Thoughtful moment...not so sure...

I share this as it has been on my mind here recently. For those of you out there who watch the Netflix series, "Grace and Frankie" season two had this very story line in there. It was a very powerful couple of episodes and it really hit me hard and got me thinking. I have struggled with this topic because I can see both sides to this issue. 

The basis of the above story is the woman struggled with a debilitating disease in which her doctors had told her the end was near. She decided to throw a party for 30 of her closest friends and family members, all of whom knew the final outcome of this final party together. After the party was over, the woman's doctor administered the death-giving drugs and she stopped the life journey.

On one side...In the end, it is assisted suicide, and I do think that killing oneself is kind of wrong at a core level...the church frowns upon this. The Bible strongly suggests a very different outcome. But we all know, as you are my readers, that I have struggled with the Bible's teachings for most of my life... So why should this subject be any different?

The other side goes more towards the idea of taking control of a situation you know will have the very same outcome. In the end, you are going to die and most times it is drawn out, very painful process at times, and a roller-coaster for you and those around you. 

I think the end can be very beautiful, peaceful, and a celebration. That is how I would want to go out and to be remembered by. 

I think the more I have thought about this topic over the years, the more I feel we cannot live each other's lives and cannot dictate the choices others make. It is their lives to lead and their lives to live as fully and beautifully as they can. We are here to support each other on our own ride and shouldn't tell each other how to live it.

Perhaps this is just one of my childhood upbringings rearing its ugly head and I should look deeper. Am I being stupidly conservative in my thought process to think that this is wrong on some levels? 

Love liberates!

Oh this is such a beautiful story.
I hope and pray that this is what we can all experience...that you can feel liberated by love.

Her story rings true.
Rings so true...

If you need permission to go, give it.

It is ok to give that permission to say I love you.
It is ok to say I love you even though we are different.
It is ok to say I love you for who you are as a person.
I love you with all my heart.
I love you even though you hurt me,
It is ok to say, go if now is the time. In those final moments here on this earth, it is okay to say I love you and go if you need to.

What a beautiful legacy this amazing woman left us all,,,
such powerful thoughts
.
Such powerful stories.
Such powerful words.
Such powerful love.

If you could tell step parents what you really think...

And cue the tears....
This is a very powerful video of a family who was once broken and now seems to have it all together and can have open, honest conversations because they are in it for common good of their child. Beautiful, important, and poignant.

I have observed my own parents over the years, struggle with each other, work to try and figure each other out even after the separation. I have also noticed a very beautiful thing...my step mom, Pam, always claims me as her own...even though I am her "son from another mother" and my Mom embraces that. They have always seemed to have a very good relationship when it came to me and were always cordial to each other. They consistently ask about how the other is and that is important. I am so grateful about this and am so lucky to have such strong women in my life who love and support me.

Now I know that it has not always been wine and roses all the time but I would like to think in the end it's important to remember that the step-parents are not there to replace but to add to...to make sure that the end goal always needs to be for the benefit of the child... not a tug-of-war.

I am always excited to hear that my folks do speak to each other and check in on each other off and on...moreso recently and I think that that is important and beneficial.  I am long past the child stage where touch bases are a daily occurrence but I do find great solace in the fact that my parents can talk to each other civilized and adult-like. It does my heart good...

It also does my heart well to see how much my step-parents really love and admire my own parents. It always brings tears to my eyes to witness how nurturing they are of the other. I  truly believe that where my folks were at the time of their divorce has really blossomed into the strongest relationships with others. It just did not work out for them, maybe because deep down, there were issues, there were problems, there were core structures that were just not ready...and it took more years of inner personal work, more years of figuring themselves out...what they wanted, what they needed, what they hoped for in order to find the true someone who could be their soul mate. I always tell my students you have to be good here (point to my heart) and good here (point to my head) in order to be able to let someone else into your world.

I think both of my folks did terrific and am blessed with two really cool families. I look back on my life, and I also tell my own students that I would NEVER change a thing in regards to my parent's divorce as I have the BEST family a guy could ask for with amazing nieces and nephews who would have never been in the picture if the divorce had never happened. I believe that with life struggle comes perspective and insight.

