Do you have a hero? You know - someone you think is really cool? For some, a hero could be a celebrity and while for others, maybe, possibly their parents. But I don’t remember the last time I asked someone this question and their answer held the name of a crucial historical figure. The usual answers I get are – Jim Morrison; Donald Trump, or Ghandi.
Now, I’m not saying that these folks didn’t do squat to contribute changing the ways in which we live and think now; on the contrary; they’re super cool dudes but my heroes are a little different. Ben Franklin, for instance, has got to be the coolest of dudes to have ever existed. He actually was so bloody advanced in his thinking that those around him treated him with red-carpet royalty. There’s even a name for his type of genius as a noted polymath. Other famous polymaths are – Pythagoras; Leonardo da Vinci; Issac Newton and Thomas Jefferson.
Franklin was more than just an innovator or engineer; it was his ability not only to be a good thinker but a brilliant one. Disciple - was his drug; by living a lifestyle that he valued by valuing himself as well as others. He insisted that citizens make contributions to society. Not just through charitable donations but also donating your time. This is why he believed that to waste time, to become lazy, was a selfish habit. Franklin was known to work “off the clock” during his time at the printing press. On his “break” he’d eat raisins over one of the many books he was reading at the time. Raisins, he believed, enhanced memory and kept a young mind.
My point of this talk about Franklin is realizing the power of the minute. He is very much like us, doing much of the same things. That is – being overwhelmingly busy. Yet, the difference is, he actually enjoyed a packed-house lifestyle. I bet he was even just as multitask-ed as can be compared to today’s standards; however; he had fewer distractions. Nope. No cellphone, or television – a.k.a – less noise. He never wasted anything either. Perhaps his frugality provoked him to make use of the things that he already had. He’d transform some outdated and useless gadget into something that was useful and a lot less time-consuming in function. But what I really find especially fascinating about Franklin is his “13 Virtues”. Moral Codes in which he lived by and swore by as a means to maintain good character -
1. Temperance ~ Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.
2. Silence ~ Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order ~ Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution ~ Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality ~ Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.
6. Industry ~ Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity ~ Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice ~ Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation ~ Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness ~ Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.
11. Chastity ~ Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
12. Tranquility ~ Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
13. Humility ~ Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
