Reflection…
When I saw the opening quote, I began thinking about my former business partner, Tom.
Tom and I were like Oscar and Felix from the “Odd Couple” production–he was Felix, and I was Oscar.
I was a jock, and he was repulsed by sweat, especially when it came from his own body. 🙂
He enjoyed reading about classic cars, antiquing fine pottery, and attending the philharmonic. At the same time, I took great pleasure in working on the synthesizer and speakers in my “classic” 1970 Ford Torino (held together by Bondo) to create my own “philharmonic sound” from the likes of Aerosmith, Led Zepplin, and Van Halen.
Facts…
The success of our business venture speaks volumes about the strength of our “odd” partnership.
At the core of our peculiar yet successful relationship was a common character trait of accepting responsibility for our lives inside and outside the walls of our pharmacy.
We came to work.
We rolled up our sleeves.
We did our best to take care of our customers and teammates.
We didn’t make excuses.
We learned from our failures.
Most of all, we had fun.
Fast forward…
Tom left the business around 2000, and I moved on in 2010. We’ve stayed in touch–although with COVID-19–the past 18 months have been difficult.
Our relationship is one where no matter the length of time and distance that separates us, we always remain connected.
About forty years ago, Tom was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Over the years, the disease has taken its toll on his body. With the health struggles he has faced, most people would be dead and gone by now. I always joke with him by saying, “Tom, you make nine lives look like nothing.”
Tom has had both hands reconstructed, both knees replaced, and one below-knee amputation. He lives in his motorized wheelchair during the day.
He depends on others to provide his care for areas of his daily life activities he cannot accomplish independently.
Yet…he never complains.
He accepts and always has accepted responsibility for his own life. (Re-read the opening quote)
Moral of this story…
I’ve always struggled with people who have a victim mentality.
Now I know why.
I spent over twenty years working very closely with a person who had every reason to feel sorry for himself but very seldom did.
In summary…
Tom and I were two very different “characters” who polished our individual characters by taking responsibility for who we were and the cards we were dealt.
Oh yeah…
Tom is the person who gave me a second chance on my pharmacy career after I nearly chucked it all due to my addiction disorder.
A couple of years ago, I asked him why he took me back after I had deceived him so horribly during my addiction days. He responded, “You were sick. You weren’t a drug addict, liar, and thief by nature. I knew underneath all of your shortcomings due to your addiction was a person of strong character.”
Thankfully…it took one to know one.
2 Peter 1:5-7, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
