I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends
Individualism isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto.
Acting independently might feel good, but leaders act with the interest of others in mind.
Individualism is a short-term strategy.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” (African Proverb)
“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.” (Hebrew Bible)
Better with:
Bert is better with Ernie.(Sesame Street.)
Statler is better with Waldorf. (Grumpy old men on the Muppets.)
Bevis is better with Butthead.
Kirk is better with Spock.
Hans Solo is better with Chewbacca.
Sonny is better with Cher.
Garfunkel is better with Simon.
Laurel is better with Hardy.
John Lennon is better with Paul McCartney.
Ringo Starr is better with the John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison.
Johnny Cash is better with June Carter. (June saved Johnny Cash’s life.)
Steve Jobs is better with Steve Wozniak.
Steven King is better with Tammy King. (Tammy saved Steven’s life.)
Bill Gates is better with Paul Allen.
Rob Gronkowski is better with Tom Brady.
Peanut Butter is better with Jelly. Sometimes I like mine toasted. The proper ratio is 70% peanut butter and 30% jelly.
Elementary school friends:
You had two or three friends in elementary school. Everyone I ask, can name them. Why do we think of them as friends?
- Play. You played together. A little play does you good.
- Safety. Your friends know your frailties and love you just the same.
- Interest. Shared interest draws us together.
- Love. One reason we love others is they love us.
“I get by with a little help from my friends.” Lyrics by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
Who is your ‘with’?
How are you being a person people love to be with?
Who is your ‘with’? “Wife goes with Husband”, ‘Parents goes with Children”, the lifes we have been blessed with have many connections, how we use them are the tools of the journey. Depending on ones application “worker goes with workers”, there are times they are together, then there are times they are individuals depending on the project. Surely united we stand diveded we fall. The proverbioal tree has many roots together we build a foundation.
How are you being a person people love to be with? I wish to believe with Kindness and openeness are a few traits that jump out for me. Choosing the better to give than receive choices too. We are all Servants, sometimes we need reminded.
Thanks Tim. The idea of believing with kindness really speaks to me! Much appreciated.
“Who is your ‘with’ ?”
There are many. My wife and immediate family, certainly, but also neighbors, friends from my faith community, and several close colleagues. I remain close to several friends from elementary school and high school as well. Productive interdependence beats stubborn independence any day!
I use the Lone Ranger analogy in every class emphasizing the “The Lone Ranger didn’t work alone.”