Why You Play The Game

When I feel that chill...smell that fresh cut grass.  Back in my helmet, cleats, and shoulder pads. Standing in the huddle, listening to the call.  Fans going crazy for the Boys of Fall. 

Kenny Chesney described what it's like to be one of the boys of Fall to a T.  

The emotions during the game.  The brotherhood of the team.  The cachet of wearing your jersey down the school hall.  The glow of Friday night lights. 

There is so much more that comes with it though.  Being a role model.  Being able to ignite a smile. Being able to help kids dream.  Being able to show others a path.  

If you do wear that jersey on Friday nights, Saturdays, or even Sundays, realize the impact you can make off the field. 

Life is a mix of a two-minute offense and a four-minute offense all at once. 

Touchdown. 

Lester

You meet all kinds of people on the road of life when the road is your path. 

About 10 years ago, Lester serendipitously entered my life (I have no idea of his last name).  It was as if he got into the car and sat in the passenger seat from that point forward. Lester wasn't Dean Moriarty to my Sal Paradise but the road was different because of him. 

I was staying at a hotel and was spending my morn at the complimentary breakfast eating the usual fare of cold scrambled eggs and coffee, and needed some water (if memory serves me, I might have been up late the night before).  There was no water to be found and I was struggling a bit.  Lester was working at the hotel and I queried him for some hydration.  He bemoaned the fact that he had told the powers that be that they should have a pitcher of water handy but they never listened to him.  Several minutes later, Lester appeared with a pitcher and handed it to me and my morning fogginess started to dissipate.

I would see Lester every now and then and he would impart such lessons as; 

• Don't overthink things. 
• Don't be outworked. 
• Find pleasure in the little things. 
• Find a hobby that satisfies your creative side. 
• Don't look in too many corners for advice.

Recently, my wife and I saw Lester walking home.  He invited us into his house to see his woodworking projects. 

We stayed and visited for quite a while.  Lester told us about growing up in a foster home.  He talked about his disabilities and how he tried to not let them stop him from doing what he enjoyed.  He also shared that his new landlord has told him to find a new home after being there for 28 years (the new landlord didn't like the fact he did woodworking in his basement)  I shared with him how much my visits with him impacted my life.  As we were about to leave, Lester started tearing up.  We told him we would check on him again soon. 

We most definitely will. 

You never know who you will meet on the road and what conversations and lessons get sparked. And you never know how life can change because of human touchpoints.    

Sometimes, those who don't look the part, impart the most wisdom.  

Lester thinks of himself as a simple man. I think of Lester as one of the smartest people I know. 

Thanks for the water, Lester.  

 

What Stirs You?

 

Margaritas, Daiquris, and Mojitos. 

Just a smattering of drinks that use a stir stick (affectionately known as a Swizzle stick). 

The stir stick is used to make the ingredients in a cocktail come to life.  It brings the flavors to the forefront. It leads to the climax of the taste. 

Straight up or on the rocks, the Swizzle makes it all work. It's not the cocktail you want without this finishing touch.  

Life is one big cocktail.  Bring it to life. 

Make it what you want and swizzle the hell out of it. Take the individual ingredients and make it life's double bubble.  

Belly up to the bar, don't wait for the last call, and make it the best effin Happy Hour you can. 

Cheers! 

The Power of Vulnerability

 

 

Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. 

Yes, the favorite son of Krypton, it's Superman. 

Superman had several powers. One of the mightiest of heroes. Invulnerability was one of the more prominent tools in Supe's tool belt; being immune or highly resistant to damage, hurt, injury, or disease. 

Since it is highly doubtful that a tiny spacecraft carrying a mighty Kryptonian infant is going to make its way into our solar system anytime soon, finding someone with invulnerability is going to be a tall task. 

So, let's look at the power of vulnerability. 

To be vulnerable is inherently human but it's not a weakness. It's not an Achilles' heel. It's not kryptonite. 

It's a gift and it's so powerful. 

To be vulnerable to others is the ultimate trust fall.  When you care about someone...when you love someone so powerfully that you can be vulnerable to them, you can drink the elixir that can lead to healing and growth. 

Open up.  Let it out. Be human and show your power of vulnerability.  You will be ok. 

It's kinda super...to be Clark Kent. 

Blank Walls, Cleaning, and Cleansing

Beers for the buds. 

Towels and blankets. 

Goodwill trips. 

When was the last time you used that Openfly vegetable corer tool anyway? 

Yup...it's time to move again. 

The stroll down memory lane is part nostalgic, part closure, and part life-loofah. 

We've all been there.  What was familiar, isn't anymore.  What was home, is just an address. Even your Google Maps are confused. 

Exhilarating, exhausting, exhaling. 

Door closing...door opening kind of stuff. 

It's change, baby.  Roll with it. Onto the next step. 

As Alan Watts once said...

 "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it and join the dance."

May I have this dance? 

PS; It sure does help coaching football.  Players and coaches usually know how to move! 

What'll You Have?

One part therapist. 

One part advisor. 

One part chemist. 

One part best friend. 

All the parts add up to constitute your local barkeep. 

Truth be told, a good bartender makes the bar.  

I've spent time on both sides of the bar in my life and I've come up with the perfect concoction for what makes the best mixologist. 

• Good listener
• Smart 
• Attentive

And for F-sake...read the room.  

There are times when one needs to be alone to read, work, or contemplate life while peering into the depths of his whisky.  And, then there are times when companionship, advice, and fellowship are required.  

Here's a tip...hone that Spidey sense of what is needed and when.  More tips will follow. 

What'll you have? 

Chapters

 

Roller Coasters. 

Music. 

Dancing. 

Carousels. 

All intelligent and intuitive analogies for life. 

Time to hit the library...

Several pages of my life are turning over in the wind.  Pages turn into chapters. Chapters turn into books.  The wind howls. 

I took some time to seek shelter from the gale. And, realized, this is life. Words blur and pages turn and before you know it, you are there...at the conclusion. 

But this book has many volumes.  The epilogue and prologue are on rinse and repeat.  

But the point of the book is the same as the roller coaster, the song, the dance, or the carousel.  It's not the end, but the process that's the real adventure.  Enjoy it. Read it.  Soak it in. 

Don't worry about the overdue fines.  Just, dig in. 

PS; there is nothing better than turning the page of a real book, while on a beach.  Nothing like a little sand between your pages.