Community Through My Eyes--The Family

  The family unit can and should be the bread and butter for all other community existing in our world today. Without healthy families the communities which branch out from them will not flourish. Neighborhoods, schools, churches, other non-profits, other for-profits will all fail if the family community is not running on all cylinders. One might think this is a rather extreme statement but my experience out and about has told me otherwise. Healthy families make the world go round so to speak. They put the spark in our neighborhoods, schools, and other groups and organizations all over the world. Is there a perfectly healthy family out there? My experience out and about would also tell me no. I don't need to look any further than my own. Should that stop us from trying to work as hard as we can to be perfect families? I would hope not. However, if we all just accept the fact that families will never be perfect and quit working on making them better then we will never bring the change our world needs. If for nothing else we need to teach our children how to make a difference. The world they are growing up in is becoming more tolerant of everything meaningless and less life-changing of what connects people together. The families hold a very important key. It's time we all start opening some new doors.

  Almost two years ago (one month shy of our two year anniversary) my family and I decided to move to North Carolina. Most of you reading this already knew that. However you don't know all of our thought process in arriving at this decision. In some ways the idea of family played a huge part in signing off on this new adventure. Yes, we moved away from a lot of our families and great friends to a place where we knew virtually no one. On the surface people might say this is crazy. Well, call me and my family crazy! Our family needed a recalibration. I felt like the five of us needed to become closer on a deeper level. In order for us to open new doors now and in the future there were some things my wife and I had to experience. There were some things our three children needed to experience. We all have done that in different ways. We rely on each other greatly and each one of us has grown in specific areas. We are not perfect however. There is more to do and learn. We have grown together in the last two years through good and bad times. We continue to build up one another and continue in our search for the purposes for now and the future. And the five of us are on the adventure of a lifetime.

  So, what's wrong with our families today? Why is there such a disconnect between the different members of all of our families? For starters we have allowed the world to dictate how, when, why and what we do. We have let society drive our purpose and we have become more like passengers on a train. Let me ask all of us a question: When was the last time you had a sit-down dinner and just talked without iPhones buzzing or the television blaring? Having a sit-down dinner might not be possible because everyone may live in a different place. Those situations are out there no doubt. I am talking about the family who all live under the same roof and don't stop for 15 minutes to just be a family. It is needed greatly and kudos to you if you are amongst those who do. We need to pray together, laugh and have fun together, eat and watch a movie together. In this fast paced world we need to do more of all of those things. Time well spent together will not only create memories within but will catalyze the change needed all around. It's the kind of wholesome change a family can bring to a world desperate for feeling alive.

 There are certainly many more things we could look at in terms of what is wrong with families. However, I want to focus on what can be done when families work together. It is rather easy to sit back and list a myriad of reasons why families are failing. The glass half empty approach has never been my calling card. I see the greatness in families. I see the potential families have to make a difference in this world. I see other kids in my surrounding community who come from broken families. Maybe their mom left or they have not seen their dad for many years. Some are absent even when present. I think those are the kind that hurt the most. In any case families need to take back what's been let go over the years. Spend the time together on a deeper level. Come up with a family mission and vision statement. As I was typing this post I had that exact thought for my own family. It's going to happen. You can count on it my friends.

  Families will make a mark for sure as the years move ahead. Our world won't survive without healthy community at home. Take charge of your family today. Whatever your family situation there is always hope. Hope must bring a call to action however. Action is brought about by a fuel called passion. When we become passionate about anything, we want nothing more than to see it come to fruition. Passions turn things from bad to good. I want to see healthy families and I am going to continue working on my own. These blog posts inspire me to do better. They cause me to look in the mirror and perform a gut check. Am I the best dad and husband/best friend I can be? No, I am not. Has my family arrived as the end-all-be-all of families? No, we have not. We must stay the course and set sail on the waters of change. Our Captain is in control and we are following His lead. Families are forever. We must not flinch. They must be protected. Families must bring needed change. Are you and your family on board? I hope so. We need you. Remember, it's about the dash!

