At the risk of being redundant, I will share that gift once again.
Today.
Today.
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Author Archives: Mark J. Hahn
Love.
In today’s climes, this is quite the topic. It gets bantied about like no body’s business. It has a more sacred meaning to me. That being said, what follows will truly be shocking to those that have come to know how this football noggin works. I went a little deeper to find the origins of the word.
Turns out, it’s Greek to me. Well, Greek to all. But I digress…
The root Patēr (πατήρ), meaning “father is from where it stems. Then, becoming patrios, meaning “of one’s father,” followed by patriot (πατριώτης), meaning “from the same country” or “fellow countryman”.
Now there are fathers and there is a Father. It only stands to reason then there are fatherlands and a Fatherland. My perspective regarding things have been the subject reflection and change of late. And if you look at things the way I have been, we are all of one Father. Hence, then we are all born out of the same Fatherland.
This means that we are all from the same country and are fellow country men. And women. It is just that the corresponding topography is immense, far and ever so wide. Commutes may require planes, trains, automobiles, or even ships. Thank goodness for Apple Translate. Talk about gerrymandering. Sheesh.
A patriot, then is meant to support, serve and defend our country men and women. Primarily through sacrifice, selflessness, respect and above all love. That is how our Father would want us to serve our fellow countrymen and women. Through out the Fatherland.
You will notice there is no mention of ego in how I choose to regard this subject. That is because it isn’t needed to support, serve and defend our country men and women. All that is required is sacrifice, selflessness, respect and above all love.
The type given to us by our Father.
Throughout all of the Fatherland.
Love.
And I still get there in time.
No.
Cannot say that I ever have.
Intentional, yes.
My breaks generally involve trying to keep pace with traffic in these parts.
I am not into formula one tactics like most others around town. I wonder what it is like to be so important, urgently needed and so tightly scheduled that you have to drive at double the speed limit, roll stop signs and red lights and pass cars on the right at intersections.
But traveling on the highways is a totally different animal. There is this caravan mentality where drivers twenty or more over the limit snake and weave in and out all three or four lanes. Just because. I have a speed limit plus seven rule I follow. My guess in that the speed guns are set at ten over, so I am gonna stay under.
My full intention is not to be unintentional.
Suits me just fine.
And I still get there in time.
And so it will be written.
Boy, this really made me think.
Someone would actually commit themselves to writing my life story. I haven’t been as committed as I should to writing my own. And someone wants that chore? Yikes.
I don’t know how you would combine comedy/horror/drama into one word. Comorrama?
To be honest, Folgers made things percolate a little and brewed up a couple of ideas.
“W.I.P.” That pretty much sets the tone.
Or maybe “Unfinished.”
“What were you thinking?” And should they have the wherewithal to write a sequel, “Or not.”
First, being considered as a potential subject for a biography is tough to grasp. I spent much of my life setting myself apart from others in self destructive manners. That being said, I am not really keen on having that bound between two hard covers so that I can stand out, alone, on some shelf. Had enough of solitary confinement, thank you.
I get that sharing trials and tribulations via the written word may help others to finally see theirs too. But those words cannot just sit, they need to find their way out. I already work on that by other means and ways. Publication is not needed for that venture. Just being fully in the moment with others is.
And what tends to come out when I do this is what should be seen in others. Not because I say so, but simply because it is, and for some reason, it just gets overlooked. That one I have practiced to perfection. Not knowing what it is I have, can be or to the point – am. So I am not sure how that is translated biographically.
I guess that is what first started as motivational tomes for student-athletes has morphed into mostly just insights into the things I finally sense, see and hear. You can start out one way, but if you are open to change, growth and actually living, then good things happen. What you were meant to be comes into view, and that is simply where you want to go.
So a hundred or so words later, still no clue what a biography about me might be called. If I were allowed to bend the rules a smidge, I could go the autobiographical route. Then, “…my temporary assignment” works just fine.
And so it will be written.
Time part 4.
Back in the day, I shared thoughts with kids in our community youth football program. Things stated and modeled at practice that were worthy of reiteration in written form. One of the formats I used was called “Ten Thoughts”.
After my post this morning, the top two from this set dating back to 2014 jumped out at me.
Time – THE most precious resource you will ever possess. And if you are not careful in how you use it – it can come to possess you. It is something only to be spent – and despite your efforts otherwise – it proves very difficult to bank. What you get – is what you get. There is no better time than “now”. So always “be” where you are. And make the absolute most of your treasured allotment.
Time part 2 – sometimes, “things” need to happen on their own time. This has nothing to do with the alignment of stars and planets, destiny or fate. Just how life goes. You might want, work and dream for something in the worst way. Your committed effort might make it happen. But then again – it might not. When it doesn’t, there is still something of value to be taken from the experience. Learning to persevere and have faith to name the top two. It all matters. It all means something. As Tom Petty once said “the waiting is the hardest part.” Yes it is. But one thing is for certain. Even in the waiting, you are being made ready for something even better.
After reading the top two, I would like to share this addition:
Time part 3 – being somewhere other than right here, right now can become suffocating. Attempting to change what has already been enacted or planning out a reaction to something that has yet to happen can suck the life right out of you.
The past is meant to be a learning experience, providing you with the wisdom to pursue a path towards greater affirmation. Or, if ego makes itself king, the lesson will be ignored and defeat will become repetitive.
The future is meant to be embraced as you have made yourself to hold it, but only if and when it happens. Not before. A lack of preparation and presence will leave you stranded from opportunity and fulfillment. You have to be there to “be” then.
Being present brings with it peace and serenity. Life.
And joy.
Perhaps this will someday become another addition.
Time part 4.
...my temporary assignment. 