By Billy Lee – September 2025
August 30 this year, Jeff Greenwald, President of CCIS ( Community Committee for International Students at Stanford University ) wrote a beautiful Note of Thanks to his volunteers and supporters. I was so moved that I responded instantly to express my Gratitude and Admiration for his Way In Leadership. He wished to meet and chat, and we got connected.
Today, we met for lunch again and continued our delightful conversation. I was impressed by his firm opinion that Architect I.M.Pei should have given more thoughts about making the Louvre Museum’s central court yard more conducive for deep contemplation. I also learned from him the meaning of “Tik Kun Clam” a Jewish Imperative for “Repairing the World”.
I shared with Jeff my take on his friend Robet Steinberg’s book on Architecture and an article I wrote a few years ago on “ Can Architecture Induce Compassion?”. We also talked about soccer and my story about inviting U.S. Ambassador, James Lilley to be a keynote speaker at The 1990 Institute sponsored exhibit on “Chinese Children’s Art on Environment in Washington D.C. Since both Lilley and myself played soccer at Yale, I described ourselves as the only players who really use their heads in all sports.
As you see, there was great rapport between the two of us and I further discovered at today’s lunch that he was wearing a yellow wristband which I thought could be health related. It turned out to be a simple reminder on How to BE Good. It simply says :Be, Kind, Just, and Humble.
I was really excited as I have been looking for ESSENCE WORDS to explain SIMPLE GOODNESS to my Grandchildren, and maybe provide souvenirs for their friends. Jeff noticed my joy and excitement and to my surprise he pulled the yellow band off his wrist and told me that I should have it. What a kind empathetic new friend he is. Now, a truly Good Friend, indeed!
In Looking for Essence Words for Simple Goodness, I consulted Chat GPT. this evening, and the following is what I got in return:
ChatGPT: Credo of Simple Goodness
- Be Just → Let fairness and honesty guide your choices.
- Be Kind → Treat others with compassion and care.
- Be Humble → Walk with modesty and gratitude.
- Be Cheerful → Share warmth and uplift spirits.
- Be Generous → Give freely, without expectation.
- Be Peaceful → Bring calm and avoid harm.
