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by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.
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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

The Ten Characters Most Influential In How I Turned Out, So Far

Monday February 23, 2004

Recently, a good friend named Bob Ludlow wrote with an idea for an essay. He said while the topic isn't new, it is "kind of along the lines that you can know a person by the company he keeps." Bob added, "As an exercise in self-understanding, as well as a way of better communicating who you are, make a list of the ten people you most admire (or who have influenced you the most) and why." Bob also offered his own list.

I thought this was a capital idea! However, as soon as I began, I realized I needed criteria to guide inclusions and omissions. Further, if making this list proved revealing and beneficial, I knew I would want others to make their own lists. On that basis, I came up with these criteria:

Make selections from a current perspective, looking back over a lifetime. Someone you thought was the center of the universe 20 years ago should NOT be on the list if his/her influence does not seem pervasive today, in retrospect.
The list should only include public figures. Save for another occasion the mention of Mom and Dad, a spouse or anyone NOT a public figure. The purpose here is to remove the temptation for someone to do an "Aw shucks" thing and name Ol' Grandpa or other family legend. In this manner, the list you come up with will be of more interest to the rest of us.
A short phrase or two should accompany each honoree.
Avoid ranking the ten. Doing so would make the process more difficult and time-consuming. Better the list be an off-the-top kind of thing. Changes can and should be made, later, with more reflection.
Give no consideration to matters of political correctness, affirmative action or equal opportunity. Ignore the gods of diversity and pluralism. This criterion avoids the need to create a balance between men and women, novelists, artists, racial groups and so on. If you worry about that sort of thing, your list will lose integrity. Besides, with only ten influentials, what are you going to do about other worthy criteria (for example., athletes--and mix of athletes from varied sports, gays, transgendered, lesbians, Republicans, left-handed people, cross-dressers, Visigoths on food stamps, non-Americans, Asians, etc?). Just do the list--forget about including everybody. Here is my list, more or less right off the top, in accord with the preceding criteria.

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. -- For reinforcing a love of reading and appreciation for memorable lines. ("Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before. He is full of murderous resentment of people who are ignorant without having come by their ignorance the hard way." - Cat's Cradle). Most of all, for reinforcing skeptical perspectives of a bemused nature regarding such sacred cows as religion, patriotism and the meaning of life, or the lack thereof.

Harry Browne -- Author of the book that most influenced my philosophy of wellness founded on an ethic of personal responsibility (How I Found Freedom In An Unfree World, Avon, 1974). Harry Browne's book provided practical advice on avoiding and/or extricating oneself from traps that inhibit freedom. "Freedom," Browne noted, "is the ability to live your life the way you want to live it."

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -- For the serenade "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik," which inspired my affection for everything else he wrote and classical music in general.

Carl Sagan -- For his books, films and lectures that made the cosmos fascinating AND for his seminal contributions to my appreciation for the significance (and substance) of critical thinking. The latter is represented in his landmark work "The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark."

John F. Kennedy -- His term of office coincided with my college years spent just a few blocks removed from the White House at George Washington University. We were BOTH presidents (I was president of the student council at GWU), so he was a role model who made the quest for personal excellence exciting and feasible. I found his presidency fascinating, attractive and even noble and I enjoyed the beautiful speeches, gracious style and panache of his "New Frontier." Forty years later, nothing has changed--all of the books read about those three years have only reinforced my sense of the heroic nature of this grand mortal, however flawed like everyone else.

Mark Twain -- For humor, irreverence, skepticism, great stories and a seemingly never-ending supply of delightful reflections ("Often it does seem a pity that Noah and his party did not miss the boat." -- Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.)

Viktor Frankl -- Many have shaped my interest and ideas about the quest for meaning and purpose as a foundation of a wellness lifestyle (along with fitness, critical thinking and self-responsibility), including Will Durant, Irvin D. Yalom and even Stephen J. Gould, but Frankl gets the nod for his landmark work "Man's Search for Meaning."

William Glasser --A psychiatrist whose "choice theory" and books, particularly "Positive Addiction," demonstrated the power of a disciplined lifestyle as the best path to health and life satisfaction.

Lance Armstrong -- One of world's greatest athletes or, arguably, THE greatest. His story, as told in two excellent books, exemplifies all manner of wellness fundamentals. The adversities he has overcome never fail to put my own minor athletic and other setbacks in perspective. "It's Not About the Bike" was good but "Every Second Counts" is even better.

My final, tenth choice is very special-a composite selection. This nominee had much more influence upon who I am and how I evolved than all the others--combined. Yet, unlike the others whom I respect and honor, the influence of the tenth selection was distinctly negative, or inspirational in the reverse mode. This composite selection includes an assortment of religious figures who, by virtue of appalling sermons, lectures, appearances and writings, solidified and deepened my disdain for supernaturalism, faith, revelations, orthodoxy and piety. I am, in a strange fashion, deeply indebted to the following, all of whom belong in a personal anti-hero hall of shame. Thanks Bishop Fulton Sheen, Billy Graham, Jim and Tammy Faye Baker, Mother Theresa, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. The list could go on at great length, but I don't want to diminish my sense of gratitude to these "influentials."

Well, what about you? Who would you put on YOUR list of the ten characters most influential in how you turned out, so far? If you write one, I'd be grateful if you'd share it with me but even if you don't, consider discussing your list with others. It's a great topic, and the list will help people know you better, as it's shaping it can help you better know yourself.

All the best, stay well and look on the bright side of life.

Domain: purpose
Subdomain: relationships

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