121

Well, tonight the blog is a bit different. More information than opining. I think I will sprinkle in some opinion because I surely cannot get by without doing so. First things first though. Tonight, was the Chamber of Commerce after hours. As much as I hate interacting, I really enjoy the conversations. At some point there will be a big right hook, a Gary Vaynerchuk reference, with the blog tonight. It is funny how it is important to meet the people who can affect your business or dreams in situations that are comfortable to them. Really though, I truly believe that many of the people are as uncomfortable as I am at these events but we all muscle through.

Tonight’s event was hosted by Webber International University and was at their new Alumni Center. It seemed that the turnout was a little light, but it was nice to see some familiar faces from my time at Webber and from some of the business leaders in the Lake Wales area. It was nice to catch up with the bank executive, the insurance boss, the community college center director, the president of a university, the director of alumni, a candidate for the state senate, a few professors, a cool softball player, two professors of accounting, the dean of student life, a Captain in the Sheriff’s Department, and the vice president of institutional effectiveness and research.

Webber was a part of my life for a long period of time. The first time I was on the campus was when I was 12 years old. I have been a part of some great dinners when the school was the mecca for the wealthiest of the wealthy. I have been around when they didn’t mow the grass and there were only 250 students. Tonight, I learned there were over 600 students and when all is said and done they are aiming for 1200. We all need goals. My dad was an integral part of the college for 35 years and I believe the school has shaped many of the traits I carry forward today. I have seen at least three presidents and watched the school transform. Heck, I still have a pair of shorts, some shirts, and a few hats that still have Webber College on the logo. Oh yeah, they are still the warriors but with the hubbub from Native Americans they have even lost the Caloosa Tribe reference and gone with a more Nordic warrior. At least they haven’t complained yet.

If you have made it through the first three paragraphs I will get to the meat of this now. A few months ago, we came into some money from a 50/50 drawing. This winning drew the attention of my mother in law, Ruthie, and she thought it would be great to give some bikes to kids who might really want one and couldn’t afford one. Ken, my father in law, and I thought this was cool. We are a Century 21 franchise, so we thought giving 21 bikes would be a cool thing. Ruthie, who is always thinking bigger, remembered that Century 21 had recently updated their branding and started using the 121% as part of their branding. She thought that we should just go all in and go for 121 bikes for kids in our area. Oh boy, there is nothing like a bit of pressure to make something happen.

Okay, it is early September and of course, we are striving to raise the funding to give 121 bikes to kids in elementary school and middle school who really want a bike but truly cannot afford to get one. We are going to partner with the Lake Wales Police Department and the Polk County Sherriff Department to distribute these bikes to those who deserve them and want them. This is a straight-up request from the community in this area to help us out. We will be giving 121 bikes to kids in this area. If you can help us with this journey, we will give you the credit you deserve. We will honor you on our social media, and let the community know who made this possible. If you want to donate a bike versus the cash that is fine. Walmart will be the store that is handling the bikes and putting them together. Each of the local law enforcement agencies will be handling the distribution of the bikes. We are truly a ragtag group but with the communities’ support or digging deep into our own pockets, 121 kids in the Polk County area will have a new bike to ride around this coming Christmas. If you are interested at all, please call me at 863-326-3009 or email me at treyheath@hotmail.com. Yes, I got that email address when Hotmail started.

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Dreaming Just Ain't Execution

Is it just me or do we all have dreams that dangle from our daily thoughts? This past year has caused me to reflect immensely on what I like, what I want to do, and how I want to go about doing them. Don’t get me wrong, some are outlandish and a bit out there, but others are things that, I think, more people than not would also enjoy doing or having. Dreams can be fun, frustrating, or driving. Most of society has them but the execution seems to be the kicker.

This thought stream is personal. I am sure that most people just plow through what they want with no problem and laugh or scoff at those who struggle to reach the finish line of their personal picture. Others will say that the dream isn’t big enough and your why isn’t concrete enough. Well, that sucks. What happens when the dreams dancing around in your head don’t match the why? Is it as simple as: it is your dream and your why and that is all that matters? These are the conundrums that rattle around in my grey matter.
Curiosity is one of the traits that I like best about me. It is also one of my dreams to learn more about people and what makes them who they are. I want to know why they chose the career they did, what makes them tick, passions they may have, flaws they work on, and their reason or reasons why. I don’t feel like I am the only one that has this curiosity about the people around me. Why do I want to do this? Simple; I am curious, and I might learn something to better myself or someone else that I care about. I also want to share what I find with others.
There are some things I need to figure out. Will they be long-form interviews, will it be video, and do I really care if anybody else sees it? There are so many things that excite me about this and in that same breath many that make me incredibly nervous. The dream of doing more comes with the fear of ridicule, being made fun of, not being as good as you think you can be, and then the worst is, what happens if it goes really well?

Putting on the brave face, faking it until you make it, and all the other bullshit phrases are just that. Sucking, practicing, grinding it out, putting in the hard work, and crafting your skills are simply what it takes. Well shoot, that seems easy enough. I did it when I raced BMX and again while playing tennis. For some reason, the work necessary to succeed in sport just hasn’t translated to my dreams in business. Thanks for reading and I hope chasing your dreams comes easier to you than it has for me.
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As Summer Closes the Fun is Just Beginning

Oh boy, the unofficial last holiday of summer is upon us. Labor Day has come to be known as the end of summer and leads us into the fall. Cooler mornings, crisp evenings, the US Open, and the start of college football. For us in Florida, most of this is true. The cool mornings and crisp evenings are a bit off, but nonetheless, fall is right around the corner. What does all this mean as the dog days of summer leave us?

There are a lot of fun things coming up. If you have kids, you have about a month to prepare for the fall festival season. Right after that comes the Halloween experience. For some it is meandering around the neighborhood, or maybe someone else’s better neighborhood, or hitting up the local trunk-or-treat. High School volleyball is in season and the high school football teams are deep in their seasons. College football teams and their mass amounts of alumni and ravenous fans are clamoring for tickets to the big conference games, and hunting seasons take up the other free times.

Yes, there is more. As soon as Halloween comes and goes the focus becomes turkey with all the trimmings. Thanksgiving, the holiday where families overindulge, watch a parade, then pretend to watch football while sleeping the afternoon away. Sometimes, we even eat leftovers in the evening and we don’t skip the second piece of the pie.

There are many other things that make the fall a great season. The leaves in the mountains and up north begin to change. I think about driving a sports car through a winding road and the leaves twirling up behind me. Wearing a sweater and looking appropriate, drinking a hot chocolate around a campfire during an evening gathering, and having a few pints at an Oktoberfest. I think fall and spring may be the best two seasons of a year. Summer is pretty awesome but that is because there are just some incredible sporting events all over the world during that time. Fall is a fun time. That word, fun, is just going to stay close in my mind for a good period of time.

Enjoy the weekend, thank either Matthew Maguire or P.J. McGuire, yes there is an argument who started this holiday, for wanting to honor the unions with a day. It took awhile to make it a federal holiday, but it really doesn’t matter who started it. For many around the country, it is an extra day off to have some fun. For us in Polk County, it appears it is an extra day running around on the UTV, according to all the trailers I saw heading east this Friday afternoon. Have fun, enjoy the family, and realize that fall is right around the corner and the best or second-best season of the year is almost upon us.

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Still Trying to Figure Out What I Want This to Be

Have you ever seen someone and thought, “What makes them tick?” Well, I do and that is what I am hoping to do over the next few years. I would like to interview people that I find interesting and then share what I find. There are going to post about the former players, people who made a difference in my life, and then those I just find interesting.