The video really showcases a family unit who really has it together and then the kindest moments ever, hence the tears, when the parents are writing a letter to their step counterpart is just beautiful and poetic and important as well. I know my step mom has done this many times with my own mother...

I am just plain blessed to have such strong, nurturing,  loving supportive parents to help me, teach me, to love me and to be there when I need them! I love that!

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for doing the best you possibly could. For being who you are and for loving me. For showing me your struggle. For loving us through the rough times and the good ones too. For always being there for me when I needed the support.

Thank you Pam and Steve for loving my folks, through the good and the bad and for holding me up when I need you the most. Thank you for serving as such strong examples of parents. I am so grateful to you both and blessed to have you in my life.

What's one thing I would tell my mom...

I think there were quite a few tears that flowed from watching this one.

There are so many things that I would (and do) tell my mom...we are just that way.

My mom is my hero.

She is a devoted wife, mom, friend and confidante.

She is driven, confident, and strong...both in will and in passion.

I can honestly say that my mom is my very best friend and has been there for me through thick and thin.

I truthfully would not be half the man I am today without her love and support and shoulder to lean on.

 Her guidance.

Her sacrifices never went by unnoticed.

Her struggle...she gets knocked down and just comes back fighting and I have learned that valuable lesson from her.

She is a goal setter and achieved the heights. She traveled the world and can look back on all of her adventures with great pride and is the prime example of a life WELL lived.

I love you, Mom. 

I know that times are tough right now and you struggle to get better and to allow others to take care of you and to be there for you.

It's ok. 

Now is the time to rest and recoup and rely on those around you to lift you up in prayer for healing and comfort.

Thank you for giving me the passion of living life to its fullest.

Thank you for believing in me even when I did not.

Thank you for loving me unconditionally and for opening my eyes to all the goodness around me.

Thank you for the struggle. Thank you for the sacrifices.

Know that you are forever loved and appreciated.

We are all blessed to know you, to love you, and to call you Mom, Wife, Friend, and confidante.

You have done good!!!

Being a rainbow in someone's cloud

SO POWERFUL!!!!

When she begins to sing, I am transformed back to the Medora nights, singing this very gospel number under the starry nights. God put a Rainbow in the clouds and I am at peace.

I have been spending my days talking with my students about inspiration and of those who have been inspirational to me. Talking about the idea of family and treating each other with respect and being a positive force in someone else's life. Being a team and being a positive influence in how you treat others.

I have had so many inspirational forces in my life who have guided me, have provided me guidance and joy and nurturing and laughter and hope. They were my rainbows in the darkest days and continue to be so even after they have been gone...whether by death or by distance.

Mrs. Simek...guided my passion of theater and helped to guide my leadership abilities. She was such a strong and sweet woman who loved me as her own and was always good for a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face. What a terrific woman and am so blessed to have been in her second grade classroom.

P. Pendleton...she was such an amazing force and we only had one summer together in Medora. Yet it was her personality, her beautiful deep alto voice, and her strength as a woman that was profound to me. Even from the first introduction where she introduced herself, with the following, " My name is Patricia Pendleton, but you can call me Miss P." And from that moment forward, I adored her. She was taken from us much too soon.

I spoke to my own kids of my sixth grade teacher who taught us all to believe in ourselves. Mrs. Evanson is an inspiration to everyone she comes in contact with. Her sixth grade classroom was built on building your self-worth, your belief in your capabilities, and striving for higher more lofty goals. All while learning what we needed to learn. She continues to inspire me and I will never forget her.

I have so many rainbows in my clouds that have nurtured me. Have driven away the darkness by their light. Have been thinking so much about these wonderful women who have made such an impact on my own life. They have been my rainbows, among so many others who have touched my soul so deeply.

My goal for the year ahead is to be a rainbow for my students. To remind myself of the examples I have learned from all of my own rainbows, whether they are present on this earth or soaring up among the clouds.

