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March 30, 2008

At the beginning of this session, I wondered if I was in store for a rehash of the last speech Sidney Poitier gave for NSBA. Yet as his presentation unfolded, I realized I was in the presence of a great man who was before us distilling his experiences purely, authentically, and with much candor. The crowd had a pervasive feeling of a man sharing a meaningful life. I was struck by how much he loved his parents. His overwhelming gratitude and love for his mother helped mold him into the man he had become.

Over eighty-one years of life, Poitier experienced many challenges of poverty, homelessness, illiteracy, and prejudice. However, his speech was not one of animosity or bitterness. Through bits of self-deprecating humor, he portrayed the people who made a difference in his life. He often didn't know how to thank these people, but he remembered what they did that impacted his life for the better.

Maybe it is this type of sharing that can motivate each of us to be the person who chooses to take the time to recognize someone in need. In recognizing another, we are called to give that person the tools to be self-directed and empowered. Poitier discussed philanthropy. It reminds me that "what goes around, comes around." The ripple effect is powerful!

My favorite line was when Poitier said, "It doesn't matter how many times you fall. It matters what you with your time when you get back up." Thank you, Mr. Poitier, for sharing the legacy of your life. Thank you, NSBA, for bringing him to the 2008 Annual Conference in Orlando. (See related PBS article)

Posted by Molly O'Holleran, Blog Team, at 9:48 AM | General Session Speakers

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