What the World Needs
Expanding Paradigms - Spring 2006

Following a boxing match, Howard Cosell (the famous sports commentator) and a friend were being driven by limo back to their hotel. Driving past a side alley, they saw a crowd of youths cheering and shouting as two boys flailed, punched and kicked at each other.

“Pull over.” Howard instructed the driver. “I am sorry sir, but this is not a safe neighborhood!” replied the driver. “Pull This Limo Over NOW!” Howard commanded. Before the limo had even come to a complete stop, Howard was out the door and striding up to the gang of teenagers. But instead of trying to break it up, he began to call the fight!

Within minutes the fight had broken up and the youths were crowded around the most famous sports announcer of the 20th century. After giving out autographs, Howard talked to them about what it meant to be a man instead of a punk.

As Howard climbed into the limo, the driver turned back and asked in awe “how did you do that!” Howard drew himself up and replied “Because dear lady…. I Know Who I Am” -

(Story as recounted by the friend during a tv interview)

Can you imagine anyone suggesting to Howard when he was a kid, that he would make a great sports commentator? Had he asked for advice, he would surely have been told to take voice lessons, and drop the Brooklyn thick nasal accent. But at the height of his career, his voice was one of the most imitated voices in America.

It is not always easy to know your deepest goals and aspirations. Howard Cosell started out as a lawyer but realized it was not his calling. He had the courage to walk away from law and become a sports commentator. As a great sports commentator, he probably had a greater positive impact for social justice and fighting racism, than he ever would have as a dissatisfied lawyer. Love him or hate him, Howard Cosell was larger than life.

How many of us have taken up goals that were provided to us by society and settled for less in life? It is not easy to penetrate through the surface distractions of a busy mind to reach our deepest, truest goals and aspirations. It requires courage to follow those aspirations. It is much easier to grab at the first superficial goal we stumble across, only to discover in the end, that it is not what we thought..

Meditation is the art of cultivating a quiet mind. It is the key to an ongoing inner awareness of our deepest and truest goals and aspirations. Without this deep anchor to our true selves, we float on the surface of life, and drift with the prevailing winds. Namaste’

“Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman