Four Cents

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” - Robert Brault

It was an early morning weekday and I was headed to our corporate office in Houston. I pulled in the convenience store about 5:30 a.m. to get a cup of coffee for my hour ride. As I exited my vehicle and headed up to the front doors with the illuminated Valero sign overhead, I glanced down at the curb from the parking space to the front of the building.

My eye caught four pennies on the pavement. I stepped over them and continued in. As I was headed toward the coffee pots I felt bad I didn’t stop immediately and pick them up. I always do. Not so much for one penny, but more for picking something up that says “In God We Trust”.

For whatever time it took to get my coffee and pay for it the thought of not picking up the coins would not escape my mind.

As I left the store I went back to the spot I saw them and they were still there. I bent over to pick them up and as I did I also saw a dime several inches from the pennies. Wow, fourteen cents!

As I was driving to work I thought about this episode. How I saw something of little value but paid attention to it, and doing so, I found something of greater value.

It made me think about how life is similar. How many of us don’t take the time to notice the little things and unknowingly miss the bigger things.

If you don’t focus on a little problem, oh, how many of us know it can grow to a big problem. If you don’t focus on a little opportunity, for sure it will never grow into a big opportunity. If you don’t recognize you kids for the little things they do, they’ll never be encouraged to take on the bigger things in life.

Little things are important. Recognize them. Learn to see them. Act on them!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

"Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." Nathaniel Hawthorne



I’ve always been fascinated with the Wizard of Oz. Just a great story and it amazes me how well it was made in 1939 when it wasn’t long before that year movie-goers were watching black and white silent films.

Dorothy dreams and ‘sings’ of somewhere over the rainbow. Part of the lyrics goes like this;

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds
Are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops that's where you'll find me

I look at some people today who are singing the same song in their life. They’re wishing for all their troubles to melt away. Constantly looking for happiness outside themselves through a different job, a bigger house, a different spouse or a different land. Always changing but never finding happiness. I have to believe they have seen the most watched movie ever.

Dorothy, wishing for a better place, only invited more problems into her life. She spent the entire time trying to get back to where she was after realizing what was really important. Dorothy had to deal with evil witches and flying monkeys. She was duped in believing in the Magical Oz could solve her and her friends problems.

How often do people bring more problems in their lives by chasing happiness? How many people divorce for a new relationship only to find the next one no better? How many people do you know that are continually chasing happiness and never finding it?

Learning to be content is as important as assuring you body gets the proper nutrition. Like Dorothy, learn you can’t chase happiness. Learn there’s no place like home. Learn to be content with yourself.

Chase dreams for the right reasons, find happiness in yourself.

Now, stand up, put your feet together, click your heals together and say, ‘there’s no place like home.”

Don’t be like the little kitten who was told the happiness was at the end of his tail. The poor kitten spent hours each day going in circles trying to catch it. After endless days of not catching it, the kitten went to the wiser, older cat and asked her how come she didn’t chase her tail. The wise cat told the little kitten that her tail goes wherever she does, she doesn’t have to chase it.

Bookends of Life

“In the evening of our life, we will be judged on love.”

Her angelic face with wide opened baby-blue eyes shouted joy and wonderment as she was playing with soap bubbles on a sunny day. Her head was adorned with a princesses tiara, sitting atop wavy blonde hair. Her arms extended with hands open, she appeared to be trying to capture a bubble without bursting it. She was only about 3 to 4 years as I could tell from the picture. Thoughts of the innocence of youth came to my mind. How young children know nothing but to be loved and love as their go from infancy to early childhood.

The near billboard size picture of Nola Ochs in her cap & gown at her graduation ceremony caught my eye. The wrinkles of her age, the grayness in her hair, were almost unnoticeable contrasted against the smile and warmth in her eyes. Her college graduation had to be one of the happiest moments, and biggest accomplishments in her life. She was 95 in 2007 when she graduated.

Seeing both those pictures on the same day, Nola’s at the airport and the young girl’s in the hotel elevator, made me think about the ‘bookends of lives’. How between the wonderment of youth and the wisdom of age many of us tend to wander, discontent, looking for answers, and failing to enjoy the moment. Through expectations others put on us, those put upon ourselves, and everyday responsibility our tendency is look outside ourselves to find happiness when true happiness is within.

