why do we do what we do?
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about what motivates me, whether it’s work, research, hobbies, involvements, or anything else really. Why do I spend time doing different things in my life. Some things have obvious answers for me: I think climbing up rocks and mountains is fun and exhilarating; Frisbee is a great outlet for athletic pursuit.
Other time commitments are more difficult to justify. Why do I spend time as an assistant Scoutmaster or put effort towards my time on the Executive Committee of Sigma Chi? There are good reasons to do these things, and bad reasons. Now, just as in the rest of my life, I look to my father for guidance. He was a teacher to me, a MathCounts coach (without him there would have been no program), a motivator, a Scoutmaster. It became obvious to me that he did many of the things he did because he wanted me to have the same valuable experiences he had taken part in. He wanted Scouts done right, so he did it himself.
I know my father didn’t love every part of being a Scoutmaster: it’s a lot of work with very little thanks, especially in today’s world. Rather, he felt that the lessons in Scouting are too important to let somebody screw them up while he stood idly by. It wasn’t ambition that drove him, just good wishes for the next generation. Unfortunately, people in positions of authority are more often than not driven by the former, not the latter. I wish that more of the individuals in the organizations that I deal with (and in government for that matter) were more like my father, if only in that respect.
February 3rd, 2009
Ben,
Lovely tribute to your Dad, who I always respected and admired. I know a lot of people — including, sometimes, me — who have their talk to action ratio all wrong.
Your dad always struck me as a lot of quiet, purposeful action, and then (maybe) you could get him to talk about it afterwards. That gave his words a special weight.
Having known both his father (Lev), and his grandfather (Joe), I can see the similar strengths.
It’s a high standard for you, but a worthy one. Good luck on the journey.
Cousin Jim