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HOLDING GRUDGES TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF STRENGTH

August 7, 2021 by

Holding grudges is a time honored tradition between races, religions, nations, and families. “We don’t like them.” “Why don’t we like them?” “Why would we?” This exchange gets played out between young and old, men and women, brothers and sisters. Eventually holding grudges turns into something completely different than how it started because no one […]

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OPTIONAL FRIENDSHIP: YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT

June 16, 2021 by

An optional friendship depends on time and place. But it’s not your time or your place. Tell me if this sounds familiar: “I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to do anything, but in between my schedule, my plans, my obligations, my interests, my work, my obsessions, my fears, we should get together sometime.” […]

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CAN DIFFERENCE MAKERS CHANGE OPINIONS LIKE YOURS

May 29, 2021 by

Difference makers show up at the right time and we all celebrate. They show up when you get lost, when you’re confused. When you need help, there they are. But where are they when you’re not lost, not confused? What do they do when you don’t need any help? Don’t worry, they’re still out there […]

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PEOPLE PERSON, PEOPLE PEOPLE, AND THE REST OF US

September 20, 2020 by

The self-described people person needs back-up. Call it confirmation. Who calls themselves a people person? Isn’t that what others are supposed to say? “Stan is such a people person,” carries more weight than Stan saying it about himself. “Hello, I’m Stan, and I’m a people person?” What old Stan is saying is hold on tight.

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FRIENDSHIP FEAR: WHAT DO THEY REALLY WANT?

June 26, 2020 by

Friendship fear doesn’t start early. If you’re watched toddlers in daycare, they’re not afraid of new people. It doesn’t start in the neighborhood either. The bigger concern for young kids are older kids pushing them around. Unless you grew up in a bully-free zone, which is a homeschooled only child living under strict rules of […]

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STEP UP TO LIFE CHALLENGES FOR A BETTER LOOK

June 18, 2020 by

Life challenges are all around, whether we see them, act on them, or ignore them. Like a slow leak in a car tire, you eventually notice. Then what?

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BASKETBALL COURT: A DATE WITH HISTORY FROM THE DRIVEWAY

May 13, 2020 by

A basketball court is today’s proving ground for American youth. Like other kids of a certain generation, though, baseball was my first proving ground. After I proved I wasn’t very good at it, something about a weak arm and slow legs, the basketball court replaced the diamond. Instead of going to a lumpy field, I […]

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BOSS MAN: WHEN THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON STOPS CARING

April 6, 2020 by

Boss man is an old term by now. Like Ram Rod, as in, “Who’s the Ram Rod of this operation,” it’s time has come and gone, like Rowdy Yates. Still, Boss man has power, whether you like it or not, whether it resonates or not. But, what is a real Boss Man? They come in […]

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FOREVER FRIENDS? I MEET THEM ALL THE TIME AND SO DO YOU

February 24, 2020 by

Who starts the clock on forever friends? How long is forever? Lastly, if you had to repeat the same night forever with forever friends, what would you do? I don’t have answers for the first two questions, but I’ve got the last one covered. This is my forever night:

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LASTING FRIENDSHIPS FROM ACQUAINTANCE TO UN-DITCHABLE

February 13, 2020 by

Try and remember the first lasting friendships outside your family that left an impression on you; think of someone before first grade. My early years were spent in a college town. My dad was a student with a wife, two kids, and another one born before he got his Bachelor’s.

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