The child’s simple view at life and the wisdom of the ages should be directional beacons on how to live our lives; simple, thankful, respectful, caring, hopeful, not wishing you would have done something in life you always wanted to do, regretting time not spend with friends and family, grateful to see another day, and as Leo Buscaglia put it…”living, loving, and learning.”

My challenge is to keep the child alive and learn the lessons of those who have walked before me. Live with love, wonderment, and the wisdom to separate the important from the necessary.

NOTE: You can do a key word search on NOLA OCHS and read about her record breaking accomplishment of being the oldest person to get a college degree. Amazing!! The irony is many of us think life has passed us bye.

Realizations

"There can be hope only for a society which acts as one big family, not as many separate ones." Anwar El Sadat

On Friday I stopped by a local church to see if there was something I could do to help a family in need. I had to build up a little nerve to go into a local Seabrook church and ask to speak with the pastor. After riding by one, I came to the second and it was still vacated due to Hurricane Ike. I swung back around and went to the one I already passed.

As I parked my car I noticed Kroger was just a walk away. Not having any money in my pocket, I figured I’d see how I could help, go to the Kroger ATM and return back with a cash donation.

As I walked in a sweet elderly lady, I’d say she was in her late 70’s, met me at the door. I asked her if the pastor was in to speak with and she said no. Not knowing what I wanted, she kindly directed me to the receptionist.

Usually I don’t have a problem with words coming out of my mouth, but this time I did. Emotions in me were pretty high. With tears welling up in my eyes I asked the receptionist if there was people in the community in need where I can make a donation. She went on to say, “Most people are going to Target and Walmart and getting gift cards.” Intuitively I knew where she was going. She continued, “That way we can give them to the parents to buy gifts for their kids.”

I responded I was really looking to help people with food to make sure they eat. She made it clear that they had plenty of food in the building next door. I said thanks, and left.

It wasn’t I don’t care about kids getting toys for Christmas, but I wanted to make sure people aren’t hungry and help those with more immediate needs.

I called the Interfaith Caring Ministry to see if they were open. A few years back I donated time delivering groceries for them every third Saturday. I knew as part of their ministry they were putting food on peoples’ tables regularly. They covered more ground that just the town of Seabrook, but I knew they were helping people with their immediate needs.

I got some cash, drove over to their facility, and dropped off the money. The woman was very thankful telling me this would help buy meat. What caught me off guard was while I was there a family was there getting some food. As I walked out to my car, I was overcome by another wave of emotion, tears, and a heaviness in my heart, knowing that many people are out there needing help and a feeling I can being doing more to help.

I told Lori last night I’d like to make something up symbolizing those Pair of Socks. Each day I need to be reminded to be thankful and helpful.

A Pair of Socks

“If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”

Mother Teresa

A few Christmas' ago, when Rebecca was still in elementary school, Lori volunteered to help a low income area neighboring community school raise Christmas gifts for kids in the same grade as Rebecca. The school had the kids fill out their 'list' of what they would like for Christmas and it was then provided to Lori for her and her team of volunteers to try and fill.

Every Christmas I can't help think back a couple of things on that list. One girl asked for a new pair of socks. Another asked for a bed. Yeah, a pair socks. Imagine that?

Those are those moments in your life that make you stop and think. Think to be thankful, and think that there are people out there struggling. With today's economic slowdown I know there are people out there with needs, maybe even struggling to feed their family this Christmas.

I CHALLENGE myself, and my family, to do something this season that will help someone or a family in need directly and indirectly. To open our eyes, ears, arms, minds, and hearts to those in need.

If only a pair of socks can brighten a child's day, I should be able at least to brighten their holiday season.

Cold Soup - A Recipe for Happiness

At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent.

-- Barbara Bush


Cold Soup!…..I will get to it a little later and why I titled this Cold Soup.

