Fritz Pfister

This past week was a moment for happiness and sadness for the Pfister family. My wife Kristie’s Great Aunt Ruth Miller passed away and her funeral was on Tuesday. Then Saturday my Aunt Chloe Rehfield passed away and her funeral was on Wednesday. Although expected, still a shock and sadness that these two ladies would no longer be with us on earth.

During Ruth’s service the minister provided an eloquent tribute to Ruth. Although Ruth lived in Springfield Illinois and Chloe in Grosse Ile Michigan, I couldn’t help but to think of my Aunt Chloe and how similar her life was to Ruth’s.

Chloe born in 1912, and Ruth in 1915. Chloe lost her husband Alfred in 1983, and Ruth lost her husband Carlton in 1981. Both devoutly religious, neither ever a complaint, never a harsh word for anyone, both always with a smile on their face, and both always in perfect attire. Neither had children. Both lived through the Great Depression, both members of The Greatest Generation living through WWII, and witnessed all else to their passing in 2009.

During the service the minister recited a poem called The Dash. On every tombstone there is a born on date, a dash, and a passed away date. The message was clear, it is what you do, and how you live during the dash that’s important.

These two ladies filled their dashes with happy lives, always available to offer a helping hand to family, friends, and neighbors, and everyone was considered a neighbor. Both deeply devoted to their faith and their churches. How lucky to have known them. They were leaders by example.

These events caused me to ponder what am I doing with my dash? What are you doing with your dash? Are we filling our dashes with acts of kindness, and labor to help our neighbors? Quietly, humbly, and without fanfare, as did these two ladies?

What of our leaders today? What are they doing with their dashes?

Another disgraced Illinois governor of style over substance, apparently motivated by personal gain over the good of others, is now out of a job.

Media moguls that sensationalize doom and gloom in the economy to achieve a desired outcome should be ashamed. These journalistic tactics are at least partially to blame for today’s consumer confidence, by publishing a self fulfilling prophecy.

A past President that used fear to motivate, and rush a congress to pass a bailout bill with trillions of dollars for financial institutions, has born no measurable fruit, while adding to our massive national debt.

A sitting president also uses fear, with an accommodating media, to rush to forge a stimulus plan that will saddle future generations with debt by supporting a pork laden bill that has less to do with stimulating the economy than growing government for the sake of power.

When witnessing these actions I think of what my Aunt Chloe would say when discussing such less than admirable behavior, rather it is what she would ask; well, what are you going to do? She is right. Well, what are you going to do?

As I have opined on several occasions; things are never as good as they appear, nor are they ever as bad as they appear. That the recovery and the solution to our economic condition today will start with each individual person deciding to be as productive as they can be. That is to accept personal responsibility, to be self reliant, and to know there are acres of diamonds beneath their feet.

I remember the 1980’s all too well. An economy much worse than today. Interest rates were above 20%, unemployment 12%. The country was attempting to recover from the misery index.

My employer closed his business in May 1982. Now jobless, my first child on the way, and jobs as scarce as hen’s teeth. There was never a thought of applying for unemployment, instead opening a line of credit on the good will of the Dellert Paint store, and knocking on doors, painting houses and apartments to support my family.

Then as winter approached with painting jobs coming to an end, I was hired to drive a truck for $4.50 an hour, having been chosen out of over a hundred applicants, becoming one of the luckiest days in my life.

Why? Because there was an Aunt Chloe and Ruth, grandparents and parents that taught self reliance, and personal responsibility, who asked; well, what are you going to do?

I am concerned that we may see a repeat of the hardship of the 1980’s, because sadly today, self reliance, and personal responsibility must not be being taught in many families. That the majority of people would choose to relinquish self reliance, and personal responsibility to the government. It’s not; well, what are you going to do? It’s; well what is the government going to do for me?

Yes this week was a mixture of sadness, and happiness. Happy to have learned from the lives of two fine ladies that led by example, who always placed substance over style, always available to lend a helping hand, never waivered in their faith, and lived their dash to the fullest.

Then sad to see our leaders place style over substance filling their dashes with disgrace, and utilizing fear for personal gain, and power.

Take a few moments today to think about how you are living your dash, and ask yourself; well, what are you going to do?

The opinions expressed are solely those of Fritz Pfister, and not RE/MAX Professionals of Springfield or RE/MAX International.