Time for a Poem

Today was nice, today was fun,
Today I got just a little bit done.
I started a list and checked things off,
But I didn't get around to playing some golf.

The evening came and it was time to blog,
But thoughts got stuck in deep brain fog.
I typed and deleted and typed some more,
I kept up the process 'til my digits got sore.

I decided to rhyme and write some verse,
An original song would have been much worse!
So tonight just smile and think of good things,
And we'll just wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Happy Birthday Donald!

Today is Donald Duck's birthday. Donald is my Disney character of choice, as you can see by the personalized drawing I bought myself a few years ago.

Why do I like Donald? Maybe because he's usually the sidekick. Maybe because he is great at pitching a fit. Maybe because he's allowed to have those human emotions that the "good guys" don't exhibit with such flair. Maybe because no matter what mess he gets himself into, he's always welcomed back into the fold and is willing to try, try again.

Donald's just a regular guy (uh, duck) trying to do his best in his world - it's just that stuff gets in his way. Mickey and the gang still love him, no matter what he gets in to.

We probably all have a little Donald in us - I just hope we have a friend like Mickey who loves us for it.

Kent and Big Brown

Big Brown didn't win the Triple Crown. For some reason, he just didn't run the Belmont Stakes like everyone wanted him to. Saturday was not his day to race.

For me, the point of this story is not that Big Brown lost. The important part is that his jockey, Kent Desormeaux, knew enough about his horse to call an end to his race. Kent pulled up Big Brown and finished the race last, concerned more about the health and well-being of the horse than Kent's own career and reputation.

Wouldn't it be great if we all had someone like that, someone who was in tune with us enough to know when we don't have it anymore, or are unable to complete what everyone expects of us, or just knows that today is not our day and pulls us up.

But maybe it's even greater when we can be that someone for somebody else. Maybe on any particular day, we are so in tune with someone that we notice when their race is over. We do all that we can for them, because we care.

Some days it's not about winning the race - it's just about having someone along for the ride whose biggest and only concern is you.

Three Guys and an Air Conditioner

Today I made some new friends. They are the three young men who came to install the new central air unit at Molly's house. The worked for several hours in the blazing hot sun, and now Molly can sleep in cool air.

These guys are trying to start a business. By a chance circumstance, I met them and decided to employ them. Although they had no solid years-long references, I felt good about them and hired them. This morning they were about two hours late (which did lead me to a bit of panic), but after I called them, they called to say they had to wait at the warehouse and were on their way.

You never know what's going to happen when you take a chance on someone. But you'll really never know unless you take that chance. Today I took a chance on these young men and won. I got an opportunity to help out a new business and meet new people. It doesn't always work out, but today it did. The guys made another step forward in their business, and I got to meet some good guys. It looks like everybody won today.

Pssst ... i need your help

In response to yesterday's blog, Kat wrote:

"Why is it so hard to ask for help?"

I've thought a lot about that question. Why is it so hard?

It is because we're afraid of being rejected? Is it because we hate to admit defeat? Is it because we don't want to admit we are powerless over something? It is because we don't want to appear to be weak, inept, or lazy?

I believe we are willing to help anyone in need, often before that person has a chance to ask for help, even before that person would even think of asking for help. We want to encourage that person, make it easier for that person, or just lighten the load. We don't think less of that person for asking - we just want to help. So maybe the real question is, if we're willing to help someone else without a thought, why don't we ask for it for ourselves? Aren't we just as important as everyone else?

For whatever reasons I've been unwilling to ask for help in the past, I want to change for the future. I want to be willing to be vulnerable so that I can become strong. I want to be willing to admit I need help so I can move forward toward a formidable goal. I want to be willing to ask so that I can receive.

I know it works. I know because at a much needed time in my life, God found me a counselor/therapist/life coach/friend. I know because when I needed direction in exercising, I joined Curves. I know because when I need running advice, there are real runners at race expos willing to share ideas. I know all the help I will ever need is out there, and I don't have to tackle anything alone.

I know help is out there - I just have to be willing to ask for it.