Head Knocking Effects

“Whatever good he is looking for, he will see it.”

–     Nigerian Ibo Blessing, cited in Jeanne Marie Laskas’ haunting book, Concussion

Bennet Omalu is the pathologist that uncovered and battled to make public the ugly truth of concussions, and their long term effect on football players.  Concussion is the best selling book that tells his story (more on that in a moment).  Key to his story is the blessing above, proffered early and often by Omalu’s father, Oba. This concept of seeing the good for which we are looking is key to a difference maker.

If you’ll allow a little latitude, I’m gonna ramble with two purposes in mind on this topic…

First, if you are a parent of a football player, buy and read this book — and then give it to another parent of a football player.  Yes, the movie will be really very good and Will Smith might win an Oscar.  Get the book, please!  Buy it.  Read it.  Now.  One effect of concussions — especially the repeated but unreported “little knocks,” is that they cloud the judgment of their victims — but there is no reason for the people responsible for the players to be cloudy.  This book is clear.  As Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise said in A Few Good Men:  Crystal.  Clear.  (Watch the first 1:06 of this clip…)

Second, even if we only figuratively, but repeatedly knock ourselves in the head, there’s a concussion effect from that, too.  In addition to judgment, it’s our vision — our professional vision, that gets clouded and that can cause us to look for something other than good.  If I can stretch the Ibo blessing, I have a hunch that whatever evil, bad, dumbass, unfair or ineffective, inefficient and unproductive we’re looking for, we will see it — and we can easily fall prey to it.

The choice is clear.  Crystal. Clear.  Our choice, every minute of every day, is to decide whatever good we’re looking for or whatever else we’re looking for.

To long-time loyal subscribers, I apologize for a delivery schedule for 2015 that was beneath the standard you’ve come to expect from the Daily Difference.  To newer followers, in 2016 you’ll see a much more daily, and a much more difference making focus from this blog.

Most of you know I don’t do resolutions.  Let me just say that 2016 will be a year of looking for, seeing and doing good.