Tag Archives: dailyprompt

Teachers.

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Daily writing prompt
Who are you most inspired by?
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Some days, following communion service or mass, I run into a man that is busy replacing all of the entrance mats in and around the church. For lack of a better term, he always has this air of “being totally into it” about him. We exchange “good mornings”, “looks like a great day” and “take care”. Who knows how many he does in the course of the day. That is not easy work. But he does. And he is into it. Making things just right for all those coming and going.

A young man I got to know through coaching football is starting a podcast. His mission is two fold. First, to invite athletes to discuss their personal side, what they are about, what they have had to overcome, who they truly are and what they intend to become. Through growing that audience, he hopes to generate the support that will help those that are less fortunate overcome, be who they truly are and begin the work to become all they were intended to be. When I watched him talk to this teammates on the field and in the locker room, you could literally see the passionate concern flow out and touch those all around. It was was never about him. Always them.

Those that I support via job development and coaching have their own burdens to overcome, and yet they show up for work, on time, do their best and look out for their teammates. One in particular simply leads by example. Parts of the establishment are now cleaner than ever before, he addresses stocking issues when he sees them, makes the aisles customer friendly and will help any customer that approaches him looking for the chrome go faster or the platimunm ectawhatsit. He knows where everything is and will take every lost soul where it can be found.

There are other folks in my life that simply put themselves out there for others. Most times small, Sometimes medium, and once in a while, in a big way. They all understand in a deep and genuine fashion that it really isn’t about them. It is all about those in their universe. Without accolades, a million or so clicks, likes or followers, they just go about life putting the other guy first. Because they can. Because that is how they are built. Mostly, just because.

So you want to discuss influencers?

These are three off the top of my noggin that change the world every day through their intention, their effort and genuine love for the other.

True inspiration.

Teachers.

Well said indeed.

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Daily writing prompt
What’s your top tip to be successful in life?
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For most of my life, I have been my harshest critic. Choosing to look back, dissect myself, my value worth, esteem. Yada yada. Also, becoming a cultist, so to speak, following the assessment of others about me as the gospel truth.

This would in turn lead to the development of a scathing personal critique, followed by a self absorbed Teams invite involving me, myself and I, in the proverbial, but sarcastic form of a “come to Jesus” meeting. The type ego driven micro managers inflict on those lesser than themselves.

Get all that?

Then, God forbid I look ahead, destined to set the stage for yet another poor performance where lines are forgot, entry is on the wrong side and cues are never recognized or followed. I was convinced I had to live in the past, but abhor the future because, hey, I couldn’t do anything right and it would simply end up like before. But this time, not just FUBAR. But now, SAPFU. (those sterling acronyms just happened to raise their hands in my cranium. So I called on them….)

I have since embarked on a different path. One not bound up in this type of toxicity. I respect thee past and how it brought me to this point in my life. And the future? Not in my hands.

Affirming this perspective and the health that it brings across all levels, this appeared towards the end of a reading at mass the other day. Witnessed and shared by St. Matthew:

“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.”

Followed by a closing sentence, “Sufficient for a day is its own evil”, something to the effect that each day has with it trouble of its own.

Two things strike me with a poignance all its own about his witness of Jesus and what He taught.

First, Levi was a Hebrew tax collector. The worst of the worst in that world. Unethical, ego driven, lording over others in any way, shape or form to ensure Cesar gets what he is due.

But then, their paths cross. No such thing as coincidence. Just that He is present. Then two words shared changed everything.

“Follow me.”

No need for Levi o gather up and carry a long a past. Definitely no clue or promise of what was yet to come.

Simply “Follow me”.

Maybe I am wrong, but sure seems like he felt it before it was ever said. And he became an exemplar of what He did say. For he chose to become Matthew. Knowing that would simply take care of itself.

Top tip?

“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.”

Well said Matthew.

Well said indeed.

And let it be.

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Daily writing prompt
What’s a common misconception people have about happiness?
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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.

Now that is one great life skill.

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Daily writing prompt
If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be and why?
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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.