Ian McConnaughey

Professional Banterer/Communicator.
Blue Zones, Healthy-living, Writing/Poetry, Get Outside!

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

Happy 250th birthday America! From one of my favorites.

[Arnold Schwarzenegger @Schwarzenegger]

Happy Independence Day!

There’s a story from the end of the Revolutionary War I want to tell as we celebrate America’s 250th Birthday, and it’s one everyone in the world can learn from.

George Washington, at that moment, after commanding the American forces to victory, was the most powerful man in the new country. Many people talked about making him King of America.

Across the ocean, King George was sitting with an American painter, and asked what he thought Washington would do now that the war was ending. The painter said he believed he would go back to his farm.

The King said, “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.”

As the war officially ended, Washington came to speak to Congress and said, “Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theater of Action.” He returned his commission they’d given him in 1775 - after more than 8 years of leading the Americans to victory without pay, and he was home at Mount Vernon for Christmas.

Of course, he was elected as our first President a few years later, and after two terms, showed the same selflessness again when he willingly gave up his power and went back to Mount Vernon again.

That’s true greatness. He had all the power in the world. But power, alone, does not make you great.

Washington’s greatness came from being a true servant - to a cause much bigger than himself. His greatness was his complete lack of selfishness.

The whole story of American Independence is a story of selflessness. It’s a story of people who set their self-interest aside and worked for each other.

We’ve all heard the line about “We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

Apparently, Ben Franklin might have actually never said that.

But that’s fine, because the same mentality is right there in the last line of the Declaration of Independence, published on this day 250 years ago:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

We mutually pledge to each other.

No one was in this alone. No one was in it for themselves. This was a group of people with different backgrounds who were in it for each other.

Today is a reminder: greatness comes from what we do for each other, never what we do for ourselves.

That’s a lesson that applies no matter what country you call home.

It’s a lesson that doesn’t require any law passed by a politician, because, let’s be honest, if you’re waiting for selfless politicians, I really hope you are not holding your breath.

All of us have the power to be there for the people around us. For our families and friends. For our neighbors. For everyone.

All of us can reach for greatness.

It’s as simple as looking beyond yourself, seeing past the mirror, picking your eyes up from your phone, and pledging to be there for each other.

Happy Fourth. May you all find your own version of greatness today by lifting each other up.

Lift up your neighborhood. Lift up America. Lift up the World.

[My Mixtapez @mymixtapez]

Jaylen Brown responds to viral video of crying 6-year-old Celtics fan after his trade to Philadelphia:

“It's ok lil bro ❤ we will always be friends”

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@FCHWPO I miss you already. I know it's a business, but you're one of the best people ever. True leader. Dedicated. Example to millions. Fantastic basketball player as well. Come back always.

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@John_Karalis You get em John! 😂 Last I checked, not just anyone is the author of multiple books about the Celtics...FWIW....

[Dave Portnoy @stoolpresidente]

I’m quitting watching football. There is no other way to teach @nflcommish a lesson. This is blatant cheating. #nflrigged

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

Boycott the sham Super Bowl. We know the Eagles will lose to Mahomes and the Refs.

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

The NFL is rigged. Literally ANY game involving the Chiefs proves it undeniably.

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@JDVance I know you'll do the right thing JD.

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

A true Christmas Eve hero. That's me. ha.

I recognized 45/52 people in the Times Faces Quiz (using 10 hints). How many can you guess? https://t.co/ZL7Gz3xn8e

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@joerogan I used to have a pet dragon. He did die though. Hollow bird bones I guess. 😢

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@John_Karalis I missed it John. Do you have a link to what he said?

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

Put up banner number 18!

Go @CELTICS!

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@BpRichh @StoolGreenie @IamApril317 Dude. They'll be fine. Take a breather.

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@John_Karalis Nice work John! You do a great job. That's off to you brother. Keep it coming!

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@StoolGreenie Who are these people anyway?

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@BCipnic @swd2 @AGAndrewBailey When someone says "erased," usually that means poof. The means to accomplish erasure are contrived; the result must be default. Unless these are all entirely owned by the Federal government and not just subsidized and backed, someone will be paid for the "erasure."

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@BCipnic @swd2 @AGAndrewBailey It's not a plan. It's a ploy. And, it's unconstitutional. Unless the loans were made up and arbitrary in the first place, then someone, somewhere will be footing the bill, and given the plan comes from the government, it will be footed by the taxpayer.

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@BCipnic @swd2 @AGAndrewBailey So where does this money come from? There are already existing laws and rules that shrink payments and rates for many federally subsidized loans, but this program; from whence does it come?

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@BCipnic @swd2 @AGAndrewBailey Finding ways to win a debate on a technicality rather than on its merits, is hedging. Like pointing to limited examples that don't really fit; it doesn't help make your argument stronger nor does it address my main issue, which is simply a separation of powers.

[Ian McConnaughey @McConnaughey]

@BCipnic @swd2 @AGAndrewBailey And that's great. No one forced you to do it. You made that choice and I would argue that it was a good one, but you made that choice. No one told you that you had to take on some other kid's $3K, $5K or other loan. This takes the choice away and forces one party to pay another