Brian Johnson records a short Heroic +1 micro-episode from an Orlando airport terminal during a two-hour layover. He recounts visiting a Loyola ROTC panel and a tour of the USS George H.W. Bush, then walks the terminal while observing diverse people (a father and son, an enraged woman, fit athletes, an obese man). Drawing explicitly on Confucius’ teaching about learning from others (quoted), he uses these observations to reflect on cultivating virtues, managing triggers, practicing compassion, and recommitting to personal goals. The episode closes with a practical invitation to emulate Confucius’ inward gaze and to send compassion/celebratory love while practicing integrity.
Chapters
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Heroic plus one. We're done with the Arete plus one degree series, the micro chapters from my book. Did you get a copy yet? If so, I hope you love it. If not, I hope you do love it when and if you decide to get it. We're in a ton of libraries too, if money's been the obstacle. So check it out. Literally there. But we're back to the daily Heroic plus ones. Here we go. I'm typing this in the Southwest terminal of the airport in Orlando, Florida. I'm in the middle of a two hour layover on my trip back home from the East Coast. Yesterday. I had a great full day. It started with a Loyola University ROTC leadership panel I was on with Admiral Mike Menauzer and Brittany Loney and it ended with a tour of the USS George H.W. bush. Now I've been walking back and forth in the terminal with my 10,000 steps a day target in sight. As I was walking, I thought of Confucius. Then I thought of Mark Twain and Krishnamurti. First, Confucius and I went on a little walk together. Now, way back in the day, roughly 2500 years ago, Confucius told us, and I quote, even when walking in a party of no more than three, I can always be certain of learning from those I am with and in the presence of a good man. Think all the time how you may learn to equal him in the presence of a bad man. Turn your gaze within. Yep, that's what I was thinking about as I appreciated the diversity of humanity on display in that airport terminal. I saw a dad playing with his son and smiled as I imagined remembering to playfully celebrate my amazing kids. Then I saw an enraged woman and reminded myself to check my own anger and take a deep breath when I feel triggered by things that just aren't that important. Then I saw some super fit athletes and celebrated their commitment to excellence as I recommitted to showing up as a disciplined athlete. Then I saw a tragically obese man and sent compassion while recommitting to helping create a world in which 51% of humanity is flourishing by the year 2051. As I walked back and forth, I went back and forth admiring qualities I saw in others that I want to cultivate more of in myself, then noticing less than admirable qualities that I want to continue to uproot within myself. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. That's our plus one. Perhaps you can spend some time with Confucius today in the presence of a good person like let us send them celebratory love as we think about how we can learn to equal them in the presence of a less than great human. Let us send them compassion as we embrace our own imperfections and recommit to living in integrity with our highest values so we can make a difference in the world. Here's to shining the flashlight of curiosity on what's working and what needs work as we practice our philosophy and give the world all we've got today.