If I can video the interviews I will figure out how to integrate them here. If not, I will make sure they are accessible. Others will be old-fashioned transcribed interviews, and others will be synopses of time spent observing the person.
The fun part for me is multiple types of people are intriguing. I have enjoyed having a wide variety of people cross my path during these 46 years and now I want to learn about them and share the insights that they may give.
That is all for tonight. The house is now filled with my lovely family, so I am going to enjoy the rest of the evening with them. As Grant Cardone says, “Be great because nothing else pays.”

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It is Raining: Are Things Growing or Stopping Your Plans?

It was a dark and stormy night in Babson Park. Oh wait, it is dark and stormy, but this isn’t a horror story. This is just a thought about time and the continual passing. Rains come, and rains go. Sometimes it rains a lot and then other times it seems that it will never rain. We get frustrated when it rains too much, most of the time it’s because we have things we want to do. Oh yeah, it stops raining and then we fuss because it is hot. It is hot because it is August and summer. For some reason, this reminded me of passing time.

How many times have we heard people complaining about things that are going to pass, have passed, or cannot be controlled by how much, or how little we complain about them? Yeah, me too. More than likely, it has been me as well. Time is awesome. It is here then gone. Unlike the lost dollar that can be earned back, stolen, or even scammed back, time is gone never to return. Events happen, and they are either good or bad 99% of the time. It is rare that an event is completely non-consequential.

For many years we have been told that each action has a consequence. Most of the time we think about the negative ones. Why is this? If each action has a consequence and 99% of our actions are either positive or negative, wouldn’t that mean that a positive action will have a consequence just the same? I truly think so. All of this goes to the negative mindset that most people have by default. It is simply easier to see the negative than to search for the positive. Don’t get me wrong; there are some bad things that occur and for the life of me I cannot find the positive at all. For other things though I think it is just easier to see the negative around us.

Many people walk around acting like bad stuff is happening all around them. I have asked many of them how their day is going. Rarely do I get told that they got shot, hit by a car, lost their house to a fire, were mugged leaving the store, and on and on. Most of the time they are fine. Yes, they are complaining because someone gave them bad service. That one irks me as well. For goodness sake, if you don’t want to do the job that you chose to do at the highest level then just quit. I know, you are making minimum wage, but I think you knew that when you were hired. Do a great job, put a smile on your face, and do your job, the one you were hired to do, the best you can do. Oops, I digressed but people complaining about having a job just isn’t what this country was founded upon.

Time is the one thing that we have, should cherish, and should maximize as it can never be replaced. I have wasted my fair share and do not speak from a pulpit above the fray. I speak because my daughter is getting to an age that she will create empty nest parents in a few years and I have missed a lot of time with her. Now she drives, has a full schedule, and is giving us the practice we need to prepare once the inevitable comes around. This timeframe that is now available is one that must be cherished when it can be and when there is separation the positive times will fill the void. For sure it could be sad, but really it is another happy moment.

Do me a favor, as you move around tomorrow, count how many good things happen, how many bad things, as told by your favorite media source, and then just how many moments really aren’t worth much at all. Unless you live on a medical television show I doubt the negative truly outweighs the positive. Have a great weekend and it appears you might need your slickers.

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Just Looking Beyond the Curve

Well, my blog took a bit of a vacation. Maybe a semi-retirement. Heck, it could have been pure laziness. Whatever the issue, there is a lot of stuff that bounces around in my head and this space allowed me the option of getting rid of it. Therapy is expensive but since I already pay for internet and have a working computer this seems way cheaper. I used this time to talk about great experiences I had, players that mattered, and they all mattered, and just random stuff that I saw or witnessed during my days out galivanting around. There are still over twenty players to write about, life has had some fun and interesting twists, and I just have a lot to say.

Since I left FSC many things are different. Many of my former players are making their way through their careers, others are knee deep in the next degree, some have gone the distance to acquire, or are acquiring terminal degrees, and others are still working on finding their passion while finishing up at FSC or another school that fit their needs. Our own family has gone through transitions as well. My daughter is now driving, today was the first time in sixteen years that Michelle or I didn’t have to arrange her transportation to school, and to add to that the Pod has chosen to go the dual enrollment route her last two years of high school. This is exciting and nerve-racking. When she graduates with her high school diploma she will also have her AA or be a semester from that goal. Not a bad option for kids these days. They can go to normal high school, do early admissions, dual enroll, or even do collegiate. There still are AP classes and the IB program. Dang, when I was in school we had DECA. Things sure do change.

The Beyond the Curve blog was something I just wanted to do to free my mind. The name is derived from racing jargon. Racers look through the curve. Your eyes take you where you need to go. Where the eyes go the vehicle follows. Brianna rides horses and her coach has told her to look through the corner. She uses this reference to aid the rider to look where she wants to go while going over the jump. As soon as she lands wherever her head is the horse heads that direction. The Beyond the Curve idea is useful for many things. In the real estate world, you never know what will be around the next curve. The blog is still going to be my thoughts, ramblings, praises for former players, and now stuff that makes real estate tick for me.

Tonight, I will close with this: Call your family, check in on a friend, and love your kids with all your heart. They are the ones that will be there when you need them. Have a great Tuesday and go make someone’s day special!

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Cleaning Out the Closet

There is an old saying that espouses Spring is for cleaning. Surely, it has to do with the snow melting, flowers blooming, cleaning up after the dirty winter, and a multitude of other good thoughts about refreshing after a tough winter. Well, we live in Florida, but people still say it. What’s worse, people, my loved ones, want to do it. Alright, it really isn’t that bad, and it is really refreshing to get rid of things that are causing an unnecessary clutter. Still, it is hard getting rid of something that feels like it has a history or even a chance of getting used. This conundrum is my current thought process this evening.

Today was a cleansing day for me personally. Last summer, when I left Florida Southern, I packed up my entire office in one wagon load and stuffed it in my Jeep. Ten years and that was it. I also had one large duffel bag of FSC tennis t-shirts that I was sure I needed at the house. I brought the running shoes, athletic shorts, tennis shoes, and my extra string home. Each of those items has found use over the past nine months. There were also, ten years’ worth of polos, khaki shorts, and long sleeve t-shirts. Each of those has been used repeatedly so there is usefulness to keeping them around. However, the t-shirts have just been hanging out. Some still in the bag and others were stuffed in a drawer out of the way. On a side note, it is amazing how many shirts I had amassed over the past ten years while there. I was sure I would wear them for exercising, out and about, and just as a memento for the time and years I spent, reppin’ the brand.

The road always seems so clear when the initial plan is created. We forget to plan for rubbernecking accidents, bathroom breaks, construction, and other delays along the way. My shirts are about the same. Starting a new career and leaving on such good terms, my thoughts are so positively strong about FSC that I felt keeping the shirts around would allow me to stay connected with happy reminders. The realization that this line of thinking was a bit of a farce, kind of like going to Orlando with no delays. During a moment of Feng Shui, it hit me that the shirts aren’t ever going to get used. Even when I was at FSC, the t-shirts got used for practice time, weight room time, conditioning practices, and casual official capacity moments. Heck, I only brought them home to wash them and then they immediately went back to my office and put back into the rotation.

