The ability to learn and grow is essential to each person's happiness and success.

Eight years ago, the San Diego Scottish Rite acquired the RISO Publishing System. It was intended for the production of our Bulletin, but has proven useful for many other printing needs. Not knowing anything about desktop publishing, I bought a book titled PageMaker for Dummies, and learning to use the new system was easy. The best way to learn anything is to devote part of your leisure time to study (theory) and then to apply what you have learned (practice). Much the same can be said for Freemasonry.

To me the greatest thing in life is the power to learn and grow. This is more than a statement of fact; it is a living principle manifested in our daily existence. Unfortunately, most of us stop short. We continue to grow in years, but we cease to learn the inner development so vital to the making of a full life.

Our work is our talent, and it is usually as big as we are. It is not so much what we do, but how we do it. Curiosity, courage, and the desire to discover fresh ideas and things must be maintained if we are to grow. As you respond to the wonders of new tech-nology (like desktop publishing in my case), have the energy to transform your new inspirations and ideas into actions. Then you will experience the miracle of growth. If you keep on growing, you will retain the inner freshness of youth, whatever your chronological age. If you are unwilling to learn, you cannot develop your abilities. As a result, you will be of lesser value to yourself, others, and our beloved Fraternity.

In life, the man who does nothing more than what is necessary is very likely to lose the race. A wise man seeks out and does more than what is expected of him. He is a man who thinks beyond the routine require-ments of his tasks. For him, simply doing his duty is not enough. An exceptional man will do more than his duty dictates. The quickest way to get ahead is to know how to do your job well-and then do it.

Three things are needed to be happy in your work. You must be suitable for it, not do too much of it, and have a sense of success in it. Dull routine makes work and life uninteresting. When you are doing something you like, there is always the possibility of doing it your way. This personal creativity stirs your talents, and until you use your talents, you can never be completely happy. Nor can you be truly prosperous until you are making use of your God-given abilities. Only then can you find success, happiness, and fulfillment.

Honorio B. "Chico" Alvarez hails from Tondo, Manila, Philippines. After the war, he worked for the U.S. 13th Air Force for eight years before joining the U.S. Navy in 1953, rising through the ranks to Chief Disbursing Clerk, and retiring as a Commissioned Warrant Officer (W-4) in 1981. Raised in Lincoln Lodge No. 34, Olongapo, Philippines, Ill. Alvarez served as Master of Far East Lodge No. 1, Yokohama, Japan (1974) and Coronado Lodge No. 441, Coronado, California (1991). In the York Rite, he has served as High Priest, Ill. Master, Commander, Governor, and Sovereign Master. His awards and honors include the Hiram Award, S.G.I.G.'s Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Award, Knight York Cross of Honour, Order of the Purple Cross, and 33° (1995). Ill. Alvarez served as General Secretary for the Valley of San Diego (1993-98) and currently serves the Valley as Venerable Master. He has been married to Natalia DeLeon from Shanghai since 1958, and their union is blessed with four children.