Uncertainty is a perspective too.

Day 3 Writing Challenge

As President Trump's impeachment trial unfolds in the background, I find myself reflecting on how follow-through represents a challenging test for everyone. Uncertainty frequently prevents us from embracing alternative perspectives. Simply expanding our sense of possibility requires not just reimagining our frame but also taking action and establishing a new one.

My parents taught that honoring one's word through follow-through forms the foundation of trust. This principle became poignantly relevant during my final conversation with my father. When my elderly father asked me to return library books before heading to the emergency room, I refused, citing personal responsibilities. Tragically, he collapsed moments later and passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital.

This incident crystallized the importance of follow-through and responsibility. My father's philosophy—shaped by the Great Depression and WWII service—emphasized pursuing dreams and thinking independently. His signature question, "What else are you thinking?" opened doors to possibilities I might otherwise dismiss due to uncertainty.

I credit my father with cultivating the capacity to recognize multiple perspectives and think critically rather than blindly accept conventional wisdom. This legacy of "frame stretching"—reexamining assumptions and expanding mental frameworks—has become central to my life work.

I'm committed to honoring this inheritance by continuing to stretch my conception of framing, advocating for those without voice, and recognizing that uncertainty itself is embedded in how we understand the world.