Forced Culture

Growing up, I heard a lot of music from artists that other kids my age may not recognize.  My Mom played a few different records (yes, those circular vinyl things) while she was pregnant with me and my sisters.  For me, it was Neil Diamond.  There are very few people or events my Mom would let me stay up late for on a school night.  Neil, however, was one of them.  When I was in elementary school he was playing in San Antonio and she took me.  As soon as the concert was over, I changed into my pajamas in the car.  During the concert, however, I found myself singing along loudly when he belted out songs like Cracklin Rosie, Coming to America, Hot August Night.  When I was a little older, we found out that Neil was coming to San Antonio again.   We told my Dad that it would be fun to surprise Mom with tickets.  He looked at us, honestly dumfounded and said, “She’s already seen him once, why would she want to see him again?”  My sisters just laughed, saying “Oh trust us….she’ll want to go.” Mom still laughs about that when we reminisce.  Dad was crazy about Mom and would have given her anything, but God help him, being observant was not one of his strengths.  

Growing up in what my sisters and I deemed “The Best Nest”, my parents did a wonderful job of instilling a love for the the arts and light-heartedly labeled it “forced culture.”  They exposed us to the importance of plays, musicals and appreciating artists like Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra and Barry Manilow.  Every time they would take us to some Irish function or a musical, we would no doubt roll our eyes and state “that sounds boring, why do we have to go?”  Mom simply shared, “consider it forced culture, it’s good for you.” In my opinion, teens and kids now can use a little “forced culture” where parents expose them to music on the stage (no, not an overpriced concert) and artists of previous decades…the ones who made it big without social media, weren’t dating a football player and who did it for the love of music and wanting to share their talents.

This past Friday night, a local crooner named Brad Normandeau was playing at Singing Water Vineyards.  This crooner is known for singing songs from Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and more.  Having missed the last time he was performing, I made the 40 minute drive out to Comfort.  There was not as big of a crowd as I expected but that didn’t take away from enjoying the scenery of the hill country, peaceful drive and of course, a nice glass of wine.  Normandeau started out with a few songs of artists I didn’t recognize.  However, when the familiar upbeat chords of Cracklin Rosie started, I couldn’t help but smile.  I found myself  singing along and not caring if anyone could see me act as if he was singing just to me.  At one point, I laughed thinking What am I, 75?  Here I am excited to hear a Neil Diamond song. 

I am not saying all hope is lost with this but it wouldn’t hurt to leave the teens’ phones at hone, head downtown to the Tobin Center or go support a local high school play.  There is true talent out there.  America could use a little more ‘forced culture.”

Captivating Homily

There Is Always Hope

Sometimes there are those moments where you know you’re in the right place at the right time.  For me, that was yesterday.  As I sat in the pew at church with a couple whom I love seeing, I listened to Deacon Wakely speak.  “There is always hope…” he began.  Being a sucker for inspirational talk, he had my attention.  He proceeded to tell the congregation about a man named Derek (whose last name I later found out was Clark) though most know him as “Rapping Dad.”  I learned that Derek had been through the foster system but didn’t let the trauma of his childhood stop him from being successful.  He gained resilience through all that he had been through and is now an inspirational speaker. Derek is a great example of turning something so horrible into something good.  Deacon Wakely also weaved into his homily subtle suggestions to get off our phones, disconnect from social media and reconnect with the people in our lives. I left church after visiting with that couple and got into my car with an extra bounce in my step.  I made note to look him up later which I did.  I sat for a moment in the car, grateful to God for the people in my life…the best friend who would drop anything for me, the friend who reached out with a prayer request, my Mom still staying active. I also felt inspired to work on finding a way to give back.  My best friend would say it was a godwink that I went to church lastnight. She’s probably right.

