Comments on: RAGBRAI and Core Values http://www.character.org/blog/2010/08/ragbrai-and-core-values/ Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:55:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jim Hansenhttp://www.character.org/blog/2010/08/ragbrai-and-core-values/#comment-34 Jim Hansen Sat, 07 Aug 2010 07:07:32 +0000 http://forumoncharacter.wordpress.com/?p=177#comment-34 Thanks for reminding me that character is not something that you do, rather it is what you are! Thanks for reminding me that character is not something that you do, rather it is what you are!

]]> By: Barbara Gruenerhttp://www.character.org/blog/2010/08/ragbrai-and-core-values/#comment-33 Barbara Gruener Sat, 07 Aug 2010 01:00:38 +0000 http://forumoncharacter.wordpress.com/?p=177#comment-33 We had a similar experience in Wisconsin last month. My brother was hosting some bikers, just random athletes on a bike tour who needed a place to stay. Strangers, really. It took trust on my brother's part to welcome them into his home, and it takes determination and drive on their part to strive to meet their goals through these bike races. What turns the strangers into friends? I think it's character. The generosity of people like my brother and the faith of those cyclists. One of them shared his pasta dinner with my older son that night while the other visited with our youngest about why he was wearing a pedometer. I heard such a strong connection between this recent college graduate and my incoming sixth grader as they discussed his Trek Across Texas and how he set a goal and how many steps he had to take a day to meet his goal and how he was one of the 6 kids who actually logged their steps the whole year, inspiration to a Purdue grad who's having trouble finding a job. What a great example of the circular nature of giving and receiving. That's exactly what happens at the Forum. I've had the pleasure of presenting a breakout session for a few years now, and my experience has been that the more I give, the more I get. Don't miss this win-win chance to connect and collaborate with other character mentors! We had a similar experience in Wisconsin last month. My brother was hosting some bikers, just random athletes on a bike tour who needed a place to stay. Strangers, really. It took trust on my brother’s part to welcome them into his home, and it takes determination and drive on their part to strive to meet their goals through these bike races. What turns the strangers into friends? I think it’s character. The generosity of people like my brother and the faith of those cyclists. One of them shared his pasta dinner with my older son that night while the other visited with our youngest about why he was wearing a pedometer. I heard such a strong connection between this recent college graduate and my incoming sixth grader as they discussed his Trek Across Texas and how he set a goal and how many steps he had to take a day to meet his goal and how he was one of the 6 kids who actually logged their steps the whole year, inspiration to a Purdue grad who’s having trouble finding a job. What a great example of the circular nature of giving and receiving.

That’s exactly what happens at the Forum. I’ve had the pleasure of presenting a breakout session for a few years now, and my experience has been that the more I give, the more I get. Don’t miss this win-win chance to connect and collaborate with other character mentors!

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