Suzanne Yack: My Sam

Posted by Editor on Jul 9, 2010 in Sams on Sams blog | 4 comments

I had this publisher once. He was new at his job, I was new at mine. I had two kids in middle school and probably bit off more than I could chew stepping up to run the newsroom during a tectonic shift in management.

Now my publisher was young, ambitious, smart and occasionally brash, and he set standards for conduct. His ethical approach to news was admirable — he came from the news side of the business. I can’t even remember what it was I did that got me called into his office one day. He was never shy about calling things like they were. I probably let some story go through without having it fairly told from both sides. A snarky headline or perhaps something I said out in the community that made its way back to him.

It’s not important the offense, although I recall it was one that could end up in my personnel file. What is important are the words he spoke to me, looking me right in the eyes: “You’re better than that.”

He didn’t say it and glower, nor did I feel crushed with a rebuke. I could tell he cared enough about me to tell me something I needed to hear. Those words have stayed with me since.

Sometimes when I have a mind for revenge or petulance, I am reminded that I’m better than that. They’re the wise words that a parent might have said, but no one had ever said those words to me. They were spoken at the right time, when I was able to hear them.

You’re better than that. Whatever it is you’ve done in your life where you didn’t measure up to your own standards, remember: You are better than that. My Sam told me that.

Grace gives you right of way to be gentle with yourself about your failings, and Grace gives you the courage to lift up your chin and try again to be a better person than you were just moments before.

Striving for righteousness, mending fences, being kind, focused and capable – these have been some of my own lessons on my journey to being “better than that.”