President George H. W. Bush
“There could be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others. Find something to do.”
These are just a few of the inspirational words spoken over the decades by President George H. W. Bush. As millions of Texans, America, and fans throughout the world mourn his death, we should also be reminded of the way he lived his life in service to others, and let it inspire us to do the same.
The primary goal of Texanthropy is to encourage Texans to “find something to do” to help their communities and neighbors. President Bush talked about “a thousand points of light” – of all the individuals and organizations that are doing good and being living examples of the importance of service to others. Through my travels, I have met so many individuals, organizations, and businesses who are so willing to give their time, talent or treasure to help their communities. All across our state, in busy cities or rural communities, Texans are working together to help one another, collaborating on solutions to the problems facing their communities, and finding ways to improve the lives of their neighbors.
What I see reminds me of another of my favorite quotes by President Bush:
“Every problem that the country faces is being solved in some community by some group or some individual. The question is how to get connected so that the whole nation can solve problems. A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens – citizens in the fullest sense; partners in civilization.”
I am inspired by what I see, and my hope is that President Bush’s leadership, and the Texans who are just as committed to service as he was, inspire others to answer the call to serve, to volunteer, and give back—each in their own way.
May we all be moved by our fellow Texan to find something to do to give back.