God Save the Queen

Queen Elizabeth II
of the United Kingdom

For my holiday message this year, I would like to share a special address from Elizabeth II, Queen of England.

This may surprise some of my readers, who, like me, are enthusiastic American-born patriots of the USA. Such readers may even view the British Monarchy as a bit of an unnecessary accoutrement of a bygone era—and a particular oddity in the twenty-first century.

Although it is no secret that my personal loyalties will always lie first-and-foremost with American democratic-republicanism, I must confess that I am, secondarily speaking, something of a British Anglophile, and with good reason.  

Aside from being an English major (bachelor's degree) and lover of Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Lewis, etc., as well as Arthurian and Robin Hood legends, most of my progenitors (on both sides of my family) hail from the British Isles. Indeed, I am, ancestrally speaking, about 85-90% British. 

Perhaps this explains my tolerance of the British Monarchy, a position I hold not for the sake of any sordid tabloid curiosity, but rather for the potentially positive symbols of strength, solidarity, tradition, and service that its members seek to personify and represent throughout the Commonwealth and world.  

Great Britain is a remarkable place with an extraordinary history. From the Magna Carta in the early thirteenth century (1215) to the Elizabethan rise to global hegemony in the late sixteenth century (1588); from Wellington stopping Napoleon in the early nineteenth century to Churchill's rescue of the Western World 80 years ago. And who can possibly match the matchless works of the Immortal Bard? Suffice it to say, there is an awful lot to admire throughout English history, culture, and literature—at least as viewed through my biased eyes.  

The United Kingdom of 
Great Britain and Northern Ireland

No country is perfect, of course, and Britain is certainly not without its sins. But on the whole, and viewed through a lens of what they have done right rather than what they have done wrong (at Freedom Focused, our aim is to focus primarily on a person or nation's virtues and victories rather than their vices and defeats), Britain has for centuries been an example to the rest of the world of excellence, productivity, possibility, courage, and resolve. The seedbed of the Industrial Revolution in the late eighteenth century, that little Island—roughly the size of the State of Alabama—has probably produced a higher number (per capita) of noted men and women of science, literature, philosophy, art, medicine, and technology than any other nation in all of human history.  

Although Britain remains but a shadow of its former empire—upon which the sun never set for three centuries—the United Kingdom remains a respected and influential member of the G7 in the twenty-first century; a shining beacon of relative peace and stability in a world increasingly bereft of both. Moreover, their early abolition of the Slave Trade in conjunction with their own voluntary diminution of their overseas colonial holdings further evinces the positive core values that serve as their collective ideological foundation stones.

Queen Elizabeth on
Australian Currency in 1966

In contemporary times, I have come to admire Queen Elizabeth II—the longest serving monarch in English history, even longer than the famous Queen Victoria, who ruled the mightiest empire in all human history (up to her time) for an incredible 64 years! This is no small feat considering their were 60 monarchs who preceded her for a total of nearly 1,200 years. The longevity of that heritage puts into perspective the relative nascence of the United States and its more recent rise to global supremacy.

Over time, I've also grown to admire Prince William (heir to the throne) and his lovely wife, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. I do not personally know these people (yet), but I have been impressed from a distance at the ways in which they conduct themselves and represent their nation.  

The future King of England is just three years younger than I am. He got married three years after me, and at the exact same age (28). He and Kate subsequently brought a boy, girl, and then another boy into the world the precise years (2013, 2015, & 2018) and within a few short months of Lina's and my boy, girl, and another boy. With such a striking familial trajectory, it has been hard not to notice the unfolding life story of this budding English monarch and his elegant bride, both of whom are about my age.  

King George V
of the United Kingdom

For the past 88 years, the reigning English King (or Queen) has delivered a special message to the Commonwealth on Christmas Day. The first of such messages was delivered on December 15, 1932 by King George V, Queen Elizabeth II's grandfather. The speech was written by Britain's 1907 Nobel Prize winning poet, Rudyard Kipling (author of "IF" — a standard classic SAL poem at Freedom Focused). 

King George the Fifth's inaugural Christmas Day address was delivered on the radio, a popular new form of mass communication (at the time) that Winston Churchill would so masterfully employ a few years later during the Second World War.  

Twenty (20) years after King George the Fifth's first Christmas Day speech, his granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, delivered the FIRST Christmas Address of her reign in 1952. Five years after that, Elizabeth delivered the first Royal Christmas message to be broadcast on television. An extraordinary 62 years later, the same Queen gave her most recent (68th) Christmas address on December 25, 2019, now available to the entire world on YouTube.  

I recently came across this speech while helping my second-grade son, Tucker, with a homework assignment about England. 