Were they bothering anything stuck away at the house? Nope, but they weighed on my mind. I know, there are many other important things to ponder on the daily but what can I say. These shirts need to be used and used by people that have an attachment to being a MOC. Before we have a discussion on getting rid of used shirts, let me tell you about these shirts. If I had 70 shirts I had close to 100 t-shirts. A lot of them looked almost brand new. The first-year shirts and many of the second-year shirts have had their useful life extinguished but the remaining eight years were pretty stellar. Why throw away perfectly good threads when some college dude can buy it at the annual rummage sale to wear during his workouts, intramural sports, or Saturday night frat party? This seemed like such an easy solution. There was only one caveat. Was I sure I wouldn’t regret getting rid of my history? Blood, sweat, tears, stories, and memories wrapped up in cotton, dry fit, and multiple Florida Southern logos. The answer, now that I am satisfied with what I did was, yes!

Today was another cathartic day in the progression of moving away from being known as a coach and becoming a REALTOR®. When I arrived on campus for the delivery of past, the present was completely on display. For ten years all my colleagues saw me in shorts, polos, running shoes, and occasionally in jeans. Today, it was a working professional. There were many comments, compliments, and the realization that the switch was complete. Dropping of the shirts to their next owner was much less dramatic emotionally than I thought it might be. Really, it was quite a relief to get them gone and to know that I didn’t have to worry about them taking up space anymore. Getting home tonight I walked into the area where they were stored and looked at the empty spot with a bit of a grin. Also, there was a thought about what was next to go. My personal office at the house is like a museum to what I once was. It is time to show off what I want to be and who I currently am instead of hanging on to so many years ago. It’s too bad we only have one trash day. This Spring cleaning thing feels good.

Hey, grab a garbage bag, drop the emotional attachment, take some digital pictures, and clean your closet and empty your drawers. Oops, that last one sounds a little weird. Happy simplifying.

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Success Comes From Not Quitting When You Fail

Euphoria, excitement, achievement, joy, and accomplishment are just some of the words that we strive to have said to us or that we personally feel when we do something above our normal expectations. We want that feeling and do what we can to achieve it whenever possible. There is only one problem. Striving for something that causes our comfort zone to stretch can also lead to failure. That word can erase any momentum and push us further down the negative rabbit hole. The same words at the beginning are found in smaller ways, detrimental ways, and in activities that, in the long run, cause more harm than good. Failure; the word that makes us feel terrible but really just means you didn’t meet the desired objective. Yes, that sucks, but really, that is all it means. Negative connotations can cause us to do anything necessary to avoid the word failure. We forget that the failure could just be a step towards the overall accomplishment.

When I started over writing this blog, it was because my mind will not shut down. I had just left a career that I had sacrificed so much for, was beginning a journey in my new career, and wanted to tell the stories that bounce around in my cranium daily. Yes, I could easily put them in a word document, save them on my One Drive, and go back and look at them from time to time. Actually, I do write them on a word document, I do not save them on my computer, but I have chosen to just throw them out on a dated platform and allow anybody that might be interested to check them out at their leisure. The exercise of doing this has been cathartic to me and has allowed me to remove many things out of my mind every three days. Some days it just flows out and then there are other days I fight with myself to put the words out properly so as to not be too aggressive, angry, or as my wife says, a smug smartass. Failure, the word that I used to hate but now I try to find it daily, is now something I can visually see every time I put something out for others to judge. Yes, I was a coach for twelve years and was judged on how well my team performed each time they walked through the gate to play. It was easy to see how I did. Whose scorecard got the higher number. It was concrete, quick, and had reward or consequence at the end of each spring.

Since I have left that career I have been further in the shadows than at any other point in my life. As the head coach, my name was associated with the success or failure of the team each time. The problem with that was I never agreed. When the players did great, whether as a team or as an individual, I got credit. I always felt this was stupid. Yes, I recruited the player, but that player used his talent, skill, and desire to succeed to reach those goals. If they failed or the team failed, that is where I came in the picture. What did I do wrong? Could I have suggested a different strategy? Should I have not put the player in that position? Is there a different player that could have done better? These are the moments where I felt I deserved the credit. Yes, I said credit. As a coach, I failed the player at that moment and assisted with causing stress and feeling of failure. I know, I didn’t play for the player when he won, nor did I play for the player when he lost. However, I am the captain of the ship, and when a player fails, the team fails, or goals aren’t achieved, I have failed the team. Maybe the goals were set too high. It could be as simple as I didn’t recruit the right players, or maybe the opponent figured out a weakness that I missed during the coaching sessions. When I coached the success and failure pendulum was not equal.

As I coached longer, the failures weighed heavier and the successes were what was anticipated. Ego is a real son of a bitch, and deep down, I felt that my players could accomplish anything if the belief was strong enough. Since I have left coaching I have found a very good understanding deep within my own psyche. It has taken almost a year, but I have realized that my ego, lack of focus on my own well-being, and the fact that I talked but didn’t show was one of my largest obstacles during that part of my life. Seven weeks ago, I realized I have failed myself, my wife, and my daughter. This failure didn’t happen overnight but took a while. It probably has been happening for multiple years, but for the past ten, I was focused on the revolving roster that was my team while I was a head coach. Since leaving coaching and really needing to focus on myself, I have had the epiphany that I talked a lot, but my action was just at a lower standard. I demanded excellence and showed average. I got fat, stopped competing, and accepted that failure was a stopping point and not a reset. Since that thought thunderbolt many weeks back, the focus on success has been like a laser beam. Not that I will go into too many details at this point, but I am less fat than I was, dreams are reignited, and failure is a test and I pass a lot right now.

I started tonight with words of greatness and positive affirmation. Failure could also be one of those words. The only way we succeed is by pushing the limits, finding them, and then pushing right through that point. It is hard. Actually, it is really hard. Change is uncomfortable and takes us to places we are not sure of. What is funny, many of us don’t want to succeed because if we do, people, friends, and associates will see that and then expect us to be able to do it again. Succeeding repetitively is not easy. Many of us can do it once and afterwards the comfort of achievement takes away the edge and then we decide that once was enough. Goals, achievement steps, and things that stretch our imagination and belief will help conquer that. I am currently working on this goal and I will not lie; there have been a lot of failures so far and I am still less than halfway there. The cool thing is though, I already have the next goal laid out once this first one is achieved. Heck, I may get to go after the next one before this one is completed. Yes, you can go after more than one.

I hope you enjoyed your Sunday. Go fail at something. NASCAR had 39 failures today and the Masters only awarded one green jacket. On two different television channels today, there were a multitude of failures who have all also had a great deal of success. The next week may be their time to write the storybook ending. Who knows? All we can do is put in the effort every day.

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Graduation: Completing One Book and Starting a New One

Some things are engrained deep in our brains. Events, timeframes, and situations that occur around the same time each year. For over 12 years this time of year meant the end of another school year was coming into focus. Conference matches were going hot and heavy, trying to nudge rankings up a bit more, and preparations for the conference tournament were in full effect. There was also the anticipation of regional qualification, finals, graduation, and working on the next class of players that would come in and work towards this time of year. Tonight, is really simple; it is a thought or two for the graduates of the team I left.

Every year I coached I had to evaluate what was needed to move the team forward. The inevitability of players graduating was as automatic as the sun rising and setting on a daily basis. There were times they would graduate early, finish early and stay for the final year while doing an MBA, or stay for the standard four. Of course, the JUCO transfers were only here for two years but there were fewer of them over the decade-plus. Sometimes, there was one graduate, maybe even none, but there were times where there were five or six. Those times were strenuous. As much fun as it was to continually get fresh players to come in and start their own process, it was also sad. When a player comes in and stays for the full time they are allotted the relationship that is built over that time is very important. My guys and their success while on campus was the highest honor I could have as a coach.

