I know the usual saying is March Madness, but I believe it is May in my world. Report cards, testing, end of year prep, and the dreaded summer work hours preparing for another year when this year is still closing down.
My Dad seems to be on my mind a lot the past few weeks. There have been a lot of reminders. We gave out Dad's first scholarship to a Marquette students last week. I wrote a small speech and made it through the whole thing with only a proud emotion of how excited Dad would have been to see it. It was hard. No lie. I kept talking myself up because I knew I could do it and that it was more meaningful for me to give the award. That is what Dad would have wanted.
I went to leadership day at Andrew School on Tuesday. The whole building still has him there. I could feel Dad's presence the minute I got there. The sense of pride and happiness. His "Androids" as he always called them. Dad's picture is in the hallway and in the trophy case. The secretary showed me the Citizenship Award that will be given out next week. It is beautiful. These people loved and cared for my Dad as much as I did. They probably saw him more and knew him more than I did this past year. As I sat in the gym for the program to start, I noticed the state basketball banner on the wall with my Dad's picture with his team. An overwhelming emotion mess swept over me. Again, there he was. I'm not a crier. I think people who know me very well know I don't cry a lot. I was just plain sad, proud, overwhelmed, happy, and every other emotion as I sat there. That was my Dad's sanctuary and being in that gym I felt close to him, again.
During the Leadership Day assembly, the kids share the 7 Habits of Effective Leaders. It is a great program. One middle school girls started telling a story of AAU basketball. I knew the minute she started, where is was going. I couldn't stop the tears. She told a great story of my Dad and how he helped her team be better people helping them become a team and not kids from two different schools thrown together on a basketball team. I guess it was then I realized something.
That something was how similar my Dad and I really were/are. I believe in all kids. 100% I love working with the youth. I want kids to meet their full potential. So did he. He went above and beyond helping kids. I strive to do the same. He took things personal from kids because he care about them all so much. I do the same. It's hard to be a "duck" sometimes and let it roll off when you have your heart invested in the kids.
I have been pondering this a lot the past few days. My mission in life. Am I meeting full potential? Am I doing all I can? I know life is short. As I read stuff on FB and the news, too many times it lights a fire inside me to really say how I feel about things that are not "right." I have all I could ever want in my life, but every day I see people who miss the boat on what is important. I want to leave a legacy, just like my Dad. If I died tomorrow, what would people say? I was great sometimes? I was there sometimes?
My Dad had flaws, like we all do. I just see how he impacted so many lives and I never realized this until after he passed. Shame on me! I was selfish with my time and I took that for granted. But now, it is the time that I start this ball rolling. So, watch me roll.
First mission: Family first. I keep my family very close. This is the first year that if my kids were sick, I stayed home and didn't even worry about work. I love my job, but my kids will ALWAYS come first no matter what. Mission accomplished.
Second mission: Distance yourself from negative people. I believe that people come in your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. I have a great group of close friends. I have great people in the circle outside of that, as well. If you can't bring something to the table for the good of a relationship, walk away. I will not take it personal. I will walk a mile for anyone who I know is a true friend. I know a lot of people wanted "info" after my Dad passed and then I never heard from them again. But some, have continued to be there when I needed a friend for the cemetery trip or just to vent on an emotional night.
Third mission: Seek to help others first. This year I have had certain people come into my life with their own missions. Currently, our school is working on helping an orphanage in Haiti who lost everything in a fire. I know all these connections came from putting myself out there and coming into contact with great Christian people in our community that have the same beliefs. I love it. I feel called to do it. This is my passion.
Fourth mission: Stand your ground. This is something I should be good at, however, I sometimes am not good at it. Sometimes being "politically correct" gets in the way. Well, I'm not politically correct. I have beliefs and morals. I know right from wrong. I will always respect, but I don't have to agree. I am entitled to my opinion.
Fifth mission: Keep the faith. I'm not a bible beater, but I am a believer in Christ. You get what you get with me. I believe in teaching my kids the same values. That is why I do love my school and believe in what I do every day at work. I use Christ as an example EVERY DAY. That is an amazing feeling. You never know what tomorrow hold, so enjoy the moments.
