Skills Taught For Life

“In the time of your life, live—so that in that good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life your life touches. Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding place and let it be free and unashamed.

Place in matter and in flesh the least of the values, for these are the things that hold death and must pass away. Discover in all things that which shines and is beyond corruption. Encourage virtue in whatever heart it may have been driven into secrecy and sorrow by the shame and terror of the world. Ignore the obvious, for it is unworthy of the clear eye and the kindly heart.

Be the inferior of no man, or of any men be superior. Remember that every man is a variation of yourself. No man's guilt is not yours, nor is any man's innocence a thing apart. Despise evil and ungodliness, but not men of ungodliness or evil. These, understand. Have no shame in being kindly and gentle but if the time comes in the time of your life to kill, kill and have no regret.

In the time of your life, live—so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it.” ― William Saroyan, The Time Of Your Life

It was the fall of 1978, my first year at Peru State College and I was living every moment, event and every piece that I could capture each day. There were the studies I tried to remain disciplined with, but to no avail. There was so much more to do. So much more to experience.

I was involved in student government, student activities, art, drama and socializing. College had all those things I only dreamed about growing up on the farm. College provided me the freedom to find myself that a small farm town never encouraged. There had been a couple of plays, music and such in high school, but now I wanted to be in a college production.

My abilities came from the technical and analytical side of the brain. But I always had a toe in the water of creativity, wanting to be an actor, a painter; someone creative in that fashion.

It was this same fall, leaves exploding into amazing colors that I auditioned for a play called The Time Of Your Life. Directed by Dr. Charles Harper, to this day I am still not sure how I made the cut. Whether it was untapped talent or someone to fill the cast, I was thrilled to be part of a college production.

My first realization is how tough learning my limited lines would be, let alone becoming part of the scene in a play. I am sure I struggled during rehearsals but one man made all the difference.

His name was Dr. Royal W. Eckert.

Doc Eckert was also a member of the department and he had the duty of handling costumes for this play. He may have had pity for me but I think it was something more which existed in him. I think he had a belief in people and a need to make a difference in the lives of others. Big or small, Doc had an impact on me and on many other people.

Doc took the time to help me figure out ways to learn and time my lines. He would give me tips on stage presence and blending in to become part of the unfolding scene. His guidance extended to opening night when I remember him telling me I would be great. Just be part of what was happening and to enjoy myself.

The time devoted to a farm boy wanting to act on stage did more than he may have ever thought. The skills taught to me by Doc Eckert were life important to what my real career turned out to be. I still use those lessons learned today when talking to customers, presenting ideas, and making a difference in the lives of other people.

He taught me confidence.
He taught me preparation.
He taught me presence.
He taught me.

And is that not what a teacher does?

They teach us skills that serve us throughout life. Doc Eckert taught me well and for that I thank him and many of the professors and other teachers at Peru State College.

Are you a former Peru State College student? Did Doc Eckert impact your life. Do you have someone in your life like Doc Eckert that does not realize how much they did for you? Just like the movie Mr. Hollands Opus, can you tell Doc Eckert what he meant to you. Or can you see in Doc Eckert someone that did this for you?

If you can, send a card, a letter, or a photo to Dr. Royal W. Eckert and tell him. Let this be his great opus, his greatest work in making a difference in the lives of others, in you. I could write of many other Peru State College professors and teachers. I could write of many others I have been influenced by throughout the years. But I choose to recognize Doc Eckert, to thank all of the others by thanking him.

Send your cards and letters to:

Dr. Royal W. Eckert
c/o Ambassador Nebraska City
1800 14th Avenue
Nebraska City, Nebraska 68410

Even if you do not know Doc, let him know people like him mean all the world to us. His life means something. His life has made a difference.

Then let me know your inspired story.
Let me know if you wrote Doc or another person who made a difference.
Send me a note at jprimm@bellsouth.net and stay inspired my friends.

Dr. Royal W. Eckert

(1975-1994) Professor Emeritus of Speech/Theatre

Peru State College

Sunset and Sunrise

Sunset in the Middle East

Regardless of where you are in this large and wonderful world, the sun will be setting. Night will begin to settle in and the cool of darkness will cover you. As your eyes adjust to the increasing blackness, you reflect and begin to see things you would otherwise have not.

The brightness of sunlight which left you is rising in another part of the world. The sun will chase away this same darkness, warming the lives it touches. Opening eyes will adjust to the light and see things with renewed hope.

As the sun sets on your day, be assured it will rise again.

Our lives will cycle very much the same way. Life will seem in such despair and pain at different points in your life. Your eyes will adjust to the pain, giving you a different look at your life. You will take time to reflect in the darkness.

Just remember to hang on to the idea of a rising sun in your life.

The light will once again shine down on you, lifting your spirits and life. A changed person is whom you will be coming out of the darkness. Wait for and hold onto the coming light which will return to your life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Brave New World

"O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world! That has such people in it!" ~ Miranda's speech in Shakespeare's The Tempest, Act V, Scene I:[2]

So it goes, another birthday has passed for me and this one was pretty darn good to say the least. It was a momentous birthday; the kind that marks a milestone and places you into another category or stage of life. I am not one for marking the passing of my birthday, but this one was different.

While growing old means physical changes and marks the passage of time, my attitude remains young at heart. My goal is not to run with the young but to stay in tune with them as much as possible. To be around long enough to experience all of the great changes in this world that take place.

I look back to the late 1980s when my grandmother turned ninety. Grandma Josephine (no, I was not named after her), had seen so much in her lifetime. Think of the developments in cars, phones, computers and television that she experienced in those years. Grandma was always amazed and interested in those things.

During her birthday party celebrating those wonderful ninety years, we had a video camera to record the event. I will now date myself a bit, but this was the larger VCR tape cameras. It was not the 8mm camcorder or tiny iPhone cameras we have today. Grandma was amazed at the ability to record and see yourself right then and there.

Oh what a brave new world it was back then.

Even in my lifetime,

the Atari Pong game to the new DSi handheld game systems,
Polaroid cameras to smartphone cameras,
or the IBM 5100 to the iPad.

Each of these are but a tiny fraction of the huge advances made in my lifetime so far.

For my own birthdays along with other great gifts and cards, I have received an iPad. So am I really that cool and hip to get something like that? I found myself looking at that iPad like my grandmother looked at that VCR tape camera.

Oh what a brave new world it is now.

There will be huge changes in our world as time progresses. I will continue to see changes occur and I will work to keep youthful excitement inside of me. Your own attitude about life and age exists within your heart while the body grows old. Excitement of life can keep you moving forward towards new and greater things if you let it.

Oh what a brave new world it will continue to be.

Stay inspired my friends.

If You Can

by Rudyard Kipling (‘Brother Square-Toes’—Rewards and Fairies)

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!


Stay inspired my friends!