Morrissey Minute: Have Enjoyable Storming the Fort!

This week’s Morrissey Minute comes with a little bit of parenting expertise, courtesy of Lou Holtz, who famously stated: “You have to endlessly repeat the important messages.”

It’s a easy concept—however a robust one. The messages we repeat change into the messages that stick.

I’ve talked about our granddaughters (to anybody who listens!). Savannah is the older one; she calls me “Chief,” and each time we half, I all the time say, “Have fun storming the castle!” Some of you would possibly hear me say it to your kids as I place them of their automobiles at decide up. It’s a phrase from The Princess Bride, and coincidentally, the film model has a grandfather studying the e book to his grandson. 

With Savannah, it’s been a one-way transmission. Chief saying one thing barely ridiculous, with one thing significant tucked inside it.

And then final week, as I used to be heading out the door myself, Savannah checked out me and stated the two and 1/2 yr previous model: “Have fun in the castle.”

And similar to that, the message got here again.

Now, if you recognize The Princess Bride, you recognize that “storming the castle” isn’t nearly journey—it’s about function. It’s about setting off on a journey, sure, however doing so to assist a good friend, to proper a mistaken, to face up for one thing greater than your self. A recognition that worthwhile issues are sometimes laborious. It’s saying, “I know this won’t be easy, but I’m rooting for you,” or, “You’re heading into something tough—but meaningful. Go for it!”

That, to me, is what we’re doing daily at Crossroads.

We are getting ready our college students to storm their very own “castles”—school rooms, playgrounds, friendships, challenges—and asking them not simply to succeed, however to point out up for others alongside the best way.

“Storming the castle,” within the language of our Core Virtues, appears to be like like:

• Courage — getting into one thing unsure or tough
• Perseverance — sticking with it, even when it’s laborious
• Compassion — noticing and caring for others
• Responsibility — doing what is correct, even when nobody is watching
• Respect — honoring others on the journey
• Kindness — selecting to elevate others up alongside the best way

So we’ll preserve saying the necessary issues. We’ll preserve repeating them.
And, if we’re fortunate, someday quickly we’ll hear them echoed again.

Have an important week—and, after all, have enjoyable storming the citadel.