I hope you appreciate and enjoy this message as much as I did. It is delivered by a truly remarkable human being who has been a pillar of strength, resolve, and consistency over the course of her nearly 95 years on the Planet. You will be impressed with how prescient her words were, so much so, in fact, that last year's address feels more like a message that was meant to be given this year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

Click HERE to watch the Queen's Christmas Message.

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Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

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Profiles in Courage, Part 1

In recent blog posts, I recounted my three (3) favorite movies and explained why I love them so much. Among these reasons are the life leadership and character-development strategies they so richly exhibit and powerfully personify. Among the many virtues and attributes displayed and personified in these three movies—Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Risen—perhaps the most prominent and memorable one is COURAGE—the topic of the next two (2) Freedom Focused blog posts. It is my hope that you will come away from these two articles with a better, clearer, and deeper understanding of this vital Self-Action Leadership characteristic and virtue.    

In his book, Profiles in Courage, which I will discuss at greater length in next week's post, John F. Kennedy refers to COURAGE as "that most admirable of human virtues" (p. 1).

I love to study and practice this valuable virtue and characteristic. I also love observing its personification in others. Moreover, I take conscious actions every single day to cultivate it within my character. I am encouraged to do so by my own conscience, noteworthy examples of others, and the advice of one of my favorite nineteenth century thinkers: Emerson, who wrote that "he who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.

"He who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life."

— Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Many scenes in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves are dedicated to COURAGE. One in particular features Robin as he courageously confronts one of his Merry Men, Will Scarlet—who we learn later in the film is actually his younger step-brother (unbeknownst to Robin for most of the movie).

Will seeks an easy way out of the problem posed by the Sheriff of Nottingham and his evil henchmen. Scarlet's plan favors cowardice and capitulation, which will certainly lead to bondage.

Robin has a broader vision of his and their potential. Moreover, he is courageous enough to confidently paint a picture of that potential—even though he initially stands alone in his view. In the process, he persuasively exposes the cowardice and folly of Will's plan and rallies the entire group to aim for something greater and more desirable than they had ever dreamed possible.

It is a moving scene worth watching...    

Click HERE to watch COURAGE scene from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

A common misnomer about COURAGE is that courageous people don't feel fear.

That is complete nonsense!

Courage is NOT the absence of fear.

Courage is bold, decisive, and confident ACTION in the face of fear. 

Perhaps John Wayne said it best when he quipped that:

"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway."

—John Wayne

 

More Misnomers about Courage

As a cultural anglophile—I have deep ancestral roots in the British Isles and have a college degree in English—one of my favorite scenes in the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, comes at the very beginning when Robin has a chance to exhibit something he calls "English Courage." The scene takes place in an enemy prison in Jerusalem, where Robin finds himself at the beginning of the movie—away from home fighting in King Richard's religious "Crusade" of the late twelfth century.  

Click HERE to watch a MOVIE CLIP of this SCENE.

The exhibition of this kind of courage fits nicely into many cultural caricatures of what it means to be courageous. However, the reality is that most of us may never have an opportunity to exercise courage in such a dramatic or climactic manner.

And that's okay!   

Another misnomer about COURAGE is that you have to be in a certain place at a certain time doing a certain thing in order to exercise courage. In other words, only some people have opportunities to be truly courageous—and only at certain times.

That, of course, is also complete nonsense!

Everyone, everywhere, has opportunities everyday to exercise courage. In fact, it has been my experience that many of the scariest things we ever do in our lives come in the form of COMMUNICATION in relationships. As such, if you ever communicate in any relationship, then you are going to have plenty of opportunities to exercise courage throughout your life and career.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

You don't have to be a physical daredevil to exercise courage. Situations involving doing the right thing when it isn't convenient, or opening up your mouth (or in some cases, keeping it shut) will provide you with ample opportunities to exercise courage throughout your life and career.  

Once again, to quote Emerson:

 

"He who is not everyday conquering some fear

has not learned the secret of life."

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

These words of America's prized nineteenth century philosopher and poet have become a living mantra for me. Rarely, if ever, does a day go by when my life does not provide me with an opportunity to exercise courage in one form or another. And the growth and progress that comes from choosing courage over cowardice is incalculable!

I still have a long ways to go; but the progress I've made to date has been palpable, noticeable, and filled with rich personal and professional rewards.  

Courage Personified

Another form of courage that ALL of us can exercise every day of our lives involves thinking about, saying, or doing something hard to do that is good, right, and true. This kind of courage leads to long-term happiness, success, and prosperity. The price of such courage, however is delayed gratification. Unfortunately, too many of us too often value immediate gratification above principles and values.

