So today I'm traveling with someone from work. I will be in a car for about 6 hours. We will spend the night, then get up the next morning and drive back. You know you don't know somebody until you spend 6 hours in a car with 'em.
See I have a job that is somewhat bittersweet. My job is stressful sometimes (to me), and it drives me crazy most of the time. I am constantly put in a position where "failure" is common place. I have to make decision and most of the time those decision do not make most people happy. This is the part of the job that I do not like. I am constantly fighting fires.
However on the other side, I get to travel some. I've been to places and seen things that I would not otherwise go or see. I've eating some great meals and had some good times along the way. I've met some great people and heard some funny stories. I've stayed in great hotels and have driven nice cars. So there is a part of me that when I get to travel really enjoys it, and that part makes it almost worth while.
Then again, I have to spend time away from my family. I miss my clowns everyday events. Typically when I'm gone it's just the same 'ol same 'ol at the house, but still, I'm not there and I miss them. I miss that feeling when I come home and they are all excited to see me and tell me about their day. I miss not having that evening time with the DW. I miss not sleeping next to her in my own bed. I miss my pillow.
On the other hand. I don't have to deal with the everyday events of the evening. Listening to clowns fight, or whine. Clowns arguing over toys or video games. I don't have to do laundry or dishes or pick up after anyone. I can just go back to my hotel after a nice dinner out (somewhere that does not have toys) and relax. Put my feet up, and watch t.v.
And then there are the stresses and fatigue of traveling cross country, or driving long distances. Sleeping on planes or in cars. Not sleeping well in a strange town, in a strange hotel, in a strange bed. The anxieties of being far away from my family if something should ever happen.
So like I said, it is bittersweet.
J-Tony
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Legacy
Ok so I know last nights post was pretty lame, sorry about that. Sometimes we just don't have it in us to give 100%. I know maybe that sounds bad, I mean shouldn't we give 100% everytime? If you're going to go through the trouble of doing something shouldn't you give it all you have? Maybe I'll think about those words from now on before I post.
Ok so last night I mentioned that I did have a few hot topics I wanted to discuss, so I'll get into at least one of those today.
The other day in discussions with a couple of friends the word legacy came up. Someone had mentioned the "Legacy" that our friend left behind in his passing last week. It made me think about that word and what it means.
What is it to leave a legacy? I think sometimes when we hear this word we think of rich or famous people, and we associate it with money or power. But does it have to just be famous people, and does it have to be money. Does it have to be something tangible? What type of legacy can we common people leave, and is that how my legacy will be defined, by wheather or not I left money or gifts?
The word alone, according to Webster's Dictionary is "a gift by will especially of money or other personal property", or "something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor from the past". Almost makes you think it has to be something that someone can hold or touch huh?
However in speaking with my friends regarding our friends passing, I don't believe this is the case. I'll be honest here, I was not extreamly close to our friend like some others in the discussion. But I can see his legacy is that of a man who built relationships with many different people. He was a firefighter, a father, a husband, a Christian, a co-worker, a friend and a son. I'm sure he had more "titles", but you get the point. He was not of great wealth or fame. But yet he was a man who seemed to generally care about people. At his wake I ran into a guy that I work with. We exchanged pleasentries and moved on. The next day at work I asked him how he was connected to our friend. He said he didn't know him at all, but his daughter knew the family and talked about him and she enjoyed the families company. You see he left a different kind of legacy. His legacy will be remembered as a common man who took the time for others.
In our discussion my friends and I talked about slowing down, and taking time. Taking time in life. So often we get caught up in our everyday lives that we forget how to live. We forget to enjoy the little things, or we forget people. We don't focus on one person or thing at a time. We are a society of multi-taskers. I know, I'm sure we all wish we had more time, but the truth of the matter is we all have the same amount of time, it's just what you do with that time that matters.