Watching your players walk across the stage, receive their diplomas from Dr. Kerr, and then relish the moments with friends and family afterwards was a great treat. Sadness, although selfish, was also a part of that few hours. Realizing that you no longer had their service on the squad and that you would have to find another player to come in and start that process all over again was an emotion that, for that day, had to be pushed off so the joy of the day could be completely taken in. Over the twelve years of coaching, I graduated just over forty-five players. Some are still finding their way in the world, some are continuing the educational process, and some have already completed their terminal degrees. There are business execs, hedge fund managers, tennis pros, a preacher, a few attorneys, an aspiring doctor, accountants, world traveling digital animation creator, bankers, and teachers. The amount of countries and states where they have ended up is also amazing. Some have found success far from home, while others have planted roots near the home where they have grown up. All of them are doing what they love or if not, working towards finding that which will satisfy the needs they have.

These guys, and women I coached, mean so much to me. When I decided to leave this past year, I knew I was leaving that cycle of jubilation and sadness behind. However, I was also leaving players that I had watched flourish, struggle, fight for their spot, and attempt to become the man they wanted. This season, some of those guys are now getting the opportunity they wanted so badly. They have earned the right to be integral parts of the playing team. This honor is something that is never taken lightly. It is definitely earned and is easily snatched away. Learning that success is earned and not given is something that I preached relentlessly while I was at the helm. I am so impressed with the perseverance they have shown, and their willingness to stick it out, even when things weren’t going the way they wanted or expected.

In less than a month, there will be five guys who will have swung a racket at the Wynee Warden Tennis Center for the last time as a MOC. They will walk across the stage and become alumni. The dream of college athletics will have its completion and the next dream will take hold. For some, it will be more schooling, for a couple it will be a master’s or Doctorate, and maybe others will immediately find the first job to cut their teeth in the corporate world. One thing is for sure, I have heard this from every player that I have ever talked to after they have left for a bit, they will miss the team. Each has their own reason. Some hated the structure, but loved the camaraderie, others miss the competition, while others simply miss the mandatory health benefits of being on a highly competitive athletic team. Miguel Alvarez, Derek Bell, Matt Matsuyama, Blaine Miller, and Lance Francisco will be heading into the next step of their lives here shortly. I know that I will be in the RP Funding Center to watch them receive that piece of paper that signifies years of sweat, hours of studying, some really good times, and the hope for their future. There will come a time that I don’t know any of the players on the squad and then that portion of my life will completely be closed, like the last book I finished reading. However, as far as I can tell I have three graduations still to attend. For many of the guys, I don’t think they truly understand how important they were to me and that I treasure them for what they came to me as and what they trained themselves to be when they left Florida Southern College.

I am happy for all of you. Heck, I am proud of all of you and cannot wait to see you all succeed like each of you think you will. That is why I enjoyed all of you. Your belief in yourselves made the motivation easier. Finish strong, study hard, and enjoy the remaining time. You will miss it.

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Van Halen and Aerosmith Sang About Them

First Happy Easter!! Wait, if you don’t celebrate Easter, Happy Sunday. Also, for all you pranksters, you had your day today. What a momentous day for so many groups. This is what they mean when they talk about inclusion for all groups. Michelle and I were out early this morning at the barn and passed a couple of sunrise services. After that, we had some real estate work to handle and saw some cute little Easter outfits, people grabbing some great family time at McDonald’s, really, oh well that is your prerogative, and others were running to and fro like it was a normal day. Everyone was living their dream for the day. Or, were they living it for someone else?

Oh, the dreams of man and how they drive us crazy. In a quote attributed to Sigmund Freud, he stated, “Dreams are often most profound when they seem the most crazy.” There are times that this must have been most of the people I have known throughout my years. You may have been one of those people, or heck, you may have made fun of the person who had the crazy dream. It has been a quandary of mine for many years; why do we belittle, make fun of, or cheer against those that have these outlandish dreams? Is it really that important that the person with the dream stay grounded to equal where we are? Dreams may be big, small, personal, group-oriented, outlandish, or even mundane. The cool thing about each dream and person they are attached to is that they are that individual’s dream. No one else’s. If you have never had a dream, I feel bad for you. It can be as simple as dreaming about a simple day off, enjoying a sunrise or sunset at your favorite beach with your favorite person, having a day where you can do whatever it is that tickles your fancy, or being able to go to a show that has been something you wanted to see. For others, the dreams are bigger, crazier, more outlandish, and even a bit larger than life. You know, like shooting your Tesla into space, creating a watch that answers phone calls, building businesses that are leaders in their industry, or achieving something that is so personal and far out that even friends and family think you may need professional help. These latter dreams and those like it are the ones that I battle within my own mind. There are so many things that excite me. Pictures dance through my head, how it looks are concrete in my mind, but the dream is just that, a dream. There is no plan, follow through, or idea of the first step so the dream remains a dream and never becomes a goal.

I love seeing people chase the dreams. I am a sucker for the motivational story of the person who has achieved what they set their mind to and the story they tell. I know the possibility is there. They are attainable. I understand that chasing the dream causes pain, that you may lose friends, you may have to separate yourself from family that you love, you may have to leave behind things you think you like, and you may have to start it alone. All of that is understandable; I get it and feel it inside. Then, I put it on the back burner because the truth of the current status overwhelms the dream and it falls into the crevices. It simmers, steams, and occasionally visits from time to time. Maya Mendoza stated, “No amount of security is worth the suffering of a mediocre life chained to a routine that has killed your dreams.” My life is awesome, but I get the gist of the quote. I have chased many of the dreams that I have had. Many failed because of a lack of talent, some were accomplished, and others, once the journey started, were realized that it really wasn’t a dream I wanted to “burn the boats over.” Maybe, that is part of the problem. I have been so fortunate through my 45 years. I have gotten to do so many things, seen so many cool places, competed at an elevated level in a couple of arenas, and watched others that I am close to chase dreams they have desired. That problem is; I know that if you put the work in, the time, and the dedication you can go after it and see where it takes you. Dreams can come true and they can knock you flat on your face. Damn, it is a great ride though.

Currently, my dreams are a bit more simplistic. For the past many years, we have allowed our daughter to shape her dream(s) and let her see where they may take her. The personal itch of the persistent dream is beginning to rear its head again deep inside my emotions. For someone with dreams that have been put on the bench, they don’t go away. We can work around them, push them off, and even tell ourselves that they weren’t that important. Here’s the issue: if they keep popping up in your thoughts they must mean something, and they will haunt you until it is achieved or at least tried and failed. Yes, my dreams are now getting to that point. Today is the first day of the second quarter of the year. The first quarter was awesome, opened some eyes, and showed what was possible. As Cole Trickle said in Days of Thunder, “Harry, I’m dropping the hammer.” Harry told him no and he did it anyway. Sometimes you must go with your gut and hope that the tires can handle your pressure.

Enjoy your week, re-introduce yourself to your dreams, and let’s go. The best that happens is you reach it and the worst that happens is you try again.

Photo by Natalia Y on Unsplash
Photo by Kelli Stirrett on Unsplash

I Just Can't Hide It

Angst, excitement, frustration, euphoria, pleasure, and complete abhorrence are some of the emotions we have as an emotional species. Heck, many of you probably had those today, and even some that I missed. Excitement is what I am pondering this beautiful evening. Getting excited, staying excited, and of course, when the excitement fails you. Let’s start with the sadness that excitement, when it wanes, can cause.

