Ask people what they admire most in a friend, and few will mention money or good looks. Most of them name qualities such as 11, the willingness to give without expecting anything in return, or the 12 to wait calmly when a plan falls apart. Employers say much the same. They look for staff who are 13 enough to finish a job without being watched, and 14 enough to admit a mistake instead of hiding it. Skills can be taught in a month, one manager says, but a good 15 takes years to build.
Every morning an old man sweeps the lane in front of our building. He starts at six, rain or shine, and greets each neighbor with the same warm 16. Last winter a young rider knocked over his bucket and sped away without stopping. We expected anger, but the old man simply picked the bucket up and said the boy was probably late for work. Such 17 is rare today. His quiet 18 has changed the whole lane, and three families now sweep with him. He takes no 19 in it, though the neighbors often praise him, and perhaps that 20 is why we all trust him.