The Kindness of A Stranger

As I sat in church today, I witnessed the lady in front of me repeatedly showing her hymnal to some children in front of her.  I would lean to the right to see what she was doing.  The children’s mom was at the end of the pew and wasn’t aware of how the lady was connecting with her son and daughter.  I couldn’t help but smile as this stranger would point to the page number and the little boy and girl would look up with their big brown eyes and look to her for approval.  She would nod as if to say “yep, you got it right.”  The kids would smile and look back at her silently saying thank you.  Before going up to Communion, I laid my hand on the lady’s back and I just said, “I saw what you were doing, very sweet.”  She half turned and smiled.  

Children are sponges and they simply want to be shown what to do.  The mother may never know what happened while her children were at church.  Perhaps only the lady and I will.  What’s the lesson here—you never know what impact you will make on someone.  Take advantage of every opportunity you get to make a difference.  One look, one nod, one moment and multiple lives were changed for the better.  To me, it was only fitting that we were in church when all this took place.  Isn’t that the point God is trying to instill in us everyday-leave the world better than you found it.  

Cooking with Love

I don’t tend to cook a lot and certainly not out of love…more so requirement, you know to stay alive. Below is a fictional piece I wrote for Reedsy. Hope you like it.

As she looked down at the menu, Diana smiled, running her fingers over the laminated pages.  Her own restaurant, Cooking with Love, was born.  She finally made her dream come true.  

After saving enough for down payment plus beginning overhead costs, she was now the owner of a waterfront location she had her eye on for years.  Now here she was with a staff of 15, bringing to life her grandmother’s recipes along with some of her own authentic Italian creations.  Diana had fond memories of watching her mother and grandmother in the kitchen, often with their hands animating the conversations. Never far away was her notebook where she jotted down ideas for a sauce or a dish.  To her, there was nothing better than the aroma of basil, sausage, tomatoes and hints of thyme.  As she got older and her grandmother began slowing down, the three of them would all sit around the island in the middle of the kitchen, laughing as they enjoyed a bottle of wine from her brother’s winery.  

Almost 10 years passed since she lost her mother.  Her Dad was now living in his private quarters on her brother’s estate in California.  His keen knack for business allowed him to contribute and stay mentally sharp, filling the void in his heart that his late wife left.   As she stood in her kitchen prepping for the evening, Diana couldn’t help but feel her mother’s presence.  Diana’s mother was her biggest supporter and constantly pushed her daughter to aim high.  For Diana, cooking always elicited such fond memories.  She thanked God every day for this gift and the ability to continue sharing her love of family and delicious food.  

The restaurant was only in its second week.  Diana looked down at her phone and saw a text from her brother, Paolo.  Hey sis, thinking of you and hope it’s another fabulous night, xoxo.  She smiled and wiped her hands on the nearby towel so she could reply back to him.  Thanks, big brother.  Btw, your Cabernet has been a big hit.  He replied with a thumbs up.  

Upon surveying the kitchen staff, Diana took a few minutes to freshen up in her private office before stepping out into the dining room.  The site of an almost packed house took her breath away.  This is so surreal, she thought.  She stopped at one table filled with a group of her good friends.   “Diana, what is in this sauce—absolutely delicious!”  “Jack, you know I can’t tell you.  I want you to leave here intact.”  Jack threw his hands up in a surrendering motion as he and his wife Reagan both laughed.  Diana put a hand on his shoulder and said, “You know me, always tinkering with new herbs.  So glad you liked the sauce, enjoy the rest of your meal.  Dessert on me.”  

Later that night, Diana took a long, hot bath to unwind from the day.  Dressed in her favorite Soma pajamas, she curled up on the loveseat in her large, open living room with the latest Brenda Novak book.  Alright Brenda, help me escape reality for a bit she said as she turned to the first chapter.  

