By Mike Bossy

I am deep into Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “Revenge of the Tipping Point”. In it, Mr. Gladwell discusses the idea of the “Overstory”. Not the jungle canopy, but the overstories of cultural/societal thinking. In one of the chapters titled “The L.A. Survivors’ Club,” he analyzes why it wasn’t until the late seventies that society started referring to what the Nazis did to the Jews during the Holocaust. What was the tipping point and the overstory? 

It had me pondering what overstories my family and my clients may have. Is there an overarching story, stated or unstated, in every family? I then started reflecting on stories I heard as a child about my Uncle Arthur Lierman and his murder at the hands of a bank robber. He died at the age of 31, before my birth. Stories we heard about his life and death were common. There is even a movie called “Murder Remembered: Norfolk County 1950”. Arthur Lierman was the son of an immigrants from Belgium; immigrants to Canada who came here for the opportunity. On reflection I wonder, what Uncle Art would have accomplished? 

In summary, I have two main thoughts:

1. I heard a speech by Arpan Khanna, M.P. Oxford County given at a “Canada First” rally in Ottawa, on February 15, 2025. I believe this quote ties to my family’s overstory about the kind of country I think I am fortunate to be born into. Quoting Mr. Khanna:

“A country where it doesn’t matter where you are from, but where you are going. A country where, if you work hard, you get a good life. A country where it doesn’t matter who you know, but what you can do.”

2. As part of my meeting clients, I am going to start exploring their “Overstory”.

Happy Family Day