Jon’s story about how we all make a difference every day and that none of us are “just” anything really had an impact on me. Our mission at Northland is to enhance the quality of life of our shareholders, customers, team members and community. I truly believe that we all enhance the quality of each other’s lives every day whether we realize it or not, even in small and fleeting moments. I see examples of this happening every day, and hope this story helps us to all appreciate as well as recognize the responsibility we all truly have to each other. I encourage you to watch Jon’s video if you have not already! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjk7upeheEs

Jon’s story about how we all make a difference every day and that none of us are “just” anything really had an impact on me. Our mission at Northland is to enhance the quality of life of our shareholders, customers, team members and community. I truly believe that we all enhance the quality of each other’s lives every day whether we realize it or not, even in small and fleeting moments. I see examples of this happening every day, and hope this story helps us to all appreciate as well as recognize the respsonbility we all truly have to each other.

The world is like a ride at an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it, you think it’s real, because that’s how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round and it has thrills and chills and it’s very brightly colored and it’s very loud. And it’s fun, for a while.

Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: ‘Is this real? Or is this just a ride?’ And other people have remembered, and they come back to us and they say ‘Hey! Don’t worry, don’t be afraid — ever — because… this is just a ride.’ And we kill those people.

‘Shut him up! We have a lot invested in this ride! Shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry; look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real.’ It’s just a ride. But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that — ever notice that? — and we let the demons run amok. But it doesn’t matter, because… it’s just a ride, and we can change it any time we want. It’s only a choice. No effort. No worry. No job. No savings and money. Just a choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your door, buy bigger guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one.

I got this card at the National FFA Convention in 2017. Everyone at the convention got one.

I am a Freshman in college and played this year in the National FFA Band for the first time. I had an amazing time and the story Jon told was very touching. It is good to see someone out there making that difference in peoples lives.

When Jon started telling about the priest and how he pulled out his debit card I was laughing…then 2 seconds later I was crying as he told how the card was the last happy moment for the family. I keep the cards in my jacket pocket as a reminder that I can be a happy moment for someone even when my jacket takes me 12 hours away. It’s also a reminder of the amazing week I had in the National FFA Band!

I was in Indianapolis all the way from Arizona for the National FFA Convention. It was there that I heard the story for the 7 of hearts. It truly touched me, and inspired me to do more. I’m currently working hard at school, and am the happiest I’ve ever been. I opened my phone case, and remembered the card. That’s what’s led me to posting this. I don’t know who I’ll give it to, or if I ever will give it to someone, but this simple card repeatedly reminds me of one of the happiest weeks of my life. So, I hope one day someone reads the story of this card and understands that whoever I gave it to, whoever it ends up with, may have given me a better memory than everything I experienced in that week.

I am born and raised in New England. I fell in love with horses at a young age. I’ve continued to ride and recently enrolled in an Agricultural Education program. I ran for FFA office with encouragement from my Advisor. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. Competing in Horse Judging, going to workshops, conferences and COnventions is what I have found to truly love. I do what I love and Love what I do.