Tag Archives: life

Fin.

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Daily writing prompt
If you could change the ending of any book, which one would it be?
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As you get to know me from these routine assignments and other spontaneous contributions, there has been an ongoing, perhaps noticable transition. Intention is undergoing alteration. A reinforcement of values accompanied by a shift in vocation. A new day finally treasured for once with some hope on the horizon.

We are all authors of our own story.

Mine had become a messterpiece.

But with a pack of legal pads, once of those Sharpie ball point pens and this trusty chrome book, I am in the process of being able to document a rewrite.

The main characters remain, but in a new light. The plot has shifted with the introduction of some new to my story. I am not aware of the acromym for a spiritual, adventure packed romance, fixer upper, comedy. Maybe that is something that needs to be left for Al to figure out. But that is where it seems to be going. Hopefully, many chapters remain.

Just know that a script is not handed over to you at birth to follow because of circumstance, event, disbelief or choices. There is plenty of paper and ink to articulate your story the way you want it to be read. And never write it to appeal to an audience. Live it the way best suited for you and let them seek you out.

There are many out there that need to know that they too can become their own authors of life. And reading your genuine story, with all of the melodrama, history, pain, joy and awakening will prove to them that they can write theirs too.

It may seem otherwise, but we are all connected. We just need to open up and let that truth happen.

Until next time, I will steer clear of ig-pay atin-lay and return to my roots Francais.

Fin.

And still do.

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Daily writing prompt
What’s the best advice you’d give to someone younger than you?
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I tend to be a giving person. Often to the point of over stepping, reacting, functioning and just about any other word, phrase or idiom you wish to have follow “over”. But from an advice perspective, that would definitely fall into the misnomer category.

To this old stoic, advice would appear to reflect great knowledge and expertise. Honestly, I do not think I am quite yet qualified to carry that moniker. This guy is still earning his stripes. But I have benefited from a life littered with missteps, misdeeds, miscalculations, misspokeness, missoportunity, and yes, mistakes.

Plenty.

So perhaps when it comes to this day’s assignment, allow me to tweak it a bit to “what wisdom would you offer someone younger than you?” To me, that makes more sense. Advice is born of an expert. Wisdom is earned through life. You seem to pay for advice through commitment accompanied by commission. Wisdom is simply shared free of charge with love. The only stipulation being to be open and to listen.

There is this phrase I have held dear for some time though I don’t recall its origin. I know I have shared it in one form or another because of the wisdom it conveyed to me in practice. Even now, its benefits continue to flow inward. For proof, think about where I am and what I am doing this moment.

“Discipline creates independence”.

In a variety of configurations, I have made it my intention to embrace self-discpline. Not that It has been perfect in its implementation and there have been zero flaws in the execution and outcome. But when you engage in the variety that is focused on your self, little by little, freedoms will emerge. They may be in the shape of ten minutes here, less double handling there to start. But in time, the more sef-discplined you become, the more independent you can be. Mathematically speaking, what you then get to do is inversely proportional to what you have to do.

As Roger and the boys once sang, “I’d call that a bargain, the best I ever had,
The best I ever had”

My kids saw this performed as they were growing up.

Starting, taking care of and finishing what had to be done opened the doors to what got to be done. I see it now in how they live their lives today. Heck, I can learn some tricks from them. And these days, I continue to live by that phrase for this old guy and those in my life around me. I see what happens when it is tried and what doesn’t when it is ignored.

So maybe let’s end with this.

I don’t really want to offer any advice. I still don’t know what I am doing. But I am more than happy to share the wisdom I earned and learned in the process of trying to make sense of life.

You are free to do with it whatever you choose.

I just know I get to do now because of what I had to do then.

And still do.

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.

Suspenders in style?

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Daily writing prompt
What is one way you have grown this year?
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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?

Thank you Coach Strode.

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I attended a celebration of life this past weekend for my head football coach in high school, Gene Strode.

The stories shared by his children and friends still swells my heart. He was such a great father, husband, coach and man. He cast a living and lifelong impression on thousands.

It is fitting that he returned to farming upon his retirement.

I say that because he spent his entire career planting the seeds of potential, performance and passion within his players, assistants, kids, friends and community. He could see in others what they could not yet see in themselves, until they blossomed. And being the farmer that he was, he nurtured a continuing, healthy and prolific growth throughout the season of his life.

He was careful to eradicate the weeds we grew by acting out of character. Minimized the manure we told our ourselves and tried to sell others. Watered us just right with praise, affirmation and discipline.

He radiated genuine, fatherly guidance and love to all that came his way. That is what made us grow so upright and strong. To this day, and to a lasting extent, we are who we are because we were all raised the same way by Coach.

A farmer of men.

Even though it has been close to fifty years, I could still feel all of that and then some when me and some of my teammates huddled this past Sunday. We did some truly great things together. Cause he saw it in us.

Then cube that sensation when all of us huddled together, as one, for Coach.

Every fall, he grew us to be his bumper crop.

And every fall since, there hasn’t been a season gone by that I don’t feel his presence in my life. Whether it is the weeding, an awareness of an overabundance of fertilizer, or his way of watering us for growth, his radiance remains.

Now I get to walk those fields too.

For he taught me to be a farmer.

My true vocation.

Thank you Coach Strode.