During the 19th and early-20th Centuries, intellectuals and community leaders shared their ideas and thoughts in the form of a parlor game that spoke, truthfully, about the innermost them. This week, we speak CANDIDLY with Rainbow Business Coalition (RBC) chair and Island City Health and Fitness managing director Reece Darham:
Your favorite qualities in a person.
Honesty! I really appreciate it when one says what’s actually on one’s mind. No mincing of words, just plain old, in-your-face-here-it-is: the truth. It does tend to get me in trouble from time-to-time, though.
Your chief characteristic.
I’m a matter-of-fact kind of person who likes to cut the crap and get down to the issues at hand. I love to problem solve (and make people happy, too).
What you appreciate most in your friends.
My closest friends are my family, and just like with family, I know there is mutual loyalty, respect, compassion, and “Come-to-Jesus” moments that we all need to experience in life.
Your main fault.
Where do I begin? I guess I could learn to use my mouth better–wait! (Don’t get ahead of yourself.) I mean that I have the remarkable ability to insert my own foot into my mouth on a regular basis. I need to learn to just shut up at times, or at least be gentler with my words.
Your idea of happiness.
Being on safari surrounded by a herd of 200+ elephants, knowing that any moment I could be toast. That exhilaration and angst is incredibly humbling and spiritual; it impacts my soul!
Your idea of misery.
Petty gossip. I find it’s the miserable people who have the most of it, and they love to share it! Uurgg!
Another person you would be if not yourself.
Either of my parents. They are incredible people (and they have a fabulous son).
Somewhere you’d like to live.
As much as I love Fort Lauderdale, there is a piece of me that yearns for Africa. I’ll always keep a home there, and would like to go back to living at least three months a year in Cape Town. Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika!
Your heroes in real life.
Take Aung San Suu Kyi, for example: what an incredible inspiration for leading his people to democracy in Myanmar even though under house arrest for so many years. Another true hero is Nelson Mandela, who led a nation through such turmoil and political and social change without letting the country spin into civil unrest. These precious people are heroes.
Your favorite food and drink.
Cheese and wine, say no more!
Your favorite names.
Poops, Boobee, and Darhling! LOL! I seem to use them often…unless I don’t remember your name, and then there’s a good chance I’ll call you “Trouble.” (“Hey, Trouble, how’s it going?” Sound familiar?)
The natural talent you’d like to be gifted with.
I really wish I could sing!
How you wish to die.
Quickly and painlessly. And I want my ashes spread over the Timbavati (in Limpopo province, South Africa).
Present state of mind.
Here!
A fault you can’t tolerate.
Lying! Don’t freakin’ lie to me–just don’t! I’ll call you out on it every time. Fortunately, the truth always comes out in the end, so why bother lying? I told you my mouth gets me into trouble.
Your personal motto.
We all make mistakes. Geez, I make them every day! But, it’s not about the mistake: it’s about what we do to correct it!
