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The Constellation Learning Newsletter
December 2005
“Destiny
is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice;
it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”
William Jennings
Bryan
 American
architect Philip Johnson built himself a glass house in 1949.
He did so in the woods of Connecticut, a very nice place to
perch oneself if one chooses to live in a glass house, far
from those who might throw stones – or peer inside.
I find Mr. Johnson’s choice to live in a glass house
rather remarkable; either to so value nature or –
equally if not even more startling – to so not fear
mankind that one would choose a house of floor to ceiling
windows throughout. Think about it. Would you feel comfortable
with the neighbours (even if only chipmunk and fox) being
able to see through your walls? Apparently Mr. Johnson
was, enough so that he declared himself openly: Here I stand
– all of me – naked to the world (metaphorically
speaking). Rather bold, confident, the kind of person who
blazes a trail.
I remember coming across a truism on leadership a while back
that went something like this: ‘If everyone in the world
did exactly what you did each day, would the world be a better
place?’ Every time I play computer solitaire the
thought haunts me. Now imagine doing whatever it is you
waste time on in a glass house. Imagine if people knew some
of what you consider to be the ugly parts of your character;
the questionable decisions, the shameful secrets, the choices
made from fear. Hmm…Yet I suspect Mr. Johnson
was onto something special – some secret formula for
happy living – as was Frank Lloyd Wright, both of whom
loved their work, saw nature as holy and pretty much didn’t
care what anyone else thought about them.
 “Can
you imagine,” Mr. Johnson mused during the filmed interview
I happened to watch, “being busy and happy doing what
you’re doing, every day of your life?” Pausing,
this elegant elderly man glanced out the floor-to-ceiling
glass wall a few feet from where he sat to take in the encompassing
woodlands beyond. Turning back toward the journalist he concluded,
“Oh, I’ve had a wonderful life.”
Indeed. I suspect those who live without fear of stones being
thrown are the freest of the free. Or perhaps it’s the
being busy and happy doing what you’re doing part. Most
likely it’s a combination of the two. With a little
of Mother Nature’s handiwork thrown in for good measure.
As 2005 comes to a close and I reflect on what has been a
physically taxing, intellectually demanding and emotionally
draining year I have come to this conclusion: destiny is defined
daily. Knowing where you want to go is secondary to knowing
where you live. And it had better be a glass house if you
want to go somewhere important to you since rock throwing
is almost guaranteed in today’s world. And since there’s
more danger of glass walls breaking from the inside than the
outside, you might want to bury that rock supply you’ve
been carrying around before entering. At least, that’s
one of the things I’ve learned this year.
I think Mr. Johnson’s formula is no secret. It is the
same formula taught by many wise people: be true to yourself,
do work you love, rejuvenate in nature.
And remember to laugh and travel lightly, especially over
the holidays.
Leave your rock collection at home.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Happy Holidays to all our readers. Look for my commentaries
to continue in 2006 in a new format.
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