What Do You Have That's Worth Fighting For? As I sat down to write this month's column I was headed in one clear direction. But as is often the case, life happens, and e...

How Do You Measure Up When Nobody's Looking?

1 comment

Original Publication Date:
August 2008

From all appearances it would seem that Jewel could have any man she set her sights on. The blond beauty with the expressive, crystalline voice is a standout by any standards in a sea of sameness. For the past nine years those sights have been steadfastly focused on her rodeo star boyfriend, Ty Murray. At first glance you might not put them together. He's a man of few words; she's a prolific songbird and poet. He's neat; she's messy. She leaves the refrigerator door open; he quietly comes behind her and closes it. He's a cowboy and a rodeo star. She's, well, she's hard to classify. She's just a shining, sparkly gem--she's just Jewel.

So what draws a gal like Jewel to a guy like Ty? What makes the relationship work so well, and what about Ty has made the pop gone country Jewel sing such high praises? "Ty is a stand up guy in a world of flakes, Jewel proudly states of her man. He's a guy like John Wayne--a real man. He doesn't act like someone one minute and then you go home and he acts like someone else. He says what he means and means what he says. He's really a constant love and also a really dependable grown-up. I don't know many grown-ups in the world. He's a real accountable adult and that's a rare thing to find." For a girl who grew up in the Alaska wilderness and for a time was homeless--living out of a van while pursuing her musical dream--Ty represents an anchor. What you see is what you get. There are no surprises--bad surprises--when it comes to Ty; only good ones. The surprise for Jewell is there is actually somebody whose honor and integrity she can depend on unconditionally and upon whom she can trust and rely. The world is a tough place and getter tougher all the time. Yes, life is difficult, but it's the only world we have and the only life we have to lead. As I look around, I'm dismayed at the overwhelming incidence of people disappointing people--time and again. I'm struck by the ease with which most have come to be so uncaring or irresponsible in their dealings with one another.

If we only practiced a little more of what Ty Murray seems to have mastered, we'd have ourselves a much better world and a much better time during our stay in it. It takes a conscious effort to reach for higher ground. It takes a willful commitment to do the right thing or the best thing or the appropriate thing or the unselfish thing to match the circumstance. We've drifted a long way away from a time when a man's word was his bond and a handshake meant something more than two people touching palms. Sometimes we need to stop and take inventory of our lives. When we evaluate ourselves in terms of how we measure up, what do we find? Are we doing all we can to be a credit to the human race whether our words and deeds are seen by many and played on the world stage or simply by a few in our own private world? What about when nobody's looking? What about then? How do you measure up then?

Pz's Pointers on the Measure of a Man (Woman)

1. Reliable and dependable

Are these words descriptions you can attribute to yourself? Can others rely on you when you tell them to expect it? Can others depend on you when you tell them they should? Do you call someone when you say you will or help them when you say you can? If you have no intentions of keeping your word, then don't give it. If you have no intentions of following through with what you've agreed, either keep your mouth shut and don't make empty and false promises, or at least step up and let someone know not to depend on you. Don't disappear or ignore or talk big talk with no real substance behind the talk. Don't be an empty suit. It won't become you.

Follow Pz On!

Terms and Conditions | Contact Webmaster