Author: jeff ludlum

One Mission: Make it GOOD. New book out soon, “New Dad Lessons”: Stay Tuned. #halffullallgood

What is a President?

On By jeff ludlumIn human rights, Insight, leadership, organizations, politics, social change, social justiceLeave a comment

Talking about the top elected official of our Executive Branch, the President is the CEO of the country.

The President is the ultimate servant leader, elected to set policy, make decisions for the betterment of the people, and the Commander in Chief empowered to protect the citizenry and our land.

The President’s duty is to the Constitution, and to the people. To serve and to protect the people. ALL THE PEOPLE

Here’s the text, the following Presidential Oath or Affirmation:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

And usually closed out with…”so help me God.”

With these words an ordinary person is given tremendous power for a time, entrusted by the people to fulfill the oath.

And then often, and maybe quickly, and maybe frequently, things get muddy, and things get murky.

But the work of the President, it’s Sacred Duty. Sacred Duty.

Presidents and People

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, examples, human rights, Insight, leadership, organizations, politicsLeave a comment

It’s a big world out there: more than 7 billion people, on 7 continents, more than 200 countries all told.

Who leads? It depends. In the United States, we have something like a democracy. And so in this political system who leads formally? Depends on who wins the election.

Who follows? Everyone else.

The thing is, at least in the United States, those who become president, he or she, has pretty close to an ultimate power while in office,

And then they become regular citizens again, once the term is completed.

Presidents, and all leaders, in the US and everywhere, they should be, and are, just people like everyone else.

Presidents in their best moments, give themselves to their office, to their people who they are elected to serve.

That ultimate power, it’s to be used to serve, to further the common good.

Let it be so. Let it be so.

Kids Do The Darndest Things

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, family, Happy, Insight, mental health, parentingLeave a comment

Freestyle flow, how does it go? Got kids, don’t ya know…

They’re so dialed in, some of the time, paying attention most all of the time.

Early morning up, blanket in the hall, that started this rant,

A couple more coming, to round out the chant.

“Dad I got no where to keep this stuff. How about your room, is that ok, you like the lava lamp, right? And this chair doesn’t fit in my room, but I really like it, how about you keep it?”

[End the rhythm, ain’t got the time. 🙂 ]

Particular habits and patterns and frustrations, all part of growing up, becoming an adult human. How to adjust and modify and focus your interests and energies, all good stuff.

Maybe that’s one of the best parts of being a parent: the simple, sustained intimacy of witnessing and helping your kids grow up.

It’s the darndest thing. Like that blanket in the hall.

Mom

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, family, Happy, Insight, mental health, parentingLeave a comment

Today’s her day, what to say? She poured herself out in a particular way.

Salt of the earth, that’s part of her core, foundation of family right down to the core.

She gave herself to us until we were grown, then shifted to pour herself into other work, ever caring for others.

She and Abe Lincoln share the day, what traits might they share along the way?

Patient, straight-forward, committed to right, believing and living that path as best she could; until she couldn’t in the same way.

Not cut down by bullet, ‘twas’ a stroke instead, the bullet a clot, into her head. And so struck down, but not out, she’s lived a third of her life a survivor; a stroke survivor; struggling to move and speak, but no shortage of love and belief in what’s right.

Would that I could be as stalwart as she, would that I could be as certain, and let that manifest as love for my children, as she has for us.

Still showing us the way somehow; still showing us enthusiasm, contentment when together, a simple belief in together, family first and together.

Happy Birthday, Mom.

Lyrics Post: “Beast of Burden”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Happy, lifestyle, marriage, mental healthLeave a comment

“Beast Of Burden”, The Rolling Stones. Not much needs to be said.

Same old magic. The riff, the lyric, the feel…all I want…

“I’ll never be your beast of burden

My back is broad, but it’s a-hurting

All I want, for you to make love to me

I’ll never be your beast of burden

I’ve walked for miles, my feet are hurting

All I want is for you to make love to me

Am I hard enough?

Am I rough enough?

Am I rich enough?

I’m not too blind to see

I’ll never be your beast of burden

So let’s go home and draw the curtains

Music on the radio

Come on, baby, make sweet love to me

Am I hard enough?

Am I rough enough?

Am I rich enough?

