A conversation in my car yesterday:
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(After his third reference to Gandhi) Would you say Gandhi is your favorite historical figure? I have many but yeah, Gandhi is up there. So if you had to pick just one historical figure to have as a friend, it’ll be Gandhi? Oh yeah. Cept, he’s not very funny so we’d probably just hang out once a week. |
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I have some really inspiring gems in my life. Sometimes I take that fact for granted and just go about my existence entertaining mere whims and hedonistic endeavors. Other times, an inspiring gem would gently nudge me with a reminder. My relationship with my world and life needs to be a give and take relationship and have I been giving enough? When I think about Dave and every time I interact with Dave, I am humbled by how much of himself he gives to the world around him and it pushes me to be less selfish.
He’s served so much in his life. From rebuilding homes in New Orleans after Katrina, to literally painting inner city Chicago into a prettier place for youth (after of course teaching and mentoring in Chicago). He’s counseled the homeless, the battered, the young and troubled. He’s advocated for those who are unfairly discriminated against and fought for their rights. Really, I can’t convey in a blog post how incredibly awesome Dave is. Suffice it to say I’ve never met anyone who’s as devoted to a life of service as him. There’s more to him than activism that makes him such a star in my life. He’s a talented artist who paints, sculpts, writes, cooks, and performs. He accepts his friends as they are and yet somehow encourages them to be better versions of themselves without so much a lecture or judgment laced comment; He’s quick-witted and hilarious but never at the expense of others. He’s just an amazing soul and I’m so lucky to have him as a friend.
P.S. He leaves the best voice-mails.
Question: Who inspires you to give?