The Tribe Gathering - Sunday Mindset For The Week Ahead

Be a good human being, a warm-hearted affectionate person. That is my fundamental belief. Having a sense of caring, a feeling of compassion will bring happiness of peace of mind to oneself and automatically create a positive atmosphere.

Dalai Lama

One of the greatest television shows to ever be created has sadly come to an end. After only 3 seasons, Ted Lasso signed off as only he could, by not saying a word. Instead, what he stood for, taught, and believed was uttered by none other than his own son. “Be a goldfish,” was the final line in a series chock full of one liners, metaphors, and heart felt analogies. The analysis of that line could go on in debate, but the point of its usage as the final line was to demonstrate that Ted’s purpose was to teach people how to fundamentally just be a good human. To treat yourself and everyone around you with care and compassion.

The build up to the ending had television show folklorists drawing comparisons to the icon that is, “Cheers.” And why not? The premise is on a similar plane of mindset as Lasso. Take the intro song for instance:

Sometimes you wanna go

Where everybody knows your name

And they're always glad you came

You wanna be where you can see

Our troubles are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows your name

In the final episode of Ted Lasso, Ted leaves his Richmond Football Club family to rejoin his actual family and begin the life lesson teaching he’s done with his players and the staff alike for his son. In like fashion, the final conversation on Cheers, between Norm and Sam are a reminder to Sam about what’s really important.

Norm says to Sam, “I knew you’d come back.”

Sam Replies, “Oh yeah. How’s that?”

Norm responds, “You always go back to what you love.”

Sam asks, “Oh yeah what’s that Norm?”

Norm, knowing that at heart Sam knows the answer, demands, “Think about it Sammy.”

People. The premise of both shows is the focus on humanity.

CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility, the news is full of it today. Every media outlet you see has a demonstration of how various companies are exercising their CSR, ethically, economically, legally, and through their philanthropy. Sadly, the media is just as, if not more bloated with stories of how people have responded or how companies got CSR very, very wrong.

The ethos of CSR is that organizations should use their positions and influence to positively impact the world around them and in their reach. To make all feel valued, heard, represented, and cared for. They do this through various foundations, fundraising, giving, and volunteering. It’s written into their bylaws and they’re held accountable to it via laws and company constitutions. And, ethically it’s just doing “the right thing.”

I propose a twist on this. How about us all practicing CSR: Citizen Social Responsibility. As citizens of our town, state, country, and this world, let’s practice the art of being a good human being through our economic, ethical, legal, and philanthropy pathways. Give to someone in need, stand up for what’s right, treat people how you’d want to be treated, and take part in service to others.

If the ideal of loving others well can be delivered through the microcosms of a bar and a football club, then how much more capable are we? This week, be the bastion of the “Believe” poster. Be someone’s “Sammy.” Be the place and person people can see as good and caring. Start with the people you share a home with, move on to the people you lead, then serve a total stranger. Be the “place where everybody knows your name.”

Have a blessed week.