Keith Nelson – 50th Reunion Essay

Keith Nelson

RiverWest #701

401 S. 1st Street

Minneapolis, MN 55401

k.d.nelson@outlook.com

Spouse(s): Paulette (Polly) Nelson (1970)

Child(ren): Melissa Laska (1976)

Grandchild(ren): Peter, (2011), Ruby, (2013), Leo (2016)

Education: BA Psychology, Yale, 1969; Masters, Wittenberg, 1973; PhD Temple, 1996

Career: High School Teacher, PA and VA 4 years; National Sales Manager, CW Industries 9 Years; Partner/Manufacturers’ Representative AQS 10 years; Psychologist, BCIT, 17 years

Avocations: Woodturning, Photography, Chairman of the Board, American Swedish Historical Museum

College: Branford

What I Have Learned, Yet Sometimes Forget

The experiences of living 71 years in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Ohio, Virginia, and New Jersey form the background for my education. From the outskirts of a steel town, Aliquippa, and a high school called Hopewell, through Yale and beyond, my views and choices continue to evolve. This path has been shaped by a talented, loving, tolerant partner, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, and a few close friends. Independent employment and an institutionally based career in business, education, and psychology, as well as commitments to family, freedom, religion, puzzles, sports, photography, and woodturning have tinted my perspectives.

Life is simultaneously simple and complex, at times rationally predictable and at other times surprisingly random. Understandings of the world are always incomplete, but life is better with the beauty of its horizons in view. We enjoy freedom of thought and freedom of choice. While the past and the future are important, I choose to emphasize the present, enjoying its offerings with a respect for the value of sacrifice and delayed gratification. At times I am surprised by life’s inevitable, unanticipated twists. I believe we live as active co-constructivists of life’s paths, at times acting alone in offering kind words, alternatives, compassion, support, and leadership. More often we act in concert with others to influence change along paths of shared insight and compromise.

Satisfaction and happiness involve managing expectations, agency, and discipline. I am optimistic, grateful, and frequently willing to place others before myself. Recognizing one’s ability to help prepare a stage on which others can more readily find success, I am sometimes inspired to act. Entropy and selfishness inject obstacles. The ability to recognize strands of goodness amidst misfortune is inspiring. While I am drawn to many of the shared values of Stoicism and Christianity, the limits of Stoicism are reached when feelings are ignored, sharing inhibited, and asking for assistance stifled.

Selfishness, negativity, and impulsivity exist temporarily, yet persistently. Their inherent supremacy is yesterday’s distractions. I expect that these misdirected strategies and habits will inspire me to counter and redirect those trajectories, responding with love, discipline, sacrifice, and visions of transformation, emphasizing goodwill for others, more than self. Optimistic concerted action, focused on transformation away from self-interests helps love win. Our collective challenge is to change the future for others, as well as for ourselves. At times when we together are not yet ready to compromise, we endure the added years of impatient persistence that often precede progress. When positive changes do come, I hope we recognize, celebrate, and enjoy them thankfully, using them as building blocks for tomorrow’s new world, especially when these transformations and compromises help “the least, the last, the lost, and the left behind.”

Thanks to all with whom I have shared a conversation, a class, a project, or more. Best wishes to you for goodwill, peace, joy, and love. Make today and tomorrow good days.