MY CUTE HUSBAND AND I sit on the Clemson University Institute for Parks Advisory Board ( my father is a former Director of the National Parks Service ), and we recently attended our fall meeting . The road trip from Kentucky to South Carolina was magnificent with the exploding fall colors . While on the road , we listened to several episodes of Smartless¸ the popular ( and laugh-out-loud funny ) podcast hosted by actor-comedians — and old pals — Will Arnett , Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes . On the show , the trio interviews noteworthy friends and shares a lot of laughs , all while tackling topics that range from the purely entertaining to the truly thought-provoking .
On our trip , we listened to their interview with renowned documentarian Ken Burns ( Jazz , Baseball , The Vietnam War ), and one quote really struck me as Ken discussed lessons from his nearly 50 years of making films : “ What I have learned is that there is only us — there is no them — and if anyone tells you there is a ‘ them ,’ run away !”
Former ISPA Chairman and dear friend Jane Segerberg
recently shared an Ella Wheeler Wilcox poem with me that illustrates why Ken ’ s insight is so important , especially these days . The last part of the poem reads :
Do you wish the world were happy ? Then remember day by day Just to scatter seeds of kindness As you pass along the way ; For the pleasures of the many May be ofttimes traced to one , As the hand that plants an acorn Shelters armies from the sun .
We must all remember that there is no them ; there is only us taking care of us ! May we all be kind and strive to plant those seeds of kindness , those acorns that will become the trees under which future generations will gather in gratitude . n
— LYNNE MCNEES , ISPA PRESIDENT
CONNECT WITH ME ON FACEBOOK ! Lynne Walker McNees
64 PULSE n JANUARY 2022