A few days later, Diana was contacted by the Lifestyle department of the local paper.  The writer asked if she could stop by for a visit sometime this week.  Diana agreed upon Wednesday morning though she was not entirely sure of what to make of the upcoming meeting.  At 1:00 on the dot, there was a knock on the restaurant’s front door.  She unlocked the door as the young woman entered the restaurant.  She extended her hand as they introduced themselves.  Diana ushered her to one of the nearby tables.  Amanda, the Lifestyle writer, took a sip of the coffee before speaking.   “Thank you for meeting with me.  I’m sure you’re wondering why I wanted to sit down with you.  I have been in here multiple times with girlfriends and I loved reading how this all got started.”  The back of every menu had a picture of Diana and a short bio.  She continued sharing with Diana how she went to her editor about doing a heartfelt piece on following one’s dream.  From the way Amanda’s mouth slowly curved into a smile, Diana must have had a quizzical , skeptical look on her face that screamed um, me?  “I’m just a girl who loves to cook and opened a restaurant… not sure how that is special.”  Amanda shook her head and said, “Oh but I see so much more.  I see a strong, independent woman who makes people feel like they are in Italy as they enjoy a delightful ambience, not to mention the delicious food.  I see a woman whose feisty grandmother, sorry I overheard you one night…instilled in her a love of cooking and damn girl, did it pay off.”  Still dumfounded as to why Amanda, whom she barely knew, wanted to write a piece on her.  She took a sip of her freshly brewed coffee, letting the idea fester for a bit in her head.  “I never thought about it that way, but appreciate the perspective and compliments.  I am proud of what I’ve accomplished and truly love seeing people enjoy good food.”  With a wave of her hand in typical Italian fashion, she said “Oh what the heck, I’m in…what’s next?”  With that, Amanda clapped her hands together with a huge grin.  Diana couldn’t help but laugh and shook her head. 

The what’s next that followed entailed the magazine photographer coming in to take candid shots of Diana in the restaurant mingling with guests, cooking up one of her signature dishes along with shots of her at home relaxing.  Amanda followed her around, jotting down notes and even helped her make a few dishes.  Diana soon found herself forging a bond with Amanda whom she was liking more and more.  They realized they both shared a love of wine and books, even reading similar authors.  Late afternoon, after the restaurant closed early, they got to sit down and enjoy a glass of wine.  As Amanda put her glass down on the table, she exclaimed, “What…this is your brother’s wine?  No way! Oh this just added a whole other spin to the article…do you mind if I add it?”  “No of course not, Paolo will love it.”  The following Monday, the piece on Diana and her brother came out it and hit the stands.  The restaurant was all a buzz the next day, making Diana feel like a minor celebrity.  

Six months in, the restaurant continued to do well, putting Diana in a position to take some much deserved time off.  With Cooking With Love in good hands, she flew to Sonoma for the weekend to visit her brother and father at Paolo’s winery.  As she pulled onto the private gravel road to enter the estate, Diana rolled down the window to take in the cool California air.  She pulled up to the circular driveway.  As she stepped out and rounded her rental car, she was immediately greeted by Paulo’s two dogs, one golden doodle and the other a chocolate lab.  “Oh my goodness, look how much you two have grown….and gotten even cuter.”  Shortly behind them were Paolo and her father.  Her brother put his arm around her shoulder.  “Good to see you, sis…I’ve missed you.”  She stepped out of his embrace so she could give her Dad a hug and kiss, soaking in the familiar scent of his trademark Aramis cologne.  Paolo grabbed her bags and the three headed into the house, with the pups leading the way, occasionally barking to assert their presence.  

Later that night, they sat down for a family dinner out on the covered patio that overlooked the vineyard.  They were joined by Maria, Paolo’s wife whom Diana got along with very well.  Her Dad held up his glass of wine and said, “your mother would be so proud of you both.  To family,”  Paolo smiled and winked at his sister before they all raised their glass and replied, “To family.”  As she helped to bring in the dishes to the kitchen, Diana passed the framed picture of the magazine cover, the one that donned hers and Paolo’s picture from Amanda’s article.  Not only did the article bring her restaurant and the winery more business, but she and Amanda had become great friends.  I am blessed, she said as she looked up to heaven and blew her Mom a kiss.  