Today, I was pumped all day. It is a feeling that I had since Monday. The day had been planned down to the last detail and was going along perfectly. The morning had gone as planned, lunch and dog walking for my mom happened at the perfect time, and the afternoon workflow was perfect. I was getting excited about the hours ticking away as the time neared for the final part of the great evening. You see, Michelle and I were going to watch a little baseball this evening. Not major league opening day baseball, but the kind where the dream starts for the kids and maybe, even some of the parents. Little league baseball was the destination. There is nothing like four fields going at the same time. Foul balls flying around, hamburgers, hotdogs, French fries, sodas, bubble gum in all the bleachers, and parents cheering on their little rug rats. It is a fantastic way to spend the evening, catch up with friends, and support the team that is wearing your name. Except, I didn’t read the schedule correctly and there wasn’t a game tonight due to spring break. Oops! I found this out about 3:30pm when Michelle called to give me the sad/bad news.

Excitement is something I don’t show well. Michelle has prepared some great meals over our almost two decades together. I mean, they are delicious, and I have enjoyed each one but for the first few years, she didn’t think I liked them because of my lack of, wait for it……. excitement. As I stated, I loved them, but she would ask, and I would tell her that they were great. It wasn’t what I said, it was the inflection that threw her off. After a few years she realized that I didn’t get excited to that level very often. This is still the case. My excitement stays internalized for most things. There are things that really get me going, I mean really get me going, but it is rare that I show it, say it, or let my emotions give away the internalized feelings. Kids chasing their dreams does get me excited. They play because they love the game, have a chance to be a hero, and if they win, (thanks Flo), they get ice cream with sprinkles. What can be more exciting than that. The crack of the metal bat, some pip squeak chasing butterflies in the outfield, and miscues that lead to an amazing number of runs makes the games a fun distraction from the everyday life.

There are other things that get me excited. Some of them are personal, others are familial, and others are from afar. I love racing. Really love racing. I will get up at anytime of the morning to go watch a race. Actually, this is beginning to suck a bit because I hate just being a spectator. There was a time, many, many, years ago, that I was a fairly good BMX racer. When I hit my thirties, I decided to buy a dirt bike and go off-road racing. Not good would be a strong statement but possibly an accurate depiction of my skills on a motorcycle. Starting in the beginners was where it was at for the first year. I then moved to the “C” level on a YZ125. I never won a race but did finish second once. That second was awesome, but I wasn’t even close to first. After finishing third in the series I bumped myself up to the “B” class and purchased a YZ250. New bike, faster kids, and even worse butt kicking’s but I looked forward to every weekend of racing with my wife and daughter. It was our time and doing my best every time was what drove me. After a couple of years of trying to compete with the kids, I decided to join the ranks of the old men but when you are slow you still finish where you are going to finish. I think I finished fifth once, but it didn’t matter. Those weekends gave me something to look forward to thirteen times a year. The anticipation of each race, the excitement of race weeks, and the soreness after each race were the catalyst that made me want more. Going to the races now, as a spectator, is fantastic but it only fuels the excitement of doing it again myself.

Having joy in your life is such a strong pulling power. This feeling helps push through hard tasks, eases the burden of crappy work, and even give you something to look forward to after a wonderful week in the trenches. Building excitement around something that pushes you forward is a terrific way to reach for those goals you may have been putting off because you just couldn’t find the reason to strive for it. Excitement can cause let down, if the dream is deadened for a bit, but if the goal is big enough the down times will be lessened and if the potential excitement is strong enough the doldrums will wane, and your positive emotions will again swell that feeling inside that can only be quenched when the event reaches fruition.

Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash
Photo by Ben Hershey on Unsplash

Fifty Years Comes and Goes: Make Your Mark

Time appears to pass inexplicably quickly. It just seems like yesterday I was coaching the midpoint of the season at FSC, preparing for the conference tournament with one last shot at regional glory. The only problem with that flashback is that it is nearly a year since I announced to the administration and the guys that I was exiting coaching stage left. Those moments are engrained in my conscience but the time marches on as the people involved chase the new dreams and the next goals put forth. This one example is just a personal note on something that happens to all of us at some point during our daily existence.

50 years seems like such a long time. Many milestones occur at this numeral because it is just amazing that things, groups, couples, businesses, or events last that long. For goodness sake, one of my first crushes turned 50 this year. It was simply a boy enamored with an older lady, and it was a long time ago. Heck, my mother is eagerly anticipating her 50th high school reunion. That is amazing. I’ve been out 28 years and it still seems like a long time to get to that mark. The golden years are approaching much quicker than like years past. Turning 50 was such a long way off, but now I am only a few years away and can almost taste that McDonald’s senior coffee, silver checking, and my AARP membership. Oh geez, I guess that means I will be taking my young wife to the early bird specials.

A couple of weeks ago, I accompanied my dad to his 51st Sebring 12 Hours. They have only had 66 of them, so for a nearly 70-year-old, he hasn’t missed too many of them. Things happen at such a fast pace now, how many things will last 50 years as we move forward. Companies come and go, traditions continued to be lessened, and with the advent of the 24 news, life, and trend cycle, we are fortunate if things last five years. Some of my most favorite music is 30 to 40 years old. How many songs in the past 10 years are even memorable. Shoot, only 12 percent, or around 60 of the fortune 500 companies that made the list in 1955 are still around. Times change, but truly good things do last. I hope that we continue to hang on to some of them.

As I approach closer to that magical number, I’m still a few years off, I realize how much I have seen and how much has happened. Go back to your Google, Bing, or whatever search engine tickles your fancy and see what has happened in the past 50 years. Too many to recount in this cheesy piece of reflection. There was a time, in my late teens, early twenties, and maybe even when I first started coaching in my late thirties, that I thought 50 was old. You must get fat, grey, wrinkly, and completely give up on chasing dreams. There is only one problem. I’m damn near that milestone and the dreams are bigger than ever. The weight is coming off slowly, the hair isn’t grey but bald may be my new beautiful, and wrinkly may be caused by the years of sun damage. I don’t feel older. Well, I don’t feel older until I try to do what I used to do at the levels I used to do it. The mind is clear, the thoughts pure, but the realization that the body doesn’t want to do it has become a bit more apparent.

Think back to the last thing you were a part of that was around for 50 years. It could be the house you live in, your parents, the business you work for, or some other thing that has survived through the ages. All of those are set in their ways. Stubborn, proud, and marching on through the modern transitions that happen quicker and quicker. People become set in their ways. Why do they need a smartphone? They don’t trust technology always and don’t grasp all that is happening around them. Events and businesses, at times, act the same way. However, there are those moments where lights go off in the corporate brain and a corporate tummy tuck, facelift, or mid-life crisis occurs and the way they move forward changes. Even with the stodginess and prestige they have earned, they realize that time marches on and the virtual doors will only stay open if they embrace the necessary changes.

Fifty years comes and goes every day for people, businesses, and events. We should honor the achievement. Yes, humans want more and hope to enjoy many more years of productivity. I am curious as time continues to pick up speed how many businesses and events will stand the test of time and reach that monumental milestone. It is my hope that many will grow, adapt, and achieve that success but if recent history is any indicator we may get to the point that a ten-year celebration is a big deal. Who knows? I will be pumped for anything I am involved in to hit that marker. And yes, celebrate I will.

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Sometimes the Product isn't Good; Tonight's One of Those Nights.

