When I was in high school, I was blessed to have a vocabulary building program spread over all four years from freshman to senior year. Each Monday, we would be presented with 15 new words we needed to learn over the course of the week. On the following Friday we would be quizzed on ten of the words where we had to define and use each in a sentence.
When I was confronted with the word raconteur a few weeks ago, I could not recall it among the nearly 2000 I had studied in my English classes. And I don’t recall encountering it in the many years since. I have written about my love for obscure words before, but this one was new to me.
The word is of French origin dating from the early 19th
century. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word as, “The narrator of an anecdote or a story, esp. a person particularly skilled in this role.”
So, where would I encounter such an odd and seldom used word? Wouldn’t just calling someone a great storyteller suffice? Not in this case. Stick with me and you will find out why.
Raconteur was the word used to describe one of my dearest friends named Bob Lee. Sadly, I learned the word as it was written in his obituary. Bob died in his sleep on October 10th this year. He was only 68 years old. He and his wife Mary had retired from their jobs as corporate attorneys for a large national bank just months before.
Now, the purpose of this blog is not to make you sad. But it is a real left turn from last year when I wrote about Schoolhouse Rock and the Preamble to the Constitution.
I wish that all of you could have met Bob. He loved good books, good wine, and a good story. He told stories in a way that you could hear the same one over and over and leave you wanting to hear it again. The only word that could adequately describe him is raconteur.
Bob was also a brilliant lawyer, philanthropist, and devoted husband. But what I appreciated most is he really knew how to do life. Yes, do life. He was the whole package who lived by the belief that a day without laughter and tears is incomplete. And, while he passed away too soon for me, I am thankful to have known him.
So, how on earth does my short eulogy for my friend relate to Thanksgiving? In short, giving thanks should be a state of mind and a daily behavior. It certainly was for Bob, and it can be for all of us too.
But, more than just a thankful disposition, the lesson that I take from Bob’s life is this – don’t wait.
Who has had an impact on your life in a way you could have never anticipated? Is it a friend, a family member, a co-worker, or even someone you casually encounter at the grocery store or coffee shop? Have you taken the time to thank that person? Don’t wait – this week would be a great time.
On the other hand, is there someone you are estranged from for any given reason? Family life can be hard, and differences often flare up at holiday time. Sometimes these disagreements linger, and resentment builds until, well, it’s too late. Don’t wait – this week would be an ideal time to reconcile.
A very wise man once suggested that I ponder this phrase, “How do you know you will have a tomorrow?” The truth is, we don’t, but it caused me to wonder if small acts of gratitude, service, and thanksgiving matter. Spoiler alert – they do.
Don’t wait – Kiss your spouse goodnight, hug your kids before they go off to school, visit an aging relative, donate to worthy causes, volunteer in your community, and always be willing to listen to someone who is in need. After all the word is ThanksGIVING.
Now – a challenge.
A few years ago, my mobile phone was ringing. My boss named Jeff was calling me… on Thanksgiving Day. Uh-oh, I thought. Something must really be wrong. I answered, anticipating I had really messed something up, and braced for bad news.
However, the call was nothing short of stunning. Jeff said that he makes a point on every Thanksgiving Day to call three people in his life he is thankful for and tell them why. This year, I was one of those people. I was blown away. After a short conversation I expressed my gratitude for the call and wished him and his family the best.
It’s time for us to stun some people. I am committing to thanking three people in my life on Thursday, November 28th. Can you join me? I’m not sure exactly who it will be, but I want the call to come out of nowhere like it did for me. Let’s make it a new holiday tradition – maybe even a movement.
Speaking of movements, no Turkey Day would be complete without listening to what I believe is the only “official” Thanksgiving song, Alice’s Restaurant. Is it silly? Yes. That can be the laughter part of your day. You can figure out the tears that make it complete.
Patrick Schmidt is a Technology Lifecycle Management Specialist with LRS IT Solutions. For more than 28 years, he has been helping customers get a firm grasp on their asset and contract management with a combination of comprehensive service level analysis and lifecycle management best practices.