Ceremonies

The end of the Scouting year has come for me.  Our Cub Scout Pack had a cross-over ceremony to promote each den level to their next level.  I am a big fan of ceremonies in scouting and in life in general.

For our Cub Scout Ceremony we had the typical bridge.  We did the typical neckerchief change.  This time around, I place a decorated drum on one side of the bridge.  I instructed the Scouts to declare their year an end, by striking the drum once before crossing the bridge.  Ahhhh… I think it added that extra little bit to make it EXTRAORDINARY!  

It’s important for all of us to have some sort of ceremony when we change or end something.  When I recently left a job, the office organized a get together at one of the local bar&grills.  When I received my MBA, the university recognized our hard work through a commencement ceremony and my family through a party. 

You might think, it’s not that big of a deal.  I know I completed the task and that’s all I need.  You might want to rethink that thought.  There is POWER to the ceremony.  The act of self recognition or even the event of closure has a big impact on your psyche.

A funeral is a ceremony.  It’s really not for the deceased.   It’s for the rest of us for closure and celebration of life.   

The last part of the Cub Scout Cross-over was a change of command ceremony.  I stepped down from being the Cubmaster.  So I created a ceremony to remove the Akela headdress from me.  My wife removed it from me and the wife of our new Cubmaster put it on the new Cubmaster.  Involving the wives symbolized their behind the scene support.   I think the ceremony gives a couple of meanings for the Pack.  First, the Pack now knows who is running the show and second, the new Cubmaster has formally been given his authority.  I made up an oath to go along with the transition as well.

When we give kids their ranks or their awards, we should not just put it in a plastic baggy and hand it to them.  If we, as adults, don’t make it a big deal, the kids won’t think it’s a big deal either.

Make events EXTRAORDINARY!!

Lead by Example,

Scouter Steve

The List

The other day I was working with a scout on one of his merit badges.  I'm not exactly sure how we got onto the topic, but we started to talk about the Scout Law.  I noticed something interesting...

When I was in college, I had learned that when you give a speech or give a list, people will remember the first item and the last item on the list.  I assume its just the way we are with all of the stuff coming and going in our heads.  I was taught, if you want someone to remember the most important items on your list, put them either at the begining or at the end.  Which means the first item and the last item on the list must be the most important out of the list. 

When I looked at the Law (its on the right, if you need to look at it) the first word is TRUSTWORTHY and the last word is REVERNT.    Ponder on those two words for a little bit...

Turstworthy as I have discussed is being someone that people can trust.  It also includes trusting yourself and your abilities.  Keeping your word; doing what you said you would do.

Reverent is having the realization that God is in your life and making sure you pay your respect with gratitude, worship and following his teachings. 

In conclusion, you need to be trustworthy and give time to God.  Interesting isn't it?

Lead by Example,

Scouter Steve

Integrity...to a new level

I recently attended Dream University.  Last summer I registered for the Certified Dream Coach® program.  I was very surprised to learn a deeper and stronger definition of integrity.  Being an Eagle Scout, I have always tried to do my best to live in honor and to be trustworthy.  What I learned at Dream University was a new level.  I never thought that a personal commitment to myself, was an agreement to myself.  For example, when starting out the New Year, we make a New Year's resolution.  Something like "I'll wake up early and run for 30 minutes on a treadmill."  That thought is an internal agreement with yourself.  So when the alarm clock goes off in the morning and the snooze is pushed several times and eventually the OFF button, you just broke your own agreement with yourself.  I learned that after many years of breaking these personal agreements, even your own deep beliefs become to learn that you can't trust yourself.  What an Ah-ha moment I had that day.  

Another level of personal agreements we have is to God. how many thoughts have we had and have told ourselves that we would do something that involved communication with God...and then we don't follow through.  It got me to think about my trustworthiness.  I know I am very good on the external agreements.  Doing what I say I am going to do...never thought of it from an internal perspective and from a spiritual perspective.  WOW!

So after 7 days at Dream University, I became a Certified Dream Coach®.  I was personally trained by America's Dream Coach®, Marcia Wieder.  Do you have dreams and goals, but haven't been able to break through to achieve them?  A Dream Coach® can help you make the break through you are looking for.  Send me a quick e-mail and I can setup a time for a consultation to see if Dream Coaching is for you. thestevewalsh@live.com

Lead by Example,

Scouter Steve