It's true you can learn anything from anything, so keeping your eyes wide and ears open can reveal valuable lessons.  My, how philosophical I am this morning!

Virginia's sister and our little 1+ year old niece are staying over for a week, along with my mother in law.  I am one of those extremely lucky guys who also loves his parents in law.  Watching little Madison grow up is a kick.  From observing her awkward movements, trying to even out the flow of her coordination efforts is food for thought.  She uses a complete language no one seems to understand except for her mom, and then some.  She is a very cool little girl.  Always happy.  The kind that makes you think if they were all like that, I'll take a few!

The thought that struck me was about politicians since we are in the raw of the lie-dancing parade they indulge in every 4 years.  I'm looking at the mistake Obama as made and how the McCain clan is quick to point it out.  I'm thinking about the Roves of this world and the rest of those politicians and looking at sweet little Madison, I can't but wonder they were once like that.  Yikes, what went wrong!  How did they get to go from cute little innocent and helpless infants to lip service arrogant "adults".  Arrogant, I hear is a la mode in the mud throwing battle our less than mature candidates are showing the world.

So it makes me wonder, do they have any recollection of being an infant and helpless?  Are they so full of themselves they forgot who they are, tiny specks in the continuum of life?  And I wonder do they have coaches?  What kind of coaches do they have?

As a coach, one of the most important thing we do is get to the "who".  Get to the source of the who is and why it does it and what for.  If I had a politician client, would I accept working with them knowing how their less-than-ethical millieu is?  Would I take up the challenge and work with one?  I think I would.  It would be terrific to experience what goes on at their levels and how aware are they of themselves.  What do they bring to the table, more fodder or a wind of change?  More of themselves or more of the same old stuff?

Looking at even our local politicians, I cringe seeing how they wrestle the truth in order to push their own benefits.  Our little Long Beach is one of the top 20 biggest cities in the US and still run like it was back in the 60s.  Some of our local officials still try to push projects they have interests in while people have clearly stated they weren't interested.  Looking at Madison, I can't help but wonder what makes some people grow up to be who they are?  Where did they lose themselves?