Letting Go

As she heard the whistle of the kettle, Carrie snapped back to reality and shook her head from the thoughts which consumed her while the water had boiled.  She got off the stool, picked up her empty mug and poured herself some chamomile tea, praying it would help her get some much needed sleep.  She sat alone in the kitchen, unable to wind down after having just dropped off her son at college.  Carrie was emotionally drained, exhausted from packing and simply spent.  Her husband Tom and younger daughter Maddie had long since gone to bed.  On the outside Maddie was thrilled to have the upstairs, especially the loft, to herself though inside Carrie knew she was missing her big brother.  She was thankful her kids were close.  Tom had remained stoic and strong on the drive home.  However, Carrie had seen his eyes get misty as he gave his son a big bear hug before all 3 wished Cody well one more time.  

Carrie sat in the oversized chair in the living room, with her legs tucked underneath holding onto the warmth of the mug and savoring every sip of the tea.  “Where did the time go” she thought.  As she looked around the quiet, still living room, she stopped as her eyes caught family pictures.  She tried to hold back the tears but they trickled down her cheek.  “How is my baby 18 and off to college?  I just wish I could freeze time” she whispered.  As she recalled the events of the day, a smile slowly spreading across her face remembering the moment Cody headed towards his dorm with his new roommate.  He looked back one last time, yelling “Love you Mom.”  He was happy, excited and ready to start his new adventure.  Carrie remembered closing her eyes and saying a prayer, asking God to watch over her son and keep him safe.  

Thankfully the next day was Saturday and Carrie did not have an alarm set.  She woke to the smell of coffee.  “God bless Tom” she thought as she threw back the covers and made her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth.  As she descended the stairs, she heard Maddie and Tom talking about Maddie’s upcoming lacrosse tournament.  Tom looked up and smiled at Carrie as she entered the kitchen.  After squeezing her daughter’s shoulders and kissing the top of her head, Tom handed her a cup of already doctored coffee, touching her lips lightly with a sweet kiss.  She put her arms around his waist and leaned into him.  “He’s going to be fine, babe.  Parents Weekend will be here before we know it.”  Without looking at Tom, she nodded and sipped her coffee.  Tom cleared his throat, prompting Maddie to look up from her phone.  Catching his cue, Maddie put down her phone and proceeded to try and distract her mother.  “Mom, I have lacrosse practice today.  Are my shirt and shorts clean?  Oh and remember you said we could go shopping this weekend.”  Not letting her teenage daughter outsmart her, Carrie returned with, “Well, if the shirt and shorts made their way to the laundry room, then yes, they’re clean…”  Maddie bolted off the stool, running upstairs to check.  Carrie let out a long sigh and looked at Tom who just shook his head.  

Tom drained the last of his coffee and rinsed out his cup in the sink before saying he was going to shower.  Carrie’s phone made a sound, indicating a text.  As he approached the bottom of the stairs, Tom looked back at his wife, asking “Is that from Cody?”  “No it’s from Karen asking how I’m doing and if I wanted to grab lunch.”  She looked up to see him smiling.  That was exactly what his wife needed and said “she knows you well” as he winked and headed upstairs.  

