“Don't Hope, Friend...Decide!

Hace un par de días leí una historia publicada por Michael Hargrove, socio fundador de Bottom line underwitters Inc, una firma de consultoría en desarrollo profesional y ventas, ubicada en Oregon, E.U.A.

Me gustó tanto la lección que ahí presenta Michael, que no pude dejar de compartir esta historia con ustedes. La dejo en inglés, idioma en el que la historia fue escrita originalmente, pues no quiero alterar ningún significado al traducirla.

Para mi este relato definitivamente fue un recordatorio de que no basta con desear algo y sentarse a esperarlo, hay que decidirse a obtenerlo, hay que elegir la forma como queremos vivir nuestra vida y comenzar desde ya a actuar de acuerdo a la elección que hayamos hecho.

Me recuerda un poco a lo que el papá de mi amigo Chema, le decía cuando estábamos estudiando la universidad: “No digas…hazlo”.

Y precisamente porque no dijeron sino que hicieron algo al respecto de sus procesos de planeación y desarrollo creativo es que quiero aprovechar el espacio para agradecerles nuevamente a mis amigos del equipo de Marketing de The Walt Disney Company México por habernos permitido compartir nuestros pensamientos, puntos de vista, experiencia y conocimiento sobre el desarrollo de campañas de comunicación y mercadotecnia. Fue un placer impartirles el curso la semana pasada y cuentan totalmente con nosotros para continuar desarrollando nuevos talleres de trabajo.

Y de regreso al tema de esta semana, los dejo con la narración de Michael Hargrove, Que la disfruten:

"While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had one of those life changing experiences that you hear other people talk about. You know, the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly? Well, this one occurred a mere two feet away from me!

Straining to locate my friend among the passengers deplaning through the jetway, I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family.

First, he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a long, and movingly loving hug. As they separated enough to look in each other's face, I heard the father say, "It's so good to see you, son. I missed you so much!" His son smiled somewhat shyly, diverted his eyes, and replied softly, "Me too, Dad!"
Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe 9 or 10) and while cupping his son's face in his hands he said, "You're already quite the young man. I love
you very much Zach!" They too hugged a most loving, tender hug. His son said
nothing. No reply was necessary.

While this was happening, a baby girl (perhaps one or one and a half) was squirming excitedly in her mother's arms, never once taking her little eyes off the wonderful sight of her returning father. The man said, "Hi babygirl!" as he gently took the child from her
mother. He quickly kissed her face all over and then held her close to his chest while rocking her from side to side. The little girl instantly relaxed and simply laid her head on his shoulder and remained motionless in total pure contentment.

After several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son and declared, "I've saved the best for last!" and proceeded to give his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. He gazed into her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed, "I love you so much!" They stared into each other's eyes, beaming big smiles at one another, while holding both hands. For an instant, they reminded me of newlyweds but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn't be. I puzzled about it for a moment, then realized how totally engrossed I was in the wonderful display of unconditional love not more than an arm's length away from me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I were invading something sacred, but was amazed to hear my own voice nervously ask, "Wow! How long have you two been married?"
"Been together fourteen years total, married twelve of those," he replied without breaking his gaze from his lovely wife's face. "Well then, how long have you been away?" I asked. The man finally looked at me, still beaming his joyous smile and told me, "Two whole days!"

Two days?! I was stunned! I was certain by the intensity of the greeting I just witnessed that he'd been gone for at least several weeks, if not months, and I know my expression betrayed me. So I said almost offhandedly, hoping to end my intrusion with some semblance of grace (and to get back to searching for my friend), "I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!"

The man suddenly stopped smiling. He looked me straight in the eye, and with an
intensity that burned right into my soul, he told me something that left me a different person. He told me, "Don't hope friend...decide." Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said, "God bless!" With that, he and his family turned and energetically strode away together. I was still watching that exceptional man and his special family walk just out of sight when my friend came up to me and asked, "What'cha looking at?" Without hesitating, and with a curious sense of certainty, I replied, "My future!"

Michael D. Hargrove
© Copyright 1997 by Michael D. Hargrove. All rights reserved. Visit Michael's website at: www.bluinc.com