…just to see Harry toast his brother. And to see, hear and feel the genuine love that encompassed all of Bedford falls.
George Baileyoffski had a truly wonderful life.
Thanks for sharing.
I guess one may get wrapped up in the idea that there is timing involved. Perhaps involving a place. Some thing. Event. Another or others.
Don’t get me wrong, each of those are moments that can be meant to bring happiness. A family vacation, grand child birthday party, golf with the buddies, seeing a movie with another, a high school reunion, getting your first riding mower.
Perhaps one can get lured into the concept that those are meant to bring happiness. No doubt, they surely can and do. But then again, there may be elements within that provide some despair, anxiety or hopefully not so, loneliness. Perhaps it is the expectation of happiness that reveals to us some hard to bear truths.
So happiness could be viewed as an entity that is meant to be brought. Or just evident when you simply be. So of course, look forward to those special moments that are on the horizon. They are destined to fill your book of memories.
But never look past the ones that are already there, right in front of you.
I get up each morning with the feeling of anticipation that I get to do this.
Again.
I get to feel the wind off the lake through the kitchen window and hear the chimes sing.
Watch the sparrows swim in the bath.
See the plants, flowers and trees sway in the breeze.
Know the sun is already on its path yet another day.
And that is just the start.
Limitless capacity for even more, in ways never imagined.
Its all there for the taking if you can heed Paul’s sage advice.
And let it be.
This is interesting timing.
We had our first contact day for the 2026 football season yesterday. In this instance, “contact” means that we coaches get to be in contact with the players, teaching, mentoring and learning how far they have travelled since the last season. Helmets and pads come later. But for now, it is simply coaching.
I bring this up today because back in the day, I came upon an approach to coaching football that was not centered on mastery of one but moreso mastery of self. A project that I too have taken to heart. Sorry about the pun. For those of you that caught it, I will send you a star for your helmet. The moment was fertile for so many last night. But most sailed over their noggins. This too shall pass. But again, I digress.
In my view, mastery of self is about rounding out all of ones abilities. To focus entirely upon one may overlook others that might be worthy of consideration for growth into something far more. We are all gifted with certain talents, aptitudes or strengths, if you will. But then for some strange reason, we automatically refer to anything that falls out of that category as “weakness”. The connotation that just because you aren’t able to do it now makes it invaluable and unworthy to pursue just baffles me.
We are not just one thing. But a host of many. And in coming to that realization, I began to look at strength’s opposite not as “weakness” but as “capacity”. You may be “full” of talents and abilites in certain areas, but there is also an abundance of capacity to address, pursue and develop many others with intention, perseverance and faith.
For that reason, we are all common in that one trait; our capacity to grow.
When I coach, my focus is on the development of the whole person, not simply the athlete. By looking at each individual as the sole proprietor of four fundamental aptitudes – athletics, academics, arts and agape’ – you can enlighten and challenge them to recognize, understand and embrace their capacity to enhance any or all of them.
Academics is more than just math or science, Latin or social studies. It is a genuine and active interest in the value of knowledge and how it forms all manner of opportunity. Perhaps it is the arts, expression in the form or drawing, painting, music, theatre, poetry, you name it. Agape’, the relentless, active approach of seeking the well-being of others, through service and servanthood. And then athletics. A passion for competition on the field, court, diamond, pool, or track.
We are each gifted with these four aptitudes. How we express our gratitude for their receiot is exposed by our approach in working to master each, fulfilling what we were meant to become.
Should they heed the call, seek self-mastery across each aptitude, imagine the individual that appears at the first contact day or practice. They are one that has actively and passionately sought to fill capacity in all areas, thereby learning a sense of self-mastery and incorporating abundant growth within.
Glimmers already appeared on that field last night.
So how can you divest yourself of not trying it because you never have done it, it is not a strength and you just “weren’t made that way”?
In response to this prompt, albeit several hundred words later, I couldn’t choose to instantly master anything. That would leave parts of me empty. I would prefer to honestly see the widest possibilities as true potential and then apply myself to fully fill my capacity in each to the brim.
And then some.
Now that is one great life skill.
I am not quite to the point of moving from a belt to a chain, but I will keep you posted.
But when I get on a scale these days, the digital read out urgently requests, “Hey, one at a time!” But I digress…
I really do not eat as much junk or as much as I have before of recent vintage. No sodas really that often or ever, and I said “bye, bye” to beer. Loving veggies, especially maters, cauliflower and broccoli, raw. Ok, you caught me, With a Greek yogurt dip. A Triscuit or three. And Wisconsin is wondering why the cheese supply is suddenly going up instead of down.
Some of it is most likely the result of less time working out at PF and such. But June has been a more active month, and it will only go up from here. Dramatically. Perhaps there is another aspect to this obvious swelling I am not used to nor yet comprehend.
Maybe it is my soul that is expanding.
I am much closer to and look forward to feeding off of my higher power. I have been consuming more of His wisdom, garnished with that freely offered from those around me. Talk about an extra value meal.
Dispensing with the junk as I mentioned has opened up more space within to taste and enjoy what is genuinely healthy, fortifying and wholesome. This stoic now craves intention, vulnerability and honesty. Not the overprocessed, prepackaged, baloney of external influences that hope to distract you towards living their way.
Sorry Mr. Mayer. That had nothing to do with your contribution to my favorite sammich growing up.
The temp is steadily moving up and the humidity is getting closer to where I like it; swamp ass%. Walks need to resume; perhaps I walk to PF? We’ll see. Time is of the essence. But I am confident that the food available for my soul is approaching banquet proportions. So I will just move my chair so I can remain at that table.
I discovered that it is always open.
And seconds are always encouraged.
Maybe I can just skip the chain. Now that I think of it, I sort of already freed myself of that way of thinking and living. With the help of a heavenly dietician.
Hey?
Suspenders in style?
...my temporary assignment. 