Later that evening, Carrie and Tom sat on their patio, enjoying a glass of wine after dinner.  Maddie was out with friends leaving them with an at home date night.  Carrie and Tom were going over the various events for the next week.  Carrie’s ringtone, the words of Tim McGraw’s Humble and Kind, interrupted their conversation.  She set down her glass to answer.  From the huge grin on his wife’s face, he didn’t need to ask who was calling.  “Hi sweetie, how are you?  Hold on Cody, let me put you on speaker so Dad can hear you too.”  Cody began to fill in his parents on how he and his roommate had begun exploring the campus, gotten to know the best places to eat and that he’d signed up for a few clubs during New Freshmen Social.  Tom reached over and squeezed Carrie’s hand.  Feeling like she was about to lose it, she silently handed the phone to Tom.  “Hey bud, that’s great.  Your Mom and I are thrilled.  We can’t wait to hear how your first day of classes go.”  After letting the guys talk, Carrie took the phone back.  “Dad’s right, honey, we are excited for you.  Now remember I want daily phone calls.  You’re only a few hours away and I will come check on you.”  “Mom, daily calls?”  Tom looked over at her, with raised eyebrows.  “Okay, maybe not daily but just don’t forget to call me….none of these short texts.  I need to hear your voice.”  Her heart melted as he laughed.  She could hear the smile in his voice as he said, “I’ll call Mom, I promise.  I gotta go, we’re off to go eat. Love you guys.”  She swallowed the lump in her throat before responding “we love you too, Cody.”  She looked down at her phone after the call ended as a tear fell on the screen.  She took the bottom of her shirt and wiped it away.  As Tom twisted his gold, unmistakable ring on his right ring finger, Carrie knew he was so proud that his son chose his alma mater, Texas A & M.  She knew there was something special about College Station, hard not to feel at home there.  When Tom reminded her that the first home football game was only a few weeks away, Carrie began to relax.  He’d see their son every time he was there.  Tom reached for the bottle of wine and refilled both their glasses.   They clinked their glasses and toasted “here’s to another Aggie in the family.”   

Blank Canvas

Rise and shine…it’s 2020.  We have officially started a new decade, wait…what?  Where did the year go?  As I told a friend last night, think of it as a clean slate.  As always, a new year presents us with an opportunity to get things right.  Not all of life, let’s be realistic.  Maybe money, relationships, work, a new skill….whatever it may be that’s been nagging you.  For me, it’s….well we’re not talking about me.  This is just a general reminder that even if the past few months (or year) have been stressful or not what we’d hoped, this is January 1, 2020….a blank canvas if you will.  This is our chance to get a new set of paintbrushes (still with the metaphor) and have at it.  

I’ve been blessed to be off for the past two weeks and therefore have embraced the chances to rest, relax and recharge.  I’ve had full cups of coffee and enjoyed every sip of them; I’ve gone from room to room making my list of projects/wish list items for my house.  I’ve slept in….though I was sure the day was half over when I got up at 8:30 once.

Since we just finished the holidays (even though Christmas technically doesn’t end until January 6th), one activity that I can never tire of is watching Christmas movies.  I shook my head at the comments I read regarding “too many Christmas movies” on Hallmark channel.  Those poor people….who could tire of sweet stories where everyone is happy, not stressed, there’s snow, hot chocolate and more?  Do I watch them all year long…no….but it’s still the holidays in my mind, so all bets are off.

Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com

A recent movie I watched, Christmas in Mississippi, starring Faith Ford as one of the characters had a line that stuck with me, “There’s nothing silly about having faith that hard times are going to get better.”  I couldn’t help but smile as we all need a little reminder sometimes to keep believing and having faith.  

So as we continue on the first day of the New Year…take charge of the little moments.  Embrace them….live with no regrets.  Taking the advice of someone I respect, “Make it count” (thank you, Fr. Carlos).  

Happy New Year to all!

All hope is not lost

The other day I took some friends’ kids out for a photo shoot as a surprise gift for their Mom.  Mind you, these kids are on their Thanksgiving break and here I am, pulling them away from their basketball court, devices (though I caved and let those come along for the ride) and their couch.  The fact that they not only complied, but had a genuinely good attitude about my request is a testament to the way they are being raised.  In a typical teenager fashion, after the first stop, one of them asked what was next and how long it’ll take to get there.  The question popped up again after our last stop.  I smiled and said, “Actually…we’re headed home” which resulted in a “oh we are….okay, cool.”  Though he acted as if we had been driving for hours, the same teen spoke up to say “oh, I know where we are….we should be home in like 10 minutes.”  As we looked at the jam-packed sea of cars in front of us, his older brother and I laughed saying it might be longer than that.  

Multiple times during the car ride home, the kids thanked me for doing this for their Mom and like their genuine attitude at the beginning, they really meant these words.  It would be easy to say that was planned, their mother told them to say that….but I didn’t care—I’m a sucker for good manners and hearing nice things.  Truth be told, their parents have raised them to be respectful, use their manners and be genuinely nice.  