I love what Ms Angelou asks us to be a blessing to somebody. To be that very rainbow and to be the one who someone can reach out to and that it doesn't matter who you are, we all need rainbows on the cloudiest of days...

I can buy into that...
It is a grand lesson...
It is a grand goal...

An Experiment in Gratitude...

Ok I LOVE LOVE LOVE this concept...


"The amount of happiness in your life is directly correlated to how much gratitude you show."

 What a cool thought process. Beautiful really when you take a moment to think about it.

Today was my first day at my new school. I had such an awesome day. I love first days. You get the chance to start a brand new school year just taking a moment to regroup and set new goals and new adventures begin with a new group of kiddos.

Every year I take a moment to share my life with them. We always have a little fun and I make them try and answer true and false questions about me. I then share a PowerPoint about my life and what makes me tick. I have a broad range of photos and stories I share...but one of the best things I get to share is stories of my mentors, the folks who shaped me into who I am today and my gratitude to them. I speak of Mrs. Simek, my second grade teacher, who truly helped to cultivate my first experiences with theater. My sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Evanson, who continues to inspire me even today but long time ago cultivated an appreciation in one's self worth and believing in your own abilities and creativity.

I know if I were to do this activity shared in the above video...I would really have a tough time picking from the many many MANY amazing people who have impacted my life...

Because I knew you, my friends, I have been changed for good.- Wicked

The Power of Optimism...

I have been accused of being a Pollyanna...
I have been questioned about my optimistic view of life in general.
This blog reeks of optimism at times...
And that's okay...
I think we all need to laugh, to think, to take time to pause, to have those gentle reminders to find the positivity in the crazy situations we find ourself in...

I love what this entire video says...
I am sure that my Mom will love this video...with all of the hurdles we face in life...there is a reason we go through the adversities of life...we are placed here for a reason. There is always something to be learned from all of our life experiences...

Sees the good in things, see the hope in the future and want to make the world a better place.

Find the joy in everything. Even when it is hard to find...believe me it helps you make it through...even when it is minute...
I FIRMLY believe that you attract what you send out there...what you put out there comes back to you...I have lived this and know this for fact.

Sometimes it may be HARD to find it...or even recognize it...but it is THERE!
Dig deep and get through...

Believe in what makes YOU SPECIAL.
What makes you special, sojourners?
What makes you tick?
What makes you YOU??

Optimism is CONTAGIOUS...
Spread it around and just find a smile...

Carry on fellow sojourners.
Carry on...

For my Mom...

I recently saw a commercial for the Rio Olympics from P & G products that says it all, 

"It takes someone strong to make someone strong."

And this is for my mom, who battles with cancer every day and faces it with strength, and perseverance, and grace, and by just being as positive as she can be in the face of uncertainty and uphill battles.

The fighting example she leads is awe inspiring to those around her and unnerving and just plain awe inspiring. 

I just feel so blessed to have her example to follow and admire. 

And I do admire her SO VERY MUCH!!!!!

So on today, the day of her birth, I say,

"Stay the course.

Keep the faith. 

Keep moving forward"

I love you immensely and am so very proud of your accomplishments. Your strength in the face of these recent hurdles is so very beautiful and admirable and humbling and a strong example to those around you.

I love you so very much!

I continue to be one of your biggest cheerleaders and know you will kick CANCER'S ASS!!!

Wishing you the very happiest of birthdays!!!!!

No Reason at All...

Recently I found a spectacular vocal artist that I have shared on here many times...I just love her voice, both phsyically and figuratively...I like what she has to say with her heart and with her lyrics...

I have touched on this theme here recently and I think that this is a powerful song with a great deal to say...Her name is Carrie Manolakos and she is phenomenal...

This Youtube video is powerful, folks... Prepare to moved deeply...

Sometimes I just need to learn to let go for no reason at all...

I can see things that I need to change in me and that's a start...

A place I'd rather be...

To pull myself up and see that sometimes I just need to cry for no reason at all...

BEAUTIFUL and so POETIC and Important to remember.