WHICH DOOR WILL YOU OPEN?

I've been reading a book by a man named John C. Maxwell called "Talent Is Never Enough" recommended, actually, by the Pastor at the church I attend. Excellent reading and I see examples of it every day - in my life and in other's lives. Yesterday, I witnessed a gentleman talking about two "doors" he faces two open every day. Going through door #1 makes him feel very comfortable. No surprises. Everything runs as he expects it. He feels very much in control. BUT - then there's door #2. Going through this door, he has no idea what is in store. It could be the best thing that ever happened to him or the worst. He's never sure what to expect. Is there danger? Is there a reward? He never knows.
After hearing this and, after getting through half of this book, I see where a good portion of us have a tendency to gravitate to door #1. Things just roll along effortlessly. Door #2 contains intrigue, adventure, surprise. All of it. We are afraid of change and wary of unknown challenges. We try to make it on what we are known for (our talents) more often than not. Now - think of this! Door #1 holds no surprises and no distinct rewards. You already have what you need and you get no more. Door #2 holds some of the biggest rewards you'll ever receive but you'll have an adventurous, sometimes dangerous, road to get to them. Which door will you open?

KEPP THE LITTLE LEAGUES LITTLE!!!!

With my two ladies of the house out for a while early last night, I decided to get my ESPN "Sportscenter" fix and sit back and relax and get caught up and on the sports news of the day. When I tuned into ESPN, they were in the middle of another Little League baseball tournament game. I figured I'd watch a little of that. The more I watched, the more disturbed I got. Here I was watching 10, 11 and 12-year old children....CHILDREN!!......being analyzed with respect to their hitting with runners on base (or lack thereof); there repertoire of pitches and their hitting statistics for the year and the tournament. I'll repeat - I was watching 10, 11 and 12-year old CHILDREN play baseball. Two of the plays in the game were referred by announcers as "ESPN highlight reels" plays. These are kids, guys!!! Why must we make adults out of these kids so early in their short athletic careers (for most of them!)? Two of the pitchers were throwing fastballs, curves, sliders and spilt-fingered fastballs. Heck, at that age, my friends and I threw two pitches..fast and slow. No wonder pitchers arms are shot early in most careers!!! This didn't look like the GAME I remembered. Now there are national sponsors and every tournament game is televised. Can we not let these kids have some fun playing the GAME of baseball. Yes, competition is good but what business does ESPN have of televising every tournament game. I remember when the final game of the Little League World Series was televised and that was it. Now, it rivals ESPN's Major League Baseball coverage. And you know what I noticed most? None of these kids ever smiled. This DIDN'T look at all like fun to them. It's already a business to these kids. The game? The game is for the adults - even these! I doubt if there is anything we can do to stop it but, maybe, just maybe, if enough of us let our kids start being kids every once in a while, we can see associations like the Little League become "little" again.

Does Anyone Know 5th Grade Math?

Our 10-year old enters the 5th grade as of tomorrow. Her school gives each student over-the-summer assignments in various subjects so that he/she can stay sharp and have an inkling as to what's ahead in the next grade level.
Our little one kept up with her assignments and, of course, we are the ones who need to check her work and sign to acknowledge that we have sen and that the work has been completed correctly.......well, maybe , not necessarily, CORRECTLY but, at least, the work has been completed - especially when it came to her math assignments this summer. Of course, mom defers to dad when it comes to math which shows how much "on her own" our child is. I don't remember 5th grade math being this complicated. (The again, I can say the same for some of 4TH GRADE MATH!). One problem with multiple questions dealing with "expressions" not "answers". I was lost. Fortunately, our new 5th grader was able to teach me so I guess I'll be learning a lot of 5th grade math this year. Good luck if you're in the same boat.

Let Me Tell You About Somebody I Know

In the course of our lives, some friends, and even family, come and go but there are some who have a lasting effect; they helped shape who you are today. Let me tell you about one of those people in my life. This person was there from my first days on this earth. As a child, he showed me how when it came to just about anything. I was not the most talented but he made sure I was the most prepared. God knows I wasn't that good of a shortstop but he took the time hit me thousands of ground balls. I wasn't that talented a football player but he was there showing me the finer points of the game -over and over until I understood. When bigger "kids" were a threat, he was there to ease it. Saturday matinee movies; taking the subway to a baseball game; playing with his friends in the park - he made sure I was there and a part of it. Believe me, when I messed up, he was the first one in my face making sure I wouldn't make the same mistake again. He was my safety net, my confidante, my mentor. I was the straight man for his limited comedic talents. He, reluctantly, would serve the straight role, occasionally, for my attempted foibles. And, if you ask, who was the person who really got me interested in this business? - well, he was the one. Music was a big part of his life thus it became a big part of mine. Radio was a big part of his (he always was listening to one - no matter what time of day)therefore my interest in radio grew. He instilled a confidence in me that nothing was impossible as long as you worked at it. He was a joy to "hang" with, especially, on those rainy days at home. His creativity on those days slowly wore off on me. I can count on one hand the bumps in our relationship. It has weathered lots of family (and marriage) storms.
As I've grown older, he has now become my best friend. The first person I will call with good or bad news. The first person I want to see when family gets together. This "somebody I know" is my big brother and he is celebrating a milestone birthday this weekend and I can't think of any better way to wish him the best, and many more, than with this note of eternal thanks. Thank YOU, Big Brother, and have a great birthday!
I know you have someone in your life who makes you feel this way. take the time this weekend to let them know how much you appreciate them. Thanks for letting me tell you about my life's "hero".

Let Me Be Honest With You

I love some of the phrases we have come up with in the English language. Think of "Let Me Be Honest With You". Does that mean you've been lying other than what's to come in the next statement. Other derivatives include "Let me perfectly honest with you" or just the simple "To be honest". Of course, there is also the "I'll give you my honest opinion". So, you were thinking of giving me an opinion that isn't the truth? I, also, love the phrase "this is a very difficult thing for me to do" when someone is about to give you bad news of some kind. What if they said "this is so easy for me, you wouldn't believe it"? How would you feel about that?
We put the words same and identical together ("It's the same, identical thing) which means we are talking the same same thing, actually!! How crazy is that?
I also like how we say we are "live" from a place when we are there in person. I'd hate to think of the alternative to that! Imagine someone just learning English reacts to this stuff. Must be interesting to witness.
Do you have any phrases/word combinations that strike you as these strike me? Let me know.