It take a LOT of courage to think, speak, and act in ways that are consistently reflective of true principles and your own deepest held personal values.   

Each of us has opportunities every day to exercise self-discipline, self-regulation, self-control, and otherwise delay gratification in a variety of forms. When such opportunities present themselves, how do we respond? With courage? Or with laziness—which can also be a form of cowardice?     

One of the most meaningful, emotive, and touching scenes in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves comes near the end of the movie. It once again involves Robin Hood and his step-brother, Will Scarlet. After a deadly and unsuccessful battle in Sherwood Forest with the Sheriff and his soldiers, Will Scarlet and several others are captured and imprisoned in Nottingham Prison. Will then cleverly obtains his release by ostensibly agreeing to return to the forest and kill Robin if he is not already dead.

However, despite the previous ill will between the two, Will has, over time, come to admire, respect, and believe in his older brother and the vision he has established and carried out with the help of his merry men and their families. Consequently, he is not fully committed to his purported plan. Instead of carrying it out, he courageously confronts Robin about their past issues. It is at this point in the movie that Robin learns for the first time who Will really is. In a moving moment of family reunion and reconnection, the two brothers embrace and then courageously covenant with each other to stand side-by-side "to the end" by seeing through their plans to defeat the evil Sheriff and his oligarchic reign of tyranny.

Click HERE to watch a clip of this MOVIE SCENE.

Robin, Will, and the rest of their inner circle then courageously put their plan into action, which leads to the kind of "All-American Happy Ending" that we cherish in this optimistic, can-do nation. In the process, they inspire good people everywhere to dedicate their lives to overcoming evil and expanding FREEDOM by championing the good, the right, and the truth.

At least that is what it did for me back in 1991. And what it has continued to do up to this very day!  

In what ways are you good at being courageous? In what ways could you exercise more courage in communication with others or in tackling inner fears that hold you back from becoming all you are capable of becoming?

I invite you to take stock of your own "Courage Quotient" today and then make a plan to begin stepping outside of your "cowardice zone"  and into your "Courage Zone" a little bit more—beginning immediately!

A sad irony exists about COURAGE.

The irony is this: those who cave to cowardice do so because they are trying to avoid pain and perceived regret. In reality, however, cowardice is the surest pathway to both pain and regret.

Courage, on the other hand, provides an expressway to FREEDOM and PEACE of MIND—in the long run. In the incisive words of Eleanor Roosevelt—niece of President Theodore Roosevelt and wife of President Franklin Roosevelt:

"Courage is more exhilarating than fear. And in the long run, it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it as not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down."

—Eleanor Roosevelt

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Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

And if you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to sign up to receive future articles for FREE every Wednesday.

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Movies & Life Leadership, Part 1

Movies—and a variety of other art forms—are powerful platforms for promoting (or discouraging) a myriad of principles, beliefs, habits, lifestyles, etc. In today's blog post, I discuss THREE (3) of my favorite movies, and the ways in which they have inspired me toward higher levels of Self-Action Leadership and life management.

Nearly 20 years ago, I worked with a leader and supervisor who was well aware of the difficulties I faced with OCD. In fact, he even referred me to a counselor who proved very helpful during the time I served under his tutelage. When our working relationship came to an end, this man said something very interesting to me that I'll never forget. 

He said: "You know, Jordan, OCD hasn't been all bad for you."

I knew instantly what he was talking about. While my OCD symptoms caused me a great deal of anxiety, stress, grief, and social unease (for me and others), they also contributed to my capacity for focus, hard work, achieving targeted objectives, and remaining faithfully dedicated to whatever I set out to do. My Supervisor greatly appreciated the positive "symptoms" of my OCD-oriented personality because it helped him accomplish his goals as well.   

Fortunately, I have come a long way when it comes to managing my symptoms of OCD and its accompanying comorbid depression. In fact, after 23 years of personal hard work combined with the help of counselors, psychiatrists, family members, and others, I would estimate that I only suffer about 10% of the negative symptoms I had to endure 20 years ago, and my life is infinitely better as a result! Even better, the habits I developed for focus, hard work, goal setting, and devotion to duty have remained with me, and are sharper and more balanced than ever before.  

Click HERE to read about my past struggles with OCD, and how I successfully confronted them.  

Click HERE to read about my past struggles with OCD's comorbid little brother, DEPRESSION.

Click HERE to read about Self-Action Leadership as it relates to MENTAL HEALTH.

So... what does this have to do with my THREE (3) favorite movies? Good question!

One of my positive "obsessions" in life is a productive fixation I have on drawing out "life lessons" and "character development strategies" from virtually everything I see or experience. 