Not everyday that I write do I have great thoughts cruising through my brain or out my fingers. Tonight is one of those nights. Don't worry about reading it. There will be a better one next time. It doesn't even warrant pictures.

Hurray, it is Friday. I sit here alone at the computer on a Friday night to put out my latest thought stream. People get so pumped for the weekend. For over a decade and half I have no idea what that means. The same people also curse Monday. Heck, doesn’t that mean that you are moving towards another weekend that you are so looking forward to again? I truly don’t get it because of the life I chose many years ago and the life I have recently attached as my future livelihood. I get it, when I was in school, sales, teaching, and the corporate world the weekend was manna from heaven. Two nights and two days of no responsibilities and fun for 48 hours. Sunday night would roll around and the toys got put away and the begrudging thoughts of another week crept into our psyche. The only problem for me is that I don’t remember what that is like. Weekends were just another work day.

Don’t get me wrong; it is fun to hang out with your peers on a “normal” schedule but that just wasn’t how it was or how it will be for me. There are advantages though. The lake isn’t nearly as crowded on a random weekday. Neither is the golf course. Walmart though, it is crowded all the time. Also, it is great that you can get out on the lake or golf course, but it is hard to ski by yourself. Bass fishing is okay, but that is about it. Golfing is much faster by yourself, but it is never good to drink alone. By the way, the cabernet sauvignon this evening is very nice. It really sounds as if I am complaining but it is far from it. I have never minded the odd schedule. When I worked in the college world, summers were very slow, so the week was perfect for frivolous activities, or used for making some side cash. The weekends, even in the summer were used for going to tournaments looking for the next talented player. In the new career of real estate, people want to see houses at the damnedest of times. After 5pm on weekdays and at any daylight hour on the weekend. It is like we open the doors at 4:30 every afternoon and keep them open all weekend.

I’ve pondered frequently what it would be like to have the normal Monday through Friday schedule. It sounds, at times, appealing. However, it is really cool to get up from my desk at noon on any given day and leave the office. Freedom to move about the area at any time. Oh wait, you can leave but you cannot hide. With the advent of this innovative technology we are available anywhere. This was the same in coaching. Players from around the world would call at all hours of the day or night. Somehow, they would misjudge the time difference and really need to get that call into you at 12:30am or maybe 5:30 the same morning. I cannot remember if any of those calls earned scholarships or not. The same thing happens in real estate. Random phone calls on listings at 11:30pm. Really, do you head off to the car lot or maybe your dentist at 11:30 at night. Look, don’t touch. I’m just kidding. We love those calls and if we don’t take them some other hungry agent will scoop them up, change out of their pajamas and go show them the damn property. Fantastic job guys. Keep up the hustle so we cannot rest at all.

If you’ve read this far it sounds a little bit like a gripe session. It is not. I love it, find it humorous, and enjoy the challenges that are presented. The freedoms we have gained from all this technology is mind boggling. It has really allowed us ease of everything. Surely, in the next few years it will also make us all smarter, more caring, and less abrasive to our fellow man. I firmly believe, that in the next few years we will also realize what fools we have been and want to reconnect with humans instead of just screens. Don’t get me wrong, the technology is awesome and will only get better but for a vast majority of people the ability to communicate, share, and survive with another human next to them has been lost. At some point, sanity will prevail, and we will use the technology for improvement and convenience. All this stuff has stopped us from having the free time we used to enjoy. My favorite phrase I hear at least everyday is this: “I am so busy!” Really, doing what? What are you so busy doing now that five years ago you weren’t doing? Stop being so accessible to beeps, dings, and the screen that barely fits in your pocket. Sit down, relax, I mean really relax, and speak to someone eye to eye. It is a lost art.
Well shoot, I’ve just rambled on for the past 844 words and don’t know what I accomplished. Okay, I like my non-Monday through Friday schedule. It is my norm. I appreciate that others like their schedule. I love what I currently do but think having parameters for engagement is not out of line and I think technology is great but has become an excuse for “busyness” and not actually helped with productivity. You’ll have a great weekend on the lake, links, or “honey do list”. I’m going to go shovel some poop, sell some houses, and answer random calls all weekend. Don’t feel sorry, not that you do, next Wednesday is looking sweet for a quick escape. Enjoy your family and create your adventure, whenever and wherever you can.

For Kirk Kucin, Success Took Time: Another Story About an FSC Alum

Being an underdog has been something I have embraced most of my life. Yes, there were times I was expected to be the dominant athlete but most of the time I was known as a scrappy competitor. When I started coaching, I looked for this type of athlete as well. The player that was unheralded, non-touted, and a bit rough around the edges. Don’t get me wrong, the great players were awesome, but they knew it, and they also knew that they belonged. Watching the underdog earn his cred was a fun experience as a coach. Tonight, the story is about the underdog that didn’t make his dent directly on the courts but had a lasting effect on the team. Kirk Kucin, this is my memory.

Walk-on players were always an important part of the roster while at FSC. The scholarship athlete was the bread and butter but there was always space on the roster for the guy who was willing to come in, go through the process, and attempt to earn his spot on the playing roster and possibly a scholarship. Each of these guys had their own personality and ego. Each and every one felt like they would get the shot they thought they deserved, would be noticed, and would earn the right to have the scholarship that was withheld from them when they entered the program. Kirk was one of those guys. When I first met Kirk, it was a riveting experience. Bright red hair, bubbly personality, and a massive belief system. The little bit of research I did on him led me to think that he would be a nice addition to the bottom side of the roster and maybe he would he would see some scrub action during the busy March months throughout his four year stay.

Back to that first meeting with Kirk. He wanted to come watch the team play a competitive match so he came to a match at the Lakeland City Courts. We were watching matches and talking about what he wanted from a team. I’ve heard it all before, but as a coach you really want to hear it again from another wanna be walk-on hero. There is a bit of tongue and cheek in those comments. I loved when players thought they could punch their way through the teeth of the line-up. Kirk was no different. As we watched players battle I asked the proverbial question; “Where do you think you fit in with this line-up you see out here today?” What I was waiting for was a response about giving it his all and over the next couple of years really trying to make a dent in the line-up. Kirk, being Kirk, gave me the response, that at the time was outrageous, but as the years went along really fit him perfectly. His response was, “I feel that I can be top six on this team.” I hope I smiled but I am sure there was a bit of shock on my face as I picked my jaw up off the grass next to court 14.

Kirk arrived in the fall of his freshmen year and didn’t really make that dent that he thought he was going to make. He did enjoy the college life though. There were some incredible stories that he and other teammates would share about their adventures when they had off time. He was enjoying freedom and he learned a lot about life that freshmen season. Sometimes, when you pay people like you even more. So much so, that you think you are in love. There were many laughs about that. Kirk was our only redhead so Ray, a player I have already written about, created nicknames for almost every player. In not such an ironic way, Kirk became Ronald McDonald. He embraced it. There were pictures of Kirk with Ronald, real and the statues. Somehow, and to this day we don’t know how, the athletic page on one or our sites had the profile for Kirk as Ronald McDonald. We were able to get it changed, but it happened and there were more giggles.

