Early in my time coaching kids’ basketball and soccer, after devoting much time and energy to practice and games; I asked myself if the time and effort were worth it. I asked myself if I was making a difference. I wondered, if like a box of Cracker Jack, there was a prize somewhere inside. Now,…
In current parlance, I am working to “declutter” my garage. I am working to get rid of things I no longer need. In that effort, I have re-discovered some treasures. Recently, I uncovered a set of golf clubs once owned by our uncle who passed away almost twenty years ago. I inherited them and they…
In Take Them by the Hand, I wrote: I was going through security at a major airport not long after 9/11. Asked to empty my pockets by the security agent; I placed my car keys, loose change, money clip and comb in the plastic dish as directed. The security agent looked at the contents of…
Along my journey, I have relied on the story of David and Goliath often and for many purposes. Not only is it a wonderful story full of many lessons, but it is also a story that everyone knows. You can use it with almost any group and the audience “gets it”. While there is a…
On many occasions, coaching kids has given me perspective on the world around us. Sometimes explaining things to young kids helps me understand the path forward. This week, I had one of those moments. A Fairy Tale When I coached my first soccer team of micros (mostly kindergartners) I wondered if they really understood the…
Recently I went on a hiking trip to Montana. Two separate day hikes of ten miles each in Glacier National Park gave me opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful country in the United States. Breathtaking vistas, glorious vegetation and fascinating wildlife. Each day I accompanied a small group of similarly experienced hikers to…
Like many others who seek to be informed, I have watched parts of both the Republican and Democratic national conventions this summer. While I know the conventions are productions designed to convince viewers to vote one way, full of bright lights, flashy videos, loud music and good-looking popular celebrities; this week as I watched the…
I sat at my computer after the assassination attempt on former President Trump. On the same night, there were two shooting incidents in Alabama. People died in both cases. I felt a need to write to dads, but I wondered what to write. There was clearly the subject of gun violence and the discussion around…
Like some 50 million other Americans, I watched the recent Presidential debate. In the days that have followed, people have asked me my opinion about the event. Scores of others including professional pundits and commentators have expressed their opinions. Some have provided analysis. Some have predicted the outcome of the election already based on this…
I am not an artist. I do not have a significant knowledge of art or its history. So, when we visited the North Carolina Museum of Art, I thought maybe I would just enjoy the “view”. While I certainly enjoyed the exhibits for their beauty, I was enlightened by the stories they told. The museum…