A 7-hour round of golf.  10 players on the green at the same time.  Blistering heat coupled with torrential rain.  Sound like a scene from a golf horror movie?  Actually, it is the most glorious day of the year.  Great friends.  Great times.  And a great cause.  It is FlynnsFest!

The FlynnFest Golf Tournament launched 12 years ago to honor the memory of David Patrick Flynn, a larger-than-life, legendary friend, son, husband and father whose untimely passing left a hole in the tight-knit community around Washington, DC.

The community responded with incredible generosity and support.  Hundreds of friends and family members descended upon Worthington Manor Golf Course with an unprecedented outpouring of love.  It was both a blessed tribute to a great man and a reminder to cherish the relationships and strong bonds of those left behind.

Then, 5 years later, Flynn Fry, named in honor of Dave Flynn, tragically passed away.  It was another difficult loss.  But friends and family once again responded with incredible devotion to honor young Flynn’s memory.  “FlynnFest” became “FlynnsFest” and the healing power of togetherness and support washed over the community.

Today, FlynnsFest is more than a golf tournament.  It is more than a fundraiser.  It is more than a memorial service.  FlynnsFest is a living tribute to the old line from “It’s a Wonderful Life”:

Strange, isn’t it?  One person’s life touches so many others.  –Clarence the Angel

No person is an island.  We are all connected in some way.  We are all part of some community.  We all have the opportunity to positively influence so many others, even in a short time.

And couldn’t we all benefit by keeping that perspective in mind for our work and personal lives?

Our Workplace is a Community

In our work lives, it is easy to stay self-focused.  And, to some extent, that can be beneficial.  We all need to provide for our families.  We all deserve success by putting in the hard work.  At the end of the day, we should all be rewarded for our contributions.

But there is a much loftier goal which can actually drive success for everyone on the team.  Every work environment is a community. There is an opportunity to positively influence others.  There is an opportunity to help others succeed.  There is an opportunity to create a positive culture.  We can’t solely focus on our own advancement.

Our upbeat example has the potential to impact so many others and raise everyone else’s game in the process.

We Can Be a Positive Influence

The same is true in our personal lives.  It is okay to be self-focused regarding our own health and financial stability.  We have people counting on us and we need to make sure we will be there to provide for them!  But when it comes to setting a positive example, we have to focus on others.

We may not think our teenagers are listening.  They roll their eyes and give us a look like they would rather be getting sunburned.  But they are absorbing everything we say.  And they are looking for us to set an example of how to live their lives.

The same is true of our extended family and friends.  Just because we have known someone forever, doesn’t mean we can take them for granted.  We need to show our appreciation.   We need to be there for our inner circle in their time of distress. We need to be that rock of support in difficult times.

We have the ability to positively influence so many lives.  It doesn’t take much.  A little empathy and understanding go a long way.

We Can’t Do It Alone

But what happens when we are on the business end of adversity?  A sudden loss.  Financial ruin.  A devastating injury.  How can we set a positive example when we are paralyzed by our own misfortune?

Again, it comes back to the community.  Being there for others builds our own resilience.  But accepting help is also a huge part of staying resilient.  It is perhaps the most difficult thing to do.  But it’s okay to admit we need support.  It’s okay to share our grief and pain.  It’s okay to rely on others to get us through.

We make plenty of deposits in the community.   It is okay to take out an occasional withdrawal.

Impacting Our Corner of the World

Clarence the Angel had it right.  Our lives touch so many others.  We have the ability to influence our family, friends and community.  Why not make it a positive influence?

Offer support.  Be a mentor.  Display appreciation.  Be generous and giving of your time and talents.  Be a rock for others.  And don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and ask for help in your own moment of need.

If we bring joy to others, and live our lives based on solid character and empathy, we will have a monumental impact on our corner of the world.  And our spirit will live on forever.

Just like Dave Flynn and Flynn Fry.

Long live FlynnsFest!