Community Through My Eyes--The Schools

  I know this topic sort of falls under the same category as my last post. Seeing that it is my blog I got to trump the boss' decision and not write about the scheduled, "community as it relates to the family." It is great being able to change things up on the fly. Back to the topic at hand. The schools are in our neighborhoods just as non-profit organizations are (which I wrote about in my last post). Schools are great places with great people young and older. Because of my involvement in the school community I was able to witness something so rich this past week and it blew me away. As the PTA President of my girls' school, Cleveland Elementary, I, along with my fellow Board members and school administration decided to have a very different spring fundraiser. It went against what everyone knew in the past and it brought a lot of excitement and fun to our school. There was a gem in all of this too. It was something I will never forget. You find these often when the motives of the heart are about bringing real goodness and joy to others. I can say for sure this was one of those times.

  Some of you out there may have heard of an organization called Boosterthon. They are an organization of special people full of energy and do a great job of being a presence inside of a school's community for about two weeks. They come up with a new focus or adventure theme every year. This year was Epic Adventure. The word "epic" served as an acronym (encourage, play, invite, celebrate). Each day a team from Boosterthon would be out at car pool, go inside the classrooms, bring coffee in for teachers and staff and really immerse themselves into the school community. Their trips to the classroom are short and sweet and the acronym plays a part in their short lessons. All of this is capped off by a Fun Run designed to raise money for the school. Students get sponsored to run a certain amount of laps around a track distance of one-sixteenth of a mile. One huge plus is each school that does this fundraiser gets to keep fifty-two percent of the profit while the company keeps forty-eight. You don't see that too often. Anyway the fun was about to begin.

  This past Thursday I took the day off from work to be a part of the student Fun Run. Anything having to do with exercise (running in particular), people, community, fun and music gets me every time. It was cool to see each team (teacher and class) be introduced and run out from the mobile tunnel setup. It was the kids' Super Bowl moment. Everyone was being recognized. All of the kids wore the free t-shirt they were given and all students were allowed to run in the Fun Run even if they did not get any pledges. These people are about inclusion rather than exclusion. That kind of thinking is a winner in my book. There were three different Fun Runs that day. Six grades (K-5) ran with two grades going at a time on the two tracks setup. I had a blast running with the kids and mingling with everyone. They had a different song for every lap. I didn't want the day to end. I stopped for a moment and took it all in. It was overwhelming at times but the best news was yet to come.

  Later that night I attended the Johnston County school administration and PTA dinner at a local high school. As I was standing in line getting some food the principal of our school shared some good news. First, one of the parents who had complained about having to have his daughter get pledges showed up to the event and had a blast. His whole attitude did an about-face. He saw the whole program for what it was. He complimented us on a job well done. That was nice to hear. It brought a school community together for a day of fun and excitement. It made everyone owners of a community that could not be shaken. It was ours and we were sharing it together. I wished more people could have been a part of it. It was cool! The next story is what makes these kinds of events all worth it. Every community event has them. Nothing could prepare me for what I was about to hear.

 As I inched closer to where the food was the principal told us an amazing story of a troubled third-grade boy. People have a hard time accepting him and he has trouble relating to others. She said he is viewed as an outcast. I'm sure you hear stories like this yourself in different walks of life. The principal told me this young boy told his teacher "this was the best day of his life." He said, "for the first time ever he felt like he had friends." I stood there speechless. I thought, this was the best day of his life? You mean he never had a birthday party he liked better? Did ever have a birthday party? The day he was born was not a great day in his mind? Apparently not. I didn't know what to say and the words were hard to find. I couldn't believe my ears and felt my eyes begin to well up with tears. As awesome as it was to hear it broke my heart. This is part of why I get involved in my community. Making a difference in a child's life makes it all worth it. I hope this story encourages you to be a participant and not a spectator in your school community. Our schools are filled with great kids. There are gems everywhere. Some are troubled. Some are crying for help. Some just want to belong. It's never too late to jump in. Remember, it's about the dash!