This is my forty-somethingish blog entry. In writing these moments of life and thoughts about them they’ve for the most part been experiences or thoughts involving just me. This one is a little different for a couple of reasons 1) I wasn’t the only one experiencing this moment, and 2) the moment touched me deeply. With that said, writing this is not that easy because I know in words I can never truly convey what was experienced.

Thursday night seventeen of us from Total Safety, spouses included, met for dinner at the Mockingbird Bistro in Houston to honor Charlie Ripoll’s, a VP with us, for his 30th anniversary for service with the company. This was not only a salute to Charlie, but also to recognize and thank his wife Luisa. As we all know and the saying goes, ‘behind every great man is a great woman.’

It’s hard to write about Charlie, he is the kind of person you have to experience. New Orleans raised, speaks with a little cajun-drawl, Charlie embodies the spirit of the company. He’s the guy that pumps you up and when you leave his office you have more energy than when went into it. His heart is bigger than the State of Texas. He’s compassionate, a great mentor, and a beautiful soul.

Prior to dinner, our leader, Dave Fanta ceremoniously thanked Charlie and his wife for their 30 years. He whole-heartedly thanked Charlie for his important contributions to the organization and thanked Luisa for the support she has given him over the years.

As Charlie got up and spoke the appetizers were being served. A few had a crab special, a couple salads and I had onion soup. We were respectful and did not touch our plates to focus on what Charlie had to say, although Charlie, being considerate as always said for us to go ahead and start. We respectfully would not.

Charlie got up and spoke, thanking Dave for the support he has received from him and others. You see, in life’s twists and turns, things get thrown at us. Several months ago Luisa, while walking across a street, was hit by a car and suffered serious injuries. These injuries were so serious her life was endangered and when it was known she would make it, how well would she recover was a concern. The past year has been pretty tough on them, Charlie and Luisa have weathered the greatest part of the storm with their strong faith, love, love from family and friends, and prayers. And as you listen to Charlie talk and be thankful his support, it was moving.

Charlie went all around the table, thanked and complimented his co-workers only as Charlie could do, saying meaningful positive words about everyone. And if you met Charlie you’d notice one thing, he says more with less said. You know Charlie’s heart by looking into his eyes. When he looks at you he tells you he cares. He doesn’t need to say much to know he cares.

Charlie ended his thanks by thanking his wife. While standing at the end of the table, he looked down at his wife who was sitting to his left. And with everything in his heart he publicly thanked her for being there. Through thick and thin he thanked her, giving us examples of her steadfastness, support, and love throughout their relationship. It was very moving. Moving!

It was time to eat our appetizers and there was my soup. Cold onion soup. Anyone who has ever eaten out with me knows how picky I can be and I hate cold soup. There was no complaining. In fact I really didn’t care. What I just experienced was more important than soup. But I realized something else.

When I ate the soup I wasn’t focused on the temperature, I was focused on the taste. It was the best onion soup I ever ate. I enjoyed the richness of the taste.

As I think about life and that soup, how often do we not really focus on what is important and get hung up on outside things. Do we miss the taste because we focus on the temperature? Life is the taste, not the temperature.

The substance of life is what nourishes us, that which is important. As we sat around the table eating our dinner, what really nourished us was not the food, but the sharing of our spirit and soul, our compassion for one another.

We are a great company because of the soul of our company, because of people like Charlie Ripoll. I am a better person because of people like Charlie Ripoll. He nourishes my soul.

And when we can really understand this, to enjoy the taste of life, to understand how we are really nourished, we can live much happier lives. I challenge my daughter every Saturday when I see her leave for work teaching gymnastics, to ‘make a difference in someone’s life today’. To encourage that kid and make them feel better for the rest of the day. I guess I can say ‘go nourish someone.’

A bunch of people are starving out there……..we can make a difference.

Solitary Man

"The quiet and solitary man apprehends the inscrutable. He seeks nothing, holds to the mean, and remains free from entanglements." I Chang

Thanksgiving morning my daughter Rebecca and I were driving around Seabrook evaluating the progress on rebuilding some of our favorite restaurants damaged from Hurricane Ike. We spotted Slim. (See my September 13 post.)