Excelling in Life Without Acclamation
The world's attention is currently riveted on Beijing and the 2008 Summer Olympics. While we watch, hold our breath, cheer for the champions and weep with the also-rans, let us be mindful of those millions of people with talent and ability who never receive praise or recognition.
Free-lance writer Arlene Spencer of Indianapolis said, "A combination of good luck, opportunity, hard work and talent may lead a few to world fame and fortune. The absence of any one of these can make a difference between acclamation and anonymity." Spencer was writing about English poet Thomas Gray's poem, Elegy in a Country Churchyard wherein Gray describes "a fairly common phenomenon in our society--that of an outstanding person with talents only recognized by those people immediately surrounding him or her." Standing among the tombstones, Gray speculated that "some mute inglorious Milton here may rest."
Spencer continued, "The quest for excellence in any endeavor is worthy of our admiration and respect. We don't need to reserve those feelings for national heroes, sports figures, or stars of the entertainment world. The uncelebrated heroes in our midst are the ordinary people with noble motives who work to perfect their talents, and the teachers and volunteers who use their abilities to brighten the lives of others."
Inside NALS, it is our local members who are the uncelebrated heroes. They may not be nominated for the Award of Excellence or gain national recognition as officers or chairs, but they are the backbone of our professional association--the volunteers and supporters of current programs and mentors of future leaders. Gray would say they are gems of purest ray hidden on the ocean floor or flowers blooming in the desert unseen by anyone.
It is you, the member, who competes to the best of your ability and talent daily who has earned a Gold Medal, and with it the acclamation and respect of NALS.
Free-lance writer Arlene Spencer of Indianapolis said, "A combination of good luck, opportunity, hard work and talent may lead a few to world fame and fortune. The absence of any one of these can make a difference between acclamation and anonymity." Spencer was writing about English poet Thomas Gray's poem, Elegy in a Country Churchyard wherein Gray describes "a fairly common phenomenon in our society--that of an outstanding person with talents only recognized by those people immediately surrounding him or her." Standing among the tombstones, Gray speculated that "some mute inglorious Milton here may rest."
Spencer continued, "The quest for excellence in any endeavor is worthy of our admiration and respect. We don't need to reserve those feelings for national heroes, sports figures, or stars of the entertainment world. The uncelebrated heroes in our midst are the ordinary people with noble motives who work to perfect their talents, and the teachers and volunteers who use their abilities to brighten the lives of others."
Inside NALS, it is our local members who are the uncelebrated heroes. They may not be nominated for the Award of Excellence or gain national recognition as officers or chairs, but they are the backbone of our professional association--the volunteers and supporters of current programs and mentors of future leaders. Gray would say they are gems of purest ray hidden on the ocean floor or flowers blooming in the desert unseen by anyone.
It is you, the member, who competes to the best of your ability and talent daily who has earned a Gold Medal, and with it the acclamation and respect of NALS.
posted by President Dee at
11:45 PM
1 Comments:
Tis True, Tis True! But, also tis better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all!
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