Stephen M. Hannemann

Continuous Improvement

Author: Stephen

I am a collector of quotations from inspired individuals. They stimulate me. They cause me to reflect on my life, to discern if I am living only for myself or the betterment of those around me.

I spent 12 years living alone after a marriage of 23 years. Don’t misunderstand, I dated and such, and had a business and social life, but I lived alone. It was a wonderful time of learning about myself, a time of reflection and great personal change. But things changed radically for me when I developed a desire to become an agent of change, to help others to have a happier and more fulfilling life. During that time I wrote my novel Death of a Warrior. In the story I came up with a quotation that had a profound impact on my life: “Knowledge must be tempered with experience for wisdom to be born.” Over time, I have learned learned the value of wisdom. In my opinion, it is a coveted gift, the most important next to human life. For how else do we learn to aid and help our fellow man to become better, to make our world a better place.

I no longer live alone. My wife Yvonne and I are rapidly approaching our 4th wedding aniversary and we mingle in many and varied groups. We find groups of people invigorating and I have found in monitoring my conversation that it’s about a 35/65 split, I listen more than I talk. It didn’t used to be that way, but I find now that I only speak when I have something productive or constructive to say. The rest of the time, I’m learning. Groups are our contact with humanity. It is interesting that the Bible is full of admonitions to be in fellowship, be in support of our brothers and sisters. As we inprove and become better individually, our circle of fellowship also becomes better, stronger and wider.

As I sit here banging away on my keyboard, I am reminded of our hunger for fellowship by the number of Facebook and Twitter sites, they are not, however, a good substitute for physical contact. Eye contact, reaching into the soul and connecting with one another is what is needed to build up our human family. So now, please allow me to leave you with a few parting quotations.

“A man who has all the answers probably isn’t listening.”
Jeffrey Gitomer

“Giving is the highest level of living.”
John C. Maxwell

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi

“Life is an exciting business and most exciting when lived for others.”
Helen Keller

And finally:

“You have not lived today successfully unless you’ve done something for someone who can never repay you.”
John Bunion

Live well.

Stephen

© Stephen M. Hannemann – all rights reserved.

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