I’m not too blind to see

Oh, little sister

Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girls

You’re a pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girl

Pretty, pretty, such a pretty, pretty, pretty girl

Come on, baby, please, please, please

I’ll tell you, you can put me out on the street

Put me out with no shoes on my feet

But put me out, put me out

Put me out of misery, yeah

All your sickness, I can suck it up

Throw it all at me, I can shrug it off

There’s one thing, baby, I don’t understand

You keep on telling me I ain’t your kind of man

Ain’t I rough enough? Ooh, honey

Ain’t I tough enough?

Ain’t I rich enough? In love enough?

Ooh, please

I’ll never be your beast of burden

I’ll never be your beast of burden

Never, never, never, never, never, never, never be

I’ll never be your beast of burden

I’ve walked for miles, my feet are hurting

All I want is you to make love to me, yeah

I don’t need no beast of burden

I need no fussing, I need no nursing

Never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never”

Writer(s): Mick Jagger, Keith Richards

Lyrics Post: “Volcano”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, family, HappyLeave a comment

Way back when, another one turned me upside down with glee, a little ditty by Jimmy Buffett.

And maybe my favorite memory of this song is dancing and singing to it with my mom at cousin’s wedding decades ago, the joy still easily remembered.

So FUN.

Volcano”

Now, I don’t know, I don’t know where I’m a gonna go
when the volcano blow.
Let me say it now,
I don’t know, I don’t know where I’m a gonna go
when the volcano blow.

Ground, she movin’ under me.
Tidal waves out on the sea.
Sulphur smoke up in the sky.
Pretty soon we learn to fly

[Chorus:]
Let me hear you, now
I don’t know, I don’t know where I’m a gonna go
when the volcano blow.
Let me hear you now.
I don’t know, I don’t know where I’m a gonna go
when the volcano blow.

My girl quickly say to me,
“Mon you better watch your feet.”
Lava come down soft and hot.
“You better lava me now or lava me not.

[Chorus]

No time to count what I’m worth,
cause I just left the planet Earth.
Where I go I hope there’s rum.
Not to worry mon soon come.

[Chorus]

But I don’t want to land in New York City,
I don’t want to land in Mexico.
I don’t want to land on no Three Mile Island;
I don’t want to see my skin a-glow.

Don’t want to land in Comanche Sky Park,
or in Nashville, Tennessee.
I don’t want to land in no San Juan airport or
the Yukon Territory.

Don’t want to land no San Diego.
Don’t want to land in no Buzzards Bay.
I don’t want to land on no Ayatolla.
I got nothin’ more to say.

[Chorus]

Writer(s): J. Buffett, K. Sykes, H. Dailey

Write Anywhere

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, Happy, Insight, mental healthLeave a comment

As I continue my writing work, striving to capture the daily voice, a few things come to mind.

I write to share what comes to mind, to share, to inspire. That’s my mission.

I’m grateful for the means to scribble down and publish whenever it comes to mind, to capture the muse in the moment.

Sitting on the stool in the kitchen, in the car in the parking lot, on the couch, in the rocking chair, just about anywhere.

Inspiration really is like a good attitude – it’s a choice. How? Quite simply, be open, choose to be inspired, to find the spark, the good, in the moment. That’s the foundation; it’s there for you, for the taking.

Write anywhere, be inspired everywhere.

Hmm, yeah, I think I’ll write tomorrow; like I just did.

More Props

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, culture, Happy, human rights, Insight, leadership, lifestyle, organizations, social change, social justice, sportsLeave a comment

I just heard a piece on the radio about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the diversity of their coaching leadership. It’s expanded my appreciation for the team and my attitude about that team, Tom Brady joining the team, and their victory in Super Bowl LV.

Listening to Rod Graves, executive Director of the Fred’s Pollard foundation, it all comes quickly into focus. Lots of good from the Tampa Bay organization, their approach, their leadership, their victory.

Some of the insight came from this piece:

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers And Diversity In The Upper Ranks Of An NFL Franchise”

And here, the proof in the staff:

https://www.buccaneers.com/team/coaches-roster/

Then more insight from Rod Graves, ED of the Pollard Foundation, and about them, here:

https://www.fritzpollard.org/fritz-pollard

Bottom line?

More props, more GOOD. Let the colors wash together, let the very best rise to the top.