Need your help: What does “Oh my goodness!” mean to you?

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My grandfather, Willis Kenneth Hunter, lived as a cornerstone in a small rural town. He ran the local newspaper. The people in Lake View, Iowa, read his weekly columns for more than 30 years celebrating the highs (weddings, births, carnivals)…and explaining the lows (fires, burglaries and unexpected deaths.)  Before he passed, I asked him to think back on all those columns and share with me what he learned.  “Some days are better than others,” he replied with simple wisdom.

That would describe the events of the past couple of weeks.  My heart is still aching from the Boston Marathon bombing.  And I’m profoundly confused: just the day before, I was shouting for joy when Adam Scott holed a 12-foot putt to win the Masters. In both situations, I heard a broadcaster utter the “Oh my goodness!” phrase.  In tragedy and joy, journalists in both situations said, over the airwaves: “Oh my goodness!” Amazing.

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In our firm, we are building significant momentum around this mission: spreading goodness in leadership and business. Every week we are touching more people – helping leaders see, feel and multiply goodness. We focus the learning on four weighty concepts: excellence, generosity, fairness and positivity. Followers tell us that’s what goodness looks and feels like – in leadership.

But what does “Oh my goodness!” mean in the context of the Boston Marathon bombing and the joy of winning the Masters?  If you listen carefully to the world around us, you will begin to hear people use the “Oh my goodness!” phrase freely and often: for highs and lows, good times and bad.

Please share your insight: what do you think “Oh my goodness!” means in both the positive and negative context?

Good leaders make a habit of searching for clarity around the things in life they endure.  And they seek the advice of people they respect and admire to help them learn and grow.

Please share your insight, I really need your help.

PS. Last Wednesday a friend sent me this link to a powerfully touching Time Magazine story about the goodness in the Boston Marathon tragedy.  If you like it, share it.  Seize the day![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]