Once I returned the kids safety to their house, their Mom and I sat down to visit.  She played along with my surprise by not asking any questions and even saying, “I don’t know…she won’t tell me” when her husband called during our visit.  When she walked me to my car, I told her how good the kids were, how fun it was to see them get along and that she’s doing a good job.  She thanked me before we hugged good-bye and I went on my way.

Even though I don’t have any kids of my own…just a niece and nephews I adore, I know this for sure: Parenting is not easy.  It is not for the faint of heart.  I see that with my friends who are parents (such as the friend I mentioned earlier), my sister who is a mom of 5, my mom, etc….Parenting requires being the adult and setting the tone.  Parenting requires being firm, not one’s friend.  Children will get mad at you, say they hate you, threaten to run away, etc.  They will hopefully realize later on that you were only being tough for their own good.  Mind you, they may not say “thank you” outright…but in their own way, they will say it.

As we are a day from Thanksgiving, I want to express how grateful I am to my parents who always pushed me to do the right thing….who had high expectations for me and my sisters and who made the tough decisions.  I like to think they paid off.  

Enjoy the family time, the little moments, and the friends who feel like family, and find time to laugh….a lot!  Happy Thanksgiving and remember, calories don’t count on holidays….

Reflecting on 2018

As 2018 winds down, I figured this was a good time to reflect on the past year.  Time and time again, I believe God sends me messages, through people that come into my life, intended to remind me to appreciate every moment and also, perhaps, take me in a different direction.  The following is just a taste of my look back on 2018. 

This year has brought me the random stranger I met who shared with me that his wife just received news that her cancer was back for the third time 3 days before Christmas.  When I touched his arm to express my care and promised to say a prayer for them, for a brief moment, he was no longer a stranger.  2018 brought me a connection and friendship with a new parent to our school whom I am so blessed to know.  She has made me a better person, friend and frankly made me put more depth into my job.  

2018 started off where I was enjoying a Happy Hour with friends celebrating my belated birthday only to have our world turned upside down the next day.  We learned that one of our students was fighting for his life in the hospital with a brain tumor.  In the short time that followed, our community grew even closer which, looking back now, was probably the student’s doing.  Just a few days after he lost his fight, his parents came by school “to check on the kids” meaning his classmates.  Spend just a few minutes with his parents and you can’t help but have a sense of peace come over you.  They are two of the most grounded, faith-filled individuals I’ve ever met and are simply amazing examples to others.  This tragedy taught me a lesson and brought me a renewed sense of faith and reminded us all how important it is to “just get along.”  

April 2018, I explored the Pacific Northwest with my sister for a quick getaway to Port Orchard, WA (shout out to you Debbie Macomber).  We stayed in a beautiful B & B that overlooked the quaint, coastal town and enjoyed shopping and local wineries.  Both my older sisters and I try to take full advantage of what was instilled in us by our parents….the joy of travel! 

In August, I attended a 40th birthday party of one of my dearest and closest friends.  Guests were not allowed to know who was invited which was pretty cool and unique. I got to witness how all of the people invited knew the guest of honor and I was (and still am) no doubt blessed to be counted among her friends.  She reminds me every day to see the best in life, to laugh and shows me how important it is to stay connected and build community.  Just a mere few days ago brought me my own 40th birthday bash, where I celebrated with friends and family and couldn’t have had a better night (even if my actual birthday came two days later…I’ve already decided I’m celebrating all year long).

While most of us go into a new year with “resolutions” to get organized, be more fiscally responsible, etc…. I’m going to try a different approach.  Granted, I’m probably going to still try to be more fiscally responsible and organized, but I also want to never lose sight of the relationships in my life and enjoy all the little moments.  As cliche as that sounds, it still bears repeating.  We can’t get those moments back so make the most of them and when you have an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, do it.  I’ve also been reminded about the power of prayer…..how much writing a note to someone matters….sending a text to say you’ll get through this…..and to trust in God’s plan and his path for all of us.  