Resilience, determination, and desire were great trademarks of Kirk. He never really made an impact to the line-up as a player. He was, however, a badass in the gym and on our training runs. He found his role and did it to perfection. He was so good on the runs that he eventually became a two-player athlete at FSC and ran for the FSC track team during their season. During his four years at FSC Kirk had an overall record of 4-1 in singles competition and 3-0 in doubles. Although he wasn’t the player he had hoped to be he found his role as a gym partner and running rabbit. The scholarship players hated getting beat by someone who wasn’t at their level on the court. Even though there wasn’t success as a player he filled a role that I admired, so he was always relevant. Also, I liked him a lot. He just wanted more in life. He worked hard to get his grades up and earned Academic All-American status his last three years on campus. He was entrepreneurial as well.

He decided to save some money and rented a house off campus with some buddies. To better save money, he bought a scooter. The kicker was, his scooter looked like a miniature Harley. He would cruise around and even give the bikers the low wave while cruising through the Lakeland city streets. He would brag how he could fill it up with the change from his Honda’s cup holder. On one occasion, he even rode it back home to Clearwater. Yes, he rode his scooter from Lakeland to Clearwater. Let that sink in for a bit. He mapped out his route. All back roads. It would only do 35 mph, so this was a slow roll. The hour to hour and fifteen-minute trip took him four hours. That was Kirk.

As a player rolls through the program, you look, listen, and pay attention to what he is doing going towards his future. Kirk was out there. He didn’t really have great direction as to what he wanted to do but he was willing to try anything. He joined a fraternity, helped me with the off-court tennis stuff, worked for a golf cart shuttle service on the beach, did umbrella rentals, ran track, and probably other things that I have missed. Graduation came, and Kirk had done it. Now, real life was beginning. He started his first job and that wasn’t it. He took a chance and moved to Charlotte to go work for an equipment rental company. He was in the management training program, so it was in-depth. He would send me pictures of being up on the top of cherry picker lifts, driving steam rollers, using jack hammers, and multiple other pieces of equipment. Somehow, this beach boy, red head free spirit, found equipment rentals suited him. He is currently still with that company and now lives in Colorado. Awesome, is an understatement on how he is doing. The scooter has been upgraded to an adventure bike and the pictures from those trips are breathtaking. Awards were not plentiful when he attended FSC, but he has become an incredible success in the working world. Out of 168 sales managers in his area, he was number one last year. Because of his desire to take the time and try things out of his comfort zone he found his niche. Not only has he proven that he can make it as the underdog he is also a big CrossFit athlete. He let me know he was competing in the CrossFit open for 2018. Whether or not he makes it to the next round really isn’t important. This will only be a catalyst for the next opportunity that comes his way. Kirk was a player who came through the program, but now I am proud to call him a friend that I watched become the man he is today. Congrats Kirk! You have earned what comes your way.

Photo by Zoltan Kovacs on Unsplash
Photo by Eric Welch on Unsplash

Oh Good Heavens, I am Getting Old

Tomorrow is the 66th annual 12 Hours of Sebring. Last year I had the honor of being there with my dad for his 50th 12 Hours race that he had been in attendance. During the day, I had the constant feelings of how long 50 years of doing something, attending something, heck, even being 50 years old was. It was a wonderful day at the races. Many things have changed from the wild and wooly days of the great race, but it is still a party with a world class endurance race taking place at the same time.

Last night, I was confronted with my aging self directly from the mouths of babes. Michelle and I decided awhile ago we wanted to go to a concert. Michelle booked our hotel room and got us tickets to the event. You see, it was on a work night, so we had to work half the day, drive over to Orlando, get checked in to our hotel, make sure we knew where the venue was, get a nice dinner, then take our blankets and chairs to the venue to watch the great show. We are big fans of Aaron Lewis, and he was going to be performing at the Orlando Amphitheater during the Central Florida Fair. That is a field trip for us, so we came prepared.

I grew up with Staind, the rock band that Aaron fronted. This was pure rock n’ roll. They were formed in 1995 and kind of went their separate ways in 2011. Aaron decided he was going to pursue a career in country music, he wasn’t bad, his YouTube presence is great, so I continued to enjoy his music through the transition. Fast forward to last night and the concert Michelle and I were going to attend. It was going to be him, and his country band and they were touring in support of his newest country album “Sinner”. After a great dinner we eased our way to the concert and found great parking away from possible dings from others. You know, we are older and want to make sure our investments our safe from the wild youth of today. We took ten minutes to make sure we had our chairs and blankets secured so we could walk into the venue. As we strolled in the cool evening air we were overtaking by a group of six younger kids who were bouncing into the same que we were headed. Being inquisitive, I asked them if they knew Aaron Lewis as the country singer or as the lead singer of Staind? They responded, country singer. The next few minutes were old man gold.

The females in the group asked, “What is Staind?” “You mean he was in another group?” The boys said, “What, he was a rock singer?” I said yes, and then I had to stop and pee in the porta-potty located outside the ticket booth. Yes, I am old, and my bladder has about a pint of holding tank. Michelle waited outside and told me upon my exit that the kids continued trying to figure out what in the hell I had just blown their minds with. Fast forward to the concert and he made multiple mentions that the song he was going to sing was one that he had written 20 to 25 years ago. The first thought that went through my head was, “I wonder what these kids are thinking?” “Has this guy been trying to make it as a country artist this long?” I hope that they figured it out at some point, or at least Googled it at some point in the evening.

For years, I have been able to put off the inevitable. I am getting old. My daughter can almost drive without my attention, email is passé, Facebook is for old fogies like me, and kids today don’t even remember what rock n’ roll was or who sang it. It is okay. Those times produced some of the best music and originality that ever existed. The hair is thinner, I get mad at aggressive drivers, and I think having an early breakfast at a country diner sounds like a fantastic way to go. I love the progress technology has made. It is awesome to watch events I cannot go to on my phone, pay for events by showing my phone to the ticket taker, and using GPS versus a map makes getting unlost much easier. However, everyone says that it takes years to gain wisdom. That part I would not pass up. It is so true. As a youngster, I would have worked all day, grabbed some McDonald’s, and rushed to get to the show. I would have paid for the outrageous beer and food at the event and slammed myself up against a stage of pot smoking, alcohol fueled kids, and sung every song. I would have then headed back to little BP and gone to work this morning like nothing happened. Wait, part of that doesn’t sound so bad. Nah, the wisdom gained over the years, the preparation executed, and the knowledge to know better led to a great night with my beautiful wife and a 24-hour get away that was desired by both.

Youth is awesome. I cannot wait until those kids are my age and they head off to the virtual concert and some kid they don’t know has no clue that Justin Bieber was a YouTube sensation found by Usher. Oh, to be young again. It was a great night, followed by an incredibly relaxing morning. Thanks baby, for helping us have the wisdom to do it the best way an old married couple can do it. What’s next?

mine--at concert
Photo by Marie-Sophie Tékian on Unsplash

Let the Sun Shine on Me!

“The sun will come out tomorrow.” This great line of thought came from the orphaned philosopher, Annie. Profound truisms are not only life affirming but seen on every other social media post out there these days. Damn right, the sun is going to come out tomorrow. It comes out every day. In some areas it is longer and in other areas it is shorter. I know, that is not the message from Annie, but it is in the same vein. There will be another chance to start over, have a fresh start, look forward to a new beginning, or any other thing that refreshes itself on a routine basis. Looking at it from its literal sense is just the way I roll. The sun will come out tomorrow.

