FrontPage News

We found Ivan's Rules for Embracing Life in the 21^st Century while going through the many pieces of paper left in his study. I was his editor, correcting his grammar, his creatively spelled words and his bureaucratic run on sentences. He didn't share the twelve rules with me so I am not sure when he wrote them.

The Rules were read at his Celebration of Life on April 6^th. Since then, I've been sending copies to anyone who requested them

The rules have made me stop and think. They pushed me to write again and to share thoughts on each rule and what I think it meant to him. And what it now means to me. - Mary Potter

And so we come to the last Rule.

There are three little words that written, spoken, shared would change our world for the better.

Speaking up. Leaving the herd. Saying what you know to be true even if the flock is content to wait for a better day. Leaving the safety of the group is hard and it can be dangerous.

Space and time are fascinating to sci fi writers, physicists and to one Western Kentucky futurist/geographer.

Barriers. We need them geographically and personally. Some protect us. Others limit us. A mental barrier can preclude from considering new ideas, new people, new experiences.

Geography was Ivan's dream by day doorway. Everything was based on geography. The world and the people are shaped by the rivers and oceans and land around them. His first and enduring love was for geography.

T. E. Lawrence wrote "All men dream. But not equally..."

Dream big dreams. By day.

Connecting with beauty in the inner spirit of others begins with finding beauty in yourself. Not the look in the mirror stuff that cosmetics manufacturers sell. The kindness, heart, empathy, joy playfulness, silliness, imagination that you are blessed with. Because that is your beauty.

Ivan found beauty in the rose garden. He was nuts for roses.

Children are not just ours. They are the future.

As a self described futurist, Ivan fervently believed in making choices that benefit the next generations.

Ivan Potter, the eternal optimist and self-described futurist, envisioned a world where everyone's talents were recognized and used to make the world a better place. That was his dream.

Before one can hide a talent, one has to recognize that the talent exists. Too many of us brush off a skill as if it's no big thing. Everyone can...fill in the blank, we tell ourselves. Talents for mentoring and encouraging are two skills that the world could use more of if Ivan's dream is to become reality.

Ivan Potter was the best Pray-Er I ever met. He followed no formula. He knew his prayers would be answered. His Christianity was that of a small child. He believed.

Talking to God every day was not a standing up and making a big announcement. Most of the time, he would be in his favorite wing back with a cat on the footstool or on the porch loving the view. His prayer time was more a visit than intercession. His conversations with God were quiet and most of the time secret.

Building is a very Ivan word choice. He loved building. He loved old brick. His contribution to the garden was borders of bricks, laid end to end. He would lie on the grass, propped up on an elbow carefully choosing which brick fit next. Old bricks are never uniform in size, shape or color. It was an exercise in patience to get it just right.

That's how Ivan saw building his own posse.

Change is inevitable. Embracing change is not.

In thinking about Rule 2, I have come to the conclusion that Ivan saw embracing change like the Pirates' Code of the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie: more of a guideline than a rule.

The rules have made me stop and think. They have pushed me to write again and to share thoughts on each rule and what I think it meant to him. And what it means to me.

Rule #1 Confront Your Fears

There are fears that can be recognized but there isn't much we can do about them. Confronting fears means not letting the dust bunny under the bed grow teeth, red eyes and growl us out of a sound sleep.