Thanksgiving has always been my favorite
Holiday. One of the reasons this is so
is because it transcends any particular belief or religious system, and focuses
instead upon something that is universal—gratitude. Obstacles are an inevitable reality of life,
and everyone who has ever accomplished anything of value has experienced this
reality. In the face of adversity and
everything that goes with it however, there is always a place for
gratitude. This may require a shift in
perspective, and the utilization of the intellect to overcome feelings, but
this is doable and, I submit, necessary.
This blog is certainly not the place to
discuss what I am personally grateful for, but on this point, I will say that I
start everyday focusing on precisely that.
In the context of this blog, I am grateful to have an avenue through
which to communicate and promote a legitimate business. I am also grateful for the knowledge gained
in this process, both as to the substantive content of certain Code sections,
as well as the knowledge gained through the discipline of the writing
process. These blogs are challenging
which creates a pathway toward personal improvement.
I am
grateful for the opportunities that the Uniform Commercial Code has created for
me throughout my lifetime. Through the
Uniform Commercial Code I had the privilege of knowing and working with some of
the finest legal minds in history, who taught me as a student and from whom I
continued to learn as a professor. After
twenty-one years out of the legal world—working with abused, neglected and
incarcerated minors in California—the Uniform Commercial Code opened the door
to my return to teaching law. The
change from Los Angeles County Central Juvenile Hall to the Stetson University
College of Law was so dramatic it was humorous.
This after all, was the first group of students in twenty years who weren’t
sentenced to be with me—although a couple of them felt like they were.
The teaching led to the rewrite of The Uniform Commercial Code Made Easy
which has been extremely helpful at all levels of my dealings with the legal
community. I believe the manner in which the book presents the UCC was
instrumental in providing me the opportunity to teach the UCC in one day for
CLE credit to bar associations throughout the United States, as well as the consulting
opportunities which have followed. Of equal significance, the UCC has opened
doors for me to present programs on children at risk to bar associations and
staff in residential and correctional facilities. On March 18, 2016, for example, I have the
great opportunity to present to the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association and
attorneys and judges who work with the full spectrum of children at risk, the
day after a UCC presentation for members of the Missouri Bar Association.
I am also grateful that I had the opportunity
to be educated which made the UCC experience possible. Being given a shot at life is all anyone can
ask for. When I witnessed the incredible
obstacles and barriers faced by children with no money, little food and no
hope, I understood in a whole new way how fortunate I was to be born into a
home where I was offered the opportunity to go to college and then law
school. Within this context, the biggest
blessing that I had was the absolute, rock solid belief that life is very
important and that the best investment I could make was to invest my full
energy and resources into improving my mind and improving myself as a person.
We all have the opportunity everyday to
create our reality. I submit that a reality that incorporates gratitude as a
cornerstone principle will create a better life. In an earlier post I presented the concept of
the reactionary mind and how to overcome automatic reactions that the brain has
to certain events and input presented by life.
This discussion offers a very practical example of the application of some
of those principles:
Each time your
brain reacts negatively—to anything—respond
by thinking of something you are grateful for.
It’s all physics.
In 2007 I was doing a presentation in
Irvine California. The room I had been
given was right next to the elevator, which had a very loud ring each time someone exited—which seemed to be very
often. Initially I was furious each time
the elevator opened and deprived me of sleep.
I could feel my blood pressure rise and of course the corresponding
anger. After suffering through this
experience for several hours, I had a breakthrough. I decided that each time I
heard the elevator bell, instead of being angry, I would be grateful I could
hear! ……………It worked.
Happy Thanksgiving
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