This includes MOVIES!

As such, it probably won't surprise you that my THREE (3) favorite movies all involve "life lessons" and "character development strategies." I love movies that fill my mind with ideas on how I can be a better and more capable and caring person. I adore cinema that captures historical periods worth studying. And I savor shows that inspire thoughts, words, and deeds that contribute meaningfully to other people and make the world a better place.  

Interestingly enough, my THREE (3) favorite movies are all directed by the same director—Kevin Reynolds. I do not personally know Kevin. Nor do I know anything about his upbringing or personal history. But I greatly admire three of his greatest and most successful film projects, as follows: 

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves  (1990)

The Count of Monte Cristo  (2002)

Risen  (2016)

I saw the first of these three films—Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves—when I was just 11 years old and in fifth grade. Never before (or since) has a single film had more of an impact on me and my life. 

In the immediate aftermath, the film's influence was age appropriate, meaning it wasn't long before I was climbing up into the palo verde tree in our front yard in Mesa, Arizona, cutting limbs to make homemade bows, and fashioning makeshift arrows out of broken tent poles I found in our garage. Without going into a lot of unnecessary detail, this film inspired a lifelong love of archery that continues to this day. And you won't be surprised to hear that I do not shoot a compound (or recurve) bow; I shoot a longbow—like Robin Hood! My bow and quiver full of arrows—many of which are made of wood (rather than aluminum or carbon) and have traditional, feather fletchings—rest in the closet of my office where I am currently composing this article. 

As a teenager, this film influenced me in a different way. As a 14-year old, I dedicated my 8th grade science project to measuring the potential and kinetic energy of an arrow's flight. Later on, at age 18, I directed 17 of my friends in planning a Robin-Hood themed group date on land my Dad owned. I did it all to impress one girl in particular. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) she wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped she might be. But boy did my friends and I have FUN planning and executing that DATE!  

(Pictured above is "Robin Hood" (JJ) in his "Lincoln Green" the night of the Robin Hood Date: August 1, 1998)

It began with my pal Andy Taylor (Will Scarlet) and I (Robin Hood) riding real horses around our small town of Monticello, Utah, USA to deliver invitations to the girls (attached to arrows). It later commenced with a treasure hunt and live theatrical production that involved everything from sword fighting, flaming arrows, and a bonfire, to the dramatic pairing up of the 18 couples, a turkey feast, and an outdoor dance in the woods. Everyone had a wonderful time and it was a most memorable experience for me personally. The feelings I experienced that night never left me, and have continued to influence my life ever since. 

(Pictured above is "Will Scarlet" (AT) in his scarlet garb delivering invitations on horseback with "Robin Hood" (JJ) a week or so before the big date)

As an adult, I spend less time pretending to actually be Robin Hood than I did when I was 11 or 18. However, many of the lessons I learned from that film still reverberate powerfully and meaningfully in my mind, heart, and soul. In fact, you might say that in many ways I still strive to model a Robin Hood character as a leader and entrepreneur.  

You have probably experienced seeing yourself in a movie character. I have always seen myself in Kevin Costner's portrayal of Robin Hood back in 1990. It didn't matter to me that Costner didn't use a British accent or that his performance may have been panned by some critics. After all, Theodore Roosevelt rightly taught that it is not the critic who counts; it is the person who is actually in the arena who counts. Thus, I don't care much about what movie critics have to say. I make my own judgments on a show's value. 

The screenplay of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was written by Pen Densham and John Watson. I don't know Pen or John, nor am I familiar with what the critics had to say about their work. But in my opinion, it was masterful—almost perfect. Perhaps this is because my favorite lines from the script are often pregnant with life lessons and other character development gold, such as:

"There are no perfect men in this world; only perfect intentions."

— Azeem to Robin                 Click HERE to watch a clip of this SCENE.  

"One man defending his home is worth more than ten hired soldiers."     

— Robin Hood to his Merry Men

"Do you want to be free?  Then we must stop fighting amongst ourselves and face the fact that the price for it may be dear!"     

— Robin Hood to his Merry Men

"Nobility is not a birthright; it is determined by one's actions."     

— Robin to Marian

"I would die for you."     

— Robin to Marian

Of the many character attributes highlighted in the film—such as: loyalty, patriotism, leadership, love, devotion, service, friendship, hard work, discipline, and daring—it is perhaps its exhibition of COURAGE that sticks out most prominently. I have always admired the attribute of courage—and people who act courageously in their lives and careers. 

Click HERE to watch a MOVIE CLIP of Robin Hood demonstrating "English Courage"

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