Once upon a time Mr. Rogers, yes The Mr. Rogers was conducting an interview and the reporter asked him "who was the most important person in the world to him". Mr Rogers responded by simply saying "right now you are, because I'm talking to you". I heard this and it made me think.
So today and everyday as time ticks away and we get busy with every day life, try to slow down, give 100 percent and make whoever you are talking to the most important person in the world, even for just a minute. You just might find yourself building a legacy.
J-Tony
Ok so last night I mentioned that I did have a few hot topics I wanted to discuss, so I'll get into at least one of those today.
The other day in discussions with a couple of friends the word legacy came up. Someone had mentioned the "Legacy" that our friend left behind in his passing last week. It made me think about that word and what it means.
What is it to leave a legacy? I think sometimes when we hear this word we think of rich or famous people, and we associate it with money or power. But does it have to just be famous people, and does it have to be money. Does it have to be something tangible? What type of legacy can we common people leave, and is that how my legacy will be defined, by wheather or not I left money or gifts?
The word alone, according to Webster's Dictionary is "a gift by will especially of money or other personal property", or "something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor from the past". Almost makes you think it has to be something that someone can hold or touch huh?
However in speaking with my friends regarding our friends passing, I don't believe this is the case. I'll be honest here, I was not extreamly close to our friend like some others in the discussion. But I can see his legacy is that of a man who built relationships with many different people. He was a firefighter, a father, a husband, a Christian, a co-worker, a friend and a son. I'm sure he had more "titles", but you get the point. He was not of great wealth or fame. But yet he was a man who seemed to generally care about people. At his wake I ran into a guy that I work with. We exchanged pleasentries and moved on. The next day at work I asked him how he was connected to our friend. He said he didn't know him at all, but his daughter knew the family and talked about him and she enjoyed the families company. You see he left a different kind of legacy. His legacy will be remembered as a common man who took the time for others.
In our discussion my friends and I talked about slowing down, and taking time. Taking time in life. So often we get caught up in our everyday lives that we forget how to live. We forget to enjoy the little things, or we forget people. We don't focus on one person or thing at a time. We are a society of multi-taskers. I know, I'm sure we all wish we had more time, but the truth of the matter is we all have the same amount of time, it's just what you do with that time that matters.
Once upon a time Mr. Rogers, yes The Mr. Rogers was conducting an interview and the reporter asked him "who was the most important person in the world to him". Mr Rogers responded by simply saying "right now you are, because I'm talking to you". I heard this and it made me think.
So today and everyday as time ticks away and we get busy with every day life, try to slow down, give 100 percent and make whoever you are talking to the most important person in the world, even for just a minute. You just might find yourself building a legacy.
J-Tony
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Nothing
Ok so tonight I had some great things I wanted to discuss. I'd been thinking all day long about a few "hot" button topics but I think I'll table them for another time. Partly because I can, and mostly because I'm tired.
You see I started playing basketball tonight in a church league. We won in overtime. It was a pretty good game although I didn't play particularly well. Nobody on the team is real great, but we've got some decent guys. Besides it was nice to get out and play and fellowship. I'll tell you what though. Anybody who doesn't think that Church leagues (for any sport) is competitive are nuts. Now don't get me wrong, there are a few teams that don't take it to seriously, but for the most part that team wants to win just as bad as you do, and they're willing to lay it all on the line to do so. I've played both softball and basketball in church leagues and it's fierce.
Sorry, but that's all I've got tonight.
J-Tony
You see I started playing basketball tonight in a church league. We won in overtime. It was a pretty good game although I didn't play particularly well. Nobody on the team is real great, but we've got some decent guys. Besides it was nice to get out and play and fellowship. I'll tell you what though. Anybody who doesn't think that Church leagues (for any sport) is competitive are nuts. Now don't get me wrong, there are a few teams that don't take it to seriously, but for the most part that team wants to win just as bad as you do, and they're willing to lay it all on the line to do so. I've played both softball and basketball in church leagues and it's fierce.
Sorry, but that's all I've got tonight.
J-Tony
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)