Special Edition - Done and Finished are not the Same Words

Good Morning...

As is a tradition (most of the time) I am submitting a special edition of the Weekend Update...in remembrance of the long holiday weekend!

As is important we should we should recognize the significance of why we went so far as to establish this day as important for us to divert our attention from the other important things in life...

Memorial day was not formally (legally) established until 1971...yet its celebration is over 100 years old!

It was originally established by a Confederate leader (A general I believe) to assist in the reunification of the United States after the succession attempt of the southern states...(now that is politically correct huh?)

It honored the solders on all side who fought the gallant fight...with commitment to the ideals that they believed were important to the liberty and freedom of their cause...

It did not honor the ideals (it does not make value judgements on what was fought for, but the personal characteristics...of those who fought...

In actuality...it goes beyond soldiers...but for everyone who commits to a cause and works diligently and persistently towards and end that they believe will benefit a larger good...

It honors selfless action...

It honors those who know that when they are "done" with what they have set out to do...they are only partway on their journey (it is not finished)!

"Done" with what you are out to do is a narrow and often self-serving perspective...

When you are done...it most often means that you have received what you needed from an activity...

This is like saying..."I am done eating..."  You have obtained the food you wanted...but there is more to your effort than fulfilling a hunger...

"Finished" includes ensuring that:

1- Whatever you do lasts (The eating example is kind of out)
2- Your activity has had minimum negative impact on the world, on a whole...
3- That your activity has made as much positive contribution to the world, on a whole...

When you eat and cook...you are done when you have finished consuming what you prepared for your meal...

You are "done" eating...but have you "finished" your activity?

Did you ensure that everything that you used to prepare the food is cleaned-up...how about the area?

This part of the activity is not done when all of the pots and pans...plates and silverware is in the dishwasher...it is finished when the utensils are clean and put in their proper places...

Have you asked everyone around you if they were hungry (needed food) and that your activity could help them?

Did you throw away any of the food you prepared?

The "done" perspective serves yourself...the "finished" perspective serves your world...

The "done perspective is immature...the "finished" perspective is mature...

Enough Said!

Memorial Day is a day to honor the personal characteristic of finished...an adult behavior that we should all strive to model on a daily basis...

Although apparent in our armed forces heroes and unsung (and faceless) heroes...

It is a day to recognize all of those who possess the rare leadership trait and ability to differentiate between the common and self-serving world of "done" and the lasting and unique beauty of "finished!"

We need to strive towards activities that are more than done...they are finished...

When we have grasped the difference...we too can count among those who are recognized on this day!

Happy Memorial Day!

Pura Vida!