๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ. ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ.
Today is the first anniversary of my father's passing. On this day I would like to encourage you to find a "North Star" that you can look to as an example of who you want to be. Find someone greater than you that you strive to emulate. And then work be an example, so that you can be someone else's North Star.
๐ ๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐บ๐ ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ.
He set an unparalleled example of servant leadership and always encouraged my personal and professional development. He was so excited when I followed his lead and became a Black Belt, and pursued certifications with the IAPP. He was always my best cheerleader, and my be source of constructive feedback. And my best source of wisdom.
I've routinely said, "If I ever grow up to be half the Scouter and man he is, I'll be doing a good job". I still believe those words. But, the more and more I learn about him, that half looks harder and harder to achieve. And I'm okay with that. I gave the eulogy at his memorial service, and it took a full 20 minutes to recount all he had done and all the lives he had touched.
Dad lived a wonderful life of servant leadership. My father was on the Library Board of our small town and was instrumental in building a library in Brazoria, TX. And I don't mean, "having it built". This library was built by the sweat equity of the town, with all money and materials donated. And dad helped lead the charge.
He dedicated his life to Scouting and earned almost every honor an accolade there is - though he never sought them out. He simply served. I was so proud to nominate him for the Outstanding Eagle Scout award from the National Eagle Scout Association (which he received).
My father also served for decades in our local church. He started a meals program for food insecure school children, who wouldn't be receiving meals from school during the summer months. He loved woodcarving and taught it to anyone who showed interest.
He served as President of the Texas Woodcarvers Guild, and of the local chapter. His other hobby passion was fishing. He taught fly fishing and fly tying to kids at the Sea Center in Lake Jackson, TX.
Words like representation and DEI weren't in my father's vocabulary, but they were in his heart and he lived them. He would honestly admit that he was raised with bigoted ideals, and he broke those down with the help of loving friends.
Dad turned a complete 180 on those antiquated ideals, and spent a lifetime working to bring joy, opportunity and wisdom to everyone he could - no matter their ethnicity, background, sexual orientation, walk of life, or whether they viewed the world as he did.
Whether he knew it or not, he ended up being a North Star for countless people who are now making their own impacts in the world. And becoming their own North Stars for others.
Rest well, dad. You earned it.