In life, we often become a collector of things. Lots of things. Massive things like cars and houses. But what if you only had a shoe box to hold your most important and precious things? Ok – let’s say it is a boot box – to give you a little more room.
What would you put in your “life box”?
For me I can think of a few things:
- The baseball that is held together by black electrical tape. A gift from my cousin and a reminder of an awesome childhood of play and fun.
- Another baseball signed by the little league team I coached. A memento of all the things I did with my kids (and other’s kids).
- The commemorative coin from the 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival featuring Scotland, Mali, and Appalachia. An item that reminds me to be proud of my heritage and the gifts Appalachia has bestowed on the world.
- The glass filled with colored sand. All those fun beach trips with my wife and kids.
- My Jaycee Pin. A reminder of the value of community service.
- My Virginia Young Bankers Section Beer Mug. A reminder of the camaraderie of my industry – and a little fun.
- The Hobbit paperback book, reflecting my interest in the imagination, which I read fully to my daughter over many nights in a Scottish brogue.
- A small winter globe that was a gift from friends. The type of friends who become your adopted family during life.
- Oh, and the Monty Python DVD celebrating the anniversary of the movie The Holy Grail. (You can figure that one out).
Perhaps the important reminders of a good life can fit in a shoe box. Also, there is a small empty space left in the corner of the box for the future. The most important things in life are not the biggest – they are just the things that come from the people we care for, love, and serve.
Have a great week.
– Leton
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“Letters From Leton” is a blog series comprised of the weekly updates that Leton Harding – President, Chairman, and CEO of Powell Valley National Bank, shares with the Bank’s team members. These newsletters are full of uplifting anecdotes and intriguing insights that are applicable beyond the Bank, so we want to share them with you.