My entire problem isn’t with this phrase. I find it optimistic and live by receiving those second or fiftieth chances to start fresh and new. The issue I have is the time that the daggum sun comes up so blooming late. Don’t get me wrong. I love DST (Daylight Savings Time) because in my youth it meant that the time outside was a lot longer. Summer time on the water or at the courts was extended and it even meant we could squeeze in another 18 after our first round. So, before you think I am fussing please understand that I do like it. Here is my rub. Why do I want to have it all year round? When we have regular Eastern Standard Time, we have great mornings. Those sunrises are just spectacular. This morning, I was leaving the barn after 7:15 and the sun was just starting to creep up. There is nothing wrong with this, but everything has its season. If we have this time for our entire year, what do we really gain?

There are many things that piss me off about our national and state legislatures but tonight it is all about the state issue. Unbelievably, this idea of having DST for the entire year has made it to the governor’s desk for signing. Really, this is the top issue affecting our state currently? I won’t even touch on the current hot button topic because it is an emotional powder keg that needs to simmer with rational thought and millions of lobby dollars on either side. Instead I will just focus on this lunacy of making a made-up time system our forever time system. It would fit. We are the state that is the butt of jokes throughout the country. People know us for three things. One is Disney, two is Miami, and three is weird crimes. Just Google it. For God’s sake, between meth mouth crimes, housing pet gators, eating people’s faces off, we have made quite a name for ourselves. Now, we want to use a made-up time so that people (tourists) can spend more daylight hours outside. Please don’t think this is nothing more that a political move to increase tourism for our visitors. I know, we rely on those tourism dollars, so we can stay afloat as a state. Some weird ass pest has destroyed our citrus, other countries have figured out how to grow the same things we do less expensively, and businesses are contracting or moving off shore. I get all that. So, what you are telling me is that if we have this new time for the entire year, we will get more tourist interaction and that will mean my state will be even better? Awesome, so my roads will be fixed and fluid? Our teachers and police officers will get great raises and be able to work in inviting environments? Oh yeah, when the CEO from Acme, Inc. comes to visit the beaches and the big mouse, he will be so enamored that he will make a billion-dollar commitment and move his entire business here. Well, that would be awesome. If that is the case, heck, let’s really go crazy. Let’s just take Pacific time and let everyone stay out until 10pm at the beach. We can make it to mid-morning in the dark.

I am not bitter at all about this stupid piece of legislation. The fact that I wrote piece of legislation is enough to see my point. There aren’t more urgent things we need to deal with in the Sunshine State? Our traffic sucks, our public services are in shambles, our teachers want to quit, and there aren’t enough high-quality jobs available in one of the largest states in the greatest country in the world, but we have a bill to change our time on the Governor’s desk. This fact speaks volumes of the current state of government. There is no anger at all. It is actually quite amusing. We spend so much time yelling at one another from our right post or left post that we forget most things happen when we compromise somewhere near the middle. We all have our thoughts and that is what makes us great. Instead of looking at this idiotic piece of legislation we still want to argue our points to an ear numb public. We should force our legislators to work on genuine issues instead of fake time gains. Really, there are things that we want done that can make real change. I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise though. Our greatest enjoyment comes from watching fake real television shows and listening to pundits on our side spout their money-making verbiage. Think about it. Television execs make their money by putting out products we demand. We demand fake television. Right-wing and left-wing pundits have made millions because they figured out that their segment of followers would support them. This led to lucrative endorsements. Heck, if you paid me millions, I might believe that having a stupid fake time system would be perfect for our great running state.

As I have stated a couple of times, there is no anger in this little post at all. It is really just entertaining. There are so many people who don’t pay attention to anything except their next pay check and which Friday night establishment has the best Happy Hour that they forget that there are people in Tallahassee, that they elected, well at least a few did, who are determining their future. They will bitch and moan when it affects them, but at that point it is too late. Oh well, peace be unto you all. And just remember, the sun will come out tomorrow. It just may be a few hours later.

Photo by Daniel Chen on Unsplash
Photo by Patrick Brinksma on Unsplash

Thoughts from the Concrete Trail

Blue skies, cooler temperatures, Spring around the corner, and I grind away at my beautiful desk with no windows. There is this weird sound that Michelle and I are haunted by periodically each day but the busyness of the tasks and the thought of what is beyond helps to block it out. So, does a good set of headphones. Of course, I am sitting at my home desk pounding on the keys, pondering the next post while I jam to Lindsey Stirling on my SMS headphones. The next post could have easily been about the next player I was going to highlight, but those take a lot of thought, consideration, and time to construct. Tonight, it’s good music, some simplistic thoughts, and typical ramblings out of the cranium that is mine.

It is funny what happens throughout a day. Not just mine, but everyone’s. Do you ever notice it? I know we are all wrapped up in our own little world, however, take a deep breath, look left and right, open your ears, and you will be amazed what is happening around you. People are amazing. Actions, gestures, feelings, events, and conversations can be smorgasbords of entertainment, or even better, a slight distraction from your demanding work or day’s trials. Watching people is something I thoroughly enjoy. Studying them, analyzing their thoughts, really diving in to what they are saying, and observing behaviors is just entertaining to me. It is a tad bit weird, maybe a little bit creepy, but there is so much to learn from what I see. Sometimes, I am my own best study. There are some stupid things I do throughout the day. If you can laugh at yourself, it will be okay.

Today, I went out for my little run and it is usually lonely on the sidewalk. The streets, however, are packed with parents taking their kids to the best elementary school in Polk County, adults heading to work, or college students hurriedly trying to get to the college campus. I am sure the health benefits I gain from my jog are just a bit lessened by the toxins of the many beautiful cars and trucks that pass by. While I was pounding out the run today, when I use the word pound it is because I don’t jog like a gazelle, it is more like a circus elephant running around the big top, I really focus on the drivers coming towards me. One reason is because I like cars and I like to see what’s on the road, but the other reason is because I want to make sure I can dive off the road when I notice they aren’t looking at the road, but instead their damn phones. For God sakes, talk to your kids or something. Nonetheless, I jog always looking a bit to the right. Today was no different. Cruising down the sidewalk I noticed a new Jaguar SUV, a sexy looking vehicle, my favorite Toyota pickup, it goes by every day and it is just beautiful, a bad ass new Camaro with a throaty V-8, and many others that were nice but become a blur as the minutes continue to pass.

So, as I am slogging towards half-way, I see this new Tacoma towards me. I am like, “Hey, I know that guy,” so I throw up a wave as he passes. He goes by and I notice there is a kid in the front seat. I think, “I don’t remember him having a kid.” Oh well, I know it was him and he politely waves back. Fast forward a few minutes and he passes by going the opposite direction and it hits me; oops, it wasn’t the guy I know because the stickers that are on his back window aren’t on this particular truck. This happens more often than I like to admit. I wave at a lot of cars. Mostly, it is when they are polite and scoot a few feet over to acknowledge that they see you struggling to continue forward momentum. It is truly astonishing at how many don’t move over at all. The one’s who give a bit get a wave, a nod, or a smile. Who knows if they even see it or care but hey, at least I am trying.

This is just one event during a normal work day. There are so many things I notice throughout the day that tickle me, make me say “Huh”, or just make me wonder what in the hell is going on in that person’s life that made them so pissy. Just sitting here jamming to some different music, scrolling text I keep getting from my dad while he is enjoying a concert at the Ritz, and watching my wife diligently work towards my future while I play writer at my desk, makes me realize how exciting each day is if you really get into instead of letting it pass hour by hour. I am going to end this now as the last post was about 1400 words more and I just don’t have it in me tonight to get that deep. As Chris Stapleton says at the end of “Sometimes I Cry”, he simply says “There you go, thanks for coming out tonight.”

Photo by Zac Sturgeon on Unsplash
Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash