Recognizing accomplishments

I just love June. It is a time of recognition, hope and celebration: the traditions of graduation, Father's Day and weddings. This is a time we can reflect on the potential impact we might have on other people.

Reading last week's Pathfinder honoring the kindergarteners, eighth graders and high school graduates just warmed my heart. I enjoyed the diplomas and the honors, the proud families and the excitement for next steps. I am grateful for the teachers who are retiring after long careers of service and the impact they have had on so many young people and families. I look forward to watching the students who have worked hard to move on to their next adventures and see the joy in their lives, as well as the influence they will continue to have on our community and beyond.

Last weekend, Father's Day, I found myself thinking quite a bit about my own father who passed away in 2018. He encouraged me – whether it was on the basketball court or to run for public office. I'm forever grateful for the positive impact he had and still has on me.

As I think about people who have had a significant effect on my life, Seeley Lake's own Klaus Von Stutterheim comes to mind. He will be honored this Saturday at a celebration of life. Klaus understood how to make an impact on other people's life. He knew the idea of "bloom where you're planted." He knew that service to others, supporting and encouraging others, was the name of the game and it's how he lived his life. Okay, I need to add laughter to that, because Klaus and his bride Beate certainly could laugh at the fun in life! Seeley Lake did not just lose the long-time community council chair when Klaus passed, we all lost a friend, and gained a major lesson in service and encouragement. Klaus may never know how much his life will continue to impact so many of us.

We all have an opportunity to have a significant impact on others. You do not have to run for public office, you don't have to become a rock star or NBA champion. You only need to support and encourage others and become a helper. Let's all take a lesson from the Klaus playbook.