Core Values in practice

Today was the second day of our GPF leaders' meeting adventure workshop. I experienced the GPF Core Values in a vivid way today:

Wenatchee National Forest, team strategizing

Living for the Greater Good: My team was doing an orienteering activity to find all the dispersed flags throughout a certain area on a map. We had been exhaustively hiking all day and gotten all the flags except one, and it was my responsibility to lead the team to the last flag. I was motivated to give the team a good experience and victoriously complete the activity in the allotted time to inspire the other teams.

Dream Big: However, I knew that I was also responsible to pick up another team from another location. They called me to request a pickup right when I was about to lead my team to the last flag. I wanted to be responsible to pick up the other team in time, but I also wanted to give my team a victory as well. I determined that I could do both. It was a challenging goal.

Ownership: I realized that the longer I took to make a decision, the longer both teams would lose. John Dickson, not knowing my responsibility to pick up the other team, suggested I run ahead to find the flag while the rest of the team caught up. I decided to go ahead with this idea, knowing in the back of my mind that I needed to find the flag very quickly or the other team would be waiting longer.

Teamwork: I rushed to the supposed location of the flag, but it was no where to be found! In despair, I frantically looked about. Then, to my surprise, seconds later my whole team came rushing around me to cover the area. I later learned that as soon as I had took my head start, the rest of my team, many of whom are over 60, took up my steady jog pace and were trailing behind me. They took on my responsibility instantly and allowed me to go back to pick up the other team without any more delay, even without my mentioning to them at all about my situation. They were united in my desire to bring our team's victory and thus we could successfully find the final flag in time, I found out when I returned.

Small actions have big effects

Today I learned a valuable experience through hiking. I learned that small actions have big effects.
I thought the hike would be easy,  and that small assumption lead to a big deal  when I wasn't concerned enough to remember to bring micro spikes (a boot traction device), which presented some dangerous moments during the hike as we crossed icy patches.

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Absolutes

Do you like absolutes?

Some people dislike absolutes,  saying that they are not considerate of "reality" or make people feel inadequate. However,  the way I look at it,  though absolutes may challenge our illusions of self-image when wesee our real measure on a clearly defined scale,  they provide us with a clarity of where we need to go and this the hope of achieving a higher state of living.
If we strive for absolutes, we at least have the chance of achieving absolute values and ideals.

Compliments

We all have unique strengths and weaknesses. Because of this, human beings naturally are inclined to support and compliment each other to fill our weaknesses with our strengths. This is the way we grow our hearts and realize our life's true value in serving others.

Ownership means taking initiative

The natural inclination of an owner is to constantly take initiative to achieving the common goals.
Someone who isn't motivated by the goal might follow instructions to avoid being reprimanded,  but they will rarely recognize and act on opportunities when they arise.
Today I realized some ways that I can improve in making ownership and proactive thinking a habit.

Feb. 12th, 2014, neighborhood park

Rest In Peace

A lifestyle of service may not be the easiest lifestyle, but it is certainly the most rewarding.

I like to think of it this way: If I work hard all day for a noble purpose, then, though my body is tired, my mind is at ease. I can rest peacefully.

However, if I indulge myself in whatever may suit my whims, maybe lounging around my house most of the day, then my body may be comfortable, but my mind will be uneasy. And I probably won't be able to sleep well.

I think this daily cycle is a metaphor for life - people who work hard their whole life for a noble cause will find themselves resting peacefully in the afterlife, and those who don't will have trouble in their eternal rest.

Be a good example

We should be a good example for all those who, knowingly or unknowingly, look up to us. We should demonstrate that in our daily life we are striving for noble ideals and living by moral principles and values.