Why I Needed To Reference a John Lennon Lyric Instead of the One I Used.

In the below article, I used a quote I should not have.

Although, the point of my article was about dealing with unexpected surprises, and resiliency, I chose a very poor reference point.

Here is why.

The events of the last few weeks and months have made this person stop and think.

Think about how we treat others, and the references we use. What is acceptable, and what I can do to be better, to change.

In an online newsletter about leadership, the use of a Mike Tyson quote was not appropriate.

Mr. Tyson’s treatment of women is well documented.

I needed by my better half to remind me that in the world of sports and our modern world, too often glorification of qualities you think are admired come at a tremendous price. Seeing the perspective from a woman opened my eyes to reality.

If change is to happen in how we treat people, and remove the threat of physical violence in our culture or treating people based on the color of their skin or on their beliefs, then publicly admiring statements from known offenders needs to stop.

Instead, I will aspire to use references and quotes from individuals with messages that raise the bar and standard for all of us.

So I will replace the above with a lyric from the John Lennon song. A quote first mentioned in a 1957 edition of Reader’s Digest, in an article by Allen Saunders.

“ Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”

Originally published at https://thephysicalmovement.substack.com.