Cheers to 2019!

Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.

Those three words are a on shirt that a friend and co-worker made recently so we could wear them at our annual school-wide Thanksgiving luncheon. You’re bound to have seen it on Pinterest at least a zillion times. These words describe how I feel during this Thanksgiving season. Appropriate, right? I am grateful, thankful and blessed for my family, friends, health and unwavering faith. We shouldn’t need reminders of how fragile life is but boy have we gotten them loud and clear recently. The tragedies in Las Vegas, Europe, Sutherland Springs brought it all back home for us. What else will it take for us to appreciate the people around us, our health and our opportunities to live another day?

I am blessed that I work with a great bunch of people and most closely with two girls that crack me up, encourage me to have fun, and not let the little things overwhelm me. I am also fortunate to consider them close friends too.  Everyone needs people like that, right?

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because this is a time that brings us closer to family, reminds us of what is of most importance and let’s face facts, the food we get to eat is pretty darn good too.

On Tuesday, I was in charge of watching a class for a few hours. Since the students were done with their assigned work, they asked if they could write on the board. “Sure, but do it quietly” I replied. I walked around the room a bit and then looked up and caught the eye of one student as she was writing a message on the board. Keep in mind, there was no direction at all….so I wasn’t sure how creative they would get or  how much they’d push this “free writing time.” Her message caught my eye: “Happy Thanksgiving, everyone and God bless you and your family!” Almost every single student who chose to have a place at the board had wrote something about Thanksgiving. As we wound down the day and the students started to get their backpacks, they asked if they should erase the board. “No, let’s leave it like that.”  I chose to let the messages stay up so they could come back to see them after the break.  Ahh to look at life through the eyes of a child really tugs at one’s heart sometimes.

This is the time of year we could easily get wrapped up in “Black Friday” nonsense and feel we have to hurry up and eat so we can go to our favorite 15 retail places and stand in line with a million of our closes friends. Seriously? I challenge you to slow down and let the shopping wait and put family first. Put your differences aside, let go of whatever happened the past week and enjoy the moment. Give thanks for what you have, who you have in your life and let God know you appreciate all that he has given you.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Book Review: Head First, a crash course in positivity

 

Steve Lawton is the type of guy that seconds after meeting him, you feel as if you’ve known him for years. He just makes you feel comfortable. I first met Steve about 20 years in 1996, when my sister and brother-in-law got married.  Steve is a fellow Aggie, like my brother-in-law Jay. Throughout the years, I would see Steve at various functions. A few years ago, my sister shared that Steve had been in a really bad skiing accident in Colorado and that Jay and another friend drove an RV out to bring him back to Texas. After hearing details of the accident, it is truly amazing how Steve survived. Just a few short years after the accident, Steve has shared his story of positivity, resilience and determination in an appropriately titled book Head First: A Crash Course in Positivity. After finishing it, I can truly say what an inspirational book it was to read. I was reminded of how fast life can change and the role one’s attitude plays toward dealing with life’s surprises. Steve gives the reader 8 principles of how to maintain positivity when going through something negative or difficult.  His journey reminded me of my Dad’s philosophy: “There are problems and there are inconveniences. Learn the difference.” This is so true as we wall get caught up in dwelling on the little things and deeming our life to be over because we got a flat tire or our cable is out. I urge you to step back and reassess your priorities. When you see that your coffee mug leaked onto your back seat, sure it’s aggravating and makes you want to scream…..but is it a problem or
an inconvenience? Having cancer, an amputation or being stuck on a ski hill because of a fluke crash that cracked your helmet….those are problems. However, if you have the right attitude toward those problems, they can slowly teter toward an inconvenience. If you let it, the disease or problem can ruin your life. Don’t give it that much power.

If you liked the saying referenced above of my Dad’s, you can find out more information here. If you are interested in reading Steve’s book, which I hope all of you are, you can buy it on Amazon.  Follow Steve on Twitter: @stevehlawton.