of them, from elementary school age to high school students, are eagerly looking forward to the many activities of the school year. Of course, there are a sizeable number who dread it like the plague; at least that is what they tell their parents and friends.

As summer unfolds in the Northern hemisphere, most of the United States of America is baking in a protracted heat wave that is putting the power grid to the test and placing real stress on people, plants and animals. These punishing, record-breaking temperatures seem to be stalled over a wide area. At the same time, these same areas have experienced a dramatic decline in rainfall.

A generation ago, Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) enthralled audiences around the world with epic poems, short stories and novels. His experiences growing up in British-controlled India provided a rich source of colorful folklore and inspiration for children’s stories, such as the Jungle Book. Kipling received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907.

Of all of his many poems, my favorite is the inspirational poem If, which he wrote in 1895. It poses questions or conditions on how one develops the qualities of good character and balance embodied in a successful life.