Community Through My Eyes--The Neighborhoods

  One of the thoughts I went away thinking about during my blog break and makeover was how I could come up with topics specifically designed for creating a series of posts. Instead of bouncing around from week to week or post to post with different topics I want to create a series of posts connected to a common theme. The length of each theme will vary and I am very excited about this new format. I have many interests and have a lot to say about a variety of things. I am sure you have already figured that out. In any case I went away and thought about the different topics I have great love for and some I feel challenged by. I came back with one I love dearly. It is something I am extremely passionate about. It is a word that gets thrown around in different circles (sometimes, ad nauseum) and so many of us are desperately seeking it. The word is community and it means the world to me. For the next few posts I am going to lay out for you my thoughts on community as it relates to family, work, friends and neighborhoods (although not in that order). Who is your community? Better yet, what is your community? Here is my take as it relates to the neighborhood.

  This past weekend I was a part of something fantastic. I saw community in the neighborhoods come together in a way that brought chills to my body. One of the organizations I have been a part of ever since we moved to North Carolina back in 2010 is the Greater Cleveland Athletic Association. It is where my kids play their sports and I coach. Over the weekend we held, "Opening Day Ceremonies" for the baseball program and it was a blast. I saw people from all different neighborhoods in the Cleveland area come together for a common purpose. All of us were sharing in the moment of kicking off the baseball season and it was awesome. It was a spectacular sunny and warm day here in our neck of the woods. There were bouncy slides, music, team mascots, food and a whole bunch of people hanging out together. I'd say there were about seven or eight hundred people in attendance. This was community with a cause. We all shared a common theme and were excited to be there. It was not contrived or manufactured but simply was. That is my kind of community. No artificial flavoring but simply natural. And it left a taste in my mouth for more.

  Each team and coach were announced and lined up on the main ballfield. Through all of the divisions there were about 20 teams. There were about 385 kids in all. That was double the amount of kids playing baseball from a year ago. I lined up at home plate with my team and then two things happened that I did not expect. First, we all paused while someone prayed and thanked God for all we had around us. It moved and spurred me. I had not been a part of a secular organization that had done something like this en masse. It was very cool. Second, we played the national anthem. The playing of the anthem was not surprising because it is common around sporting events. The thing that caught my eye was the two gentleman sitting in the bleachers on the soccer field out past the centerfield wall who turned around and saluted the flag while the anthem played. They showed an allegiance to community as all of us did as we stood there saluting our country's colors. It was a "you had to be there" moment and I was glad I was. It made me proud to be alive and left me wanting to create more of these times. Our neighborhoods were creating community and it was a perfect ten.

   Community in our neighborhoods can be a variety of things. We have done cookouts with a bunch of families around our home. Maybe you have too. It could be a gathering as I described above. Community outside our doors brings people together. It's what we need to see more of. We are all too busy. I know I get caught up sometimes. If we want to bring change to anything it has to start in our neighborhoods. No disrespect to our elected officials but this is where change begins. This is where it all happens. It starts in Your Town and Mine, USA and you and I can and should be a part of it. It is where the single mom who works herself to death to pay her bills gets her lawn mowed or driveway shoveled by her neighbors. It is where we make meals for someone's family when a life change has occurred. It is where we meet and discuss ways to make our world better. It is where we take care of our neighbor whose husband or wife is off defending our country somewhere around the world. It is where groups of men, women and children band together to support, encourage and teach. It is where I believe the greatest changes of our world will happen.

   The single most impactful thing a neighborhood offers is caring for others in a grassroots kind of way. We bog ourselves down too much with structure and "well, this is the way we always do it" kind of thinking. We need to stop trying to manufacture it. No one wants community that way. You can't force it. It kills me to see that. People want real. Your neighbors want community just as much as you do but something holds us back. Break down the walls. Fences don't make great neighbors. I don't think the person who coined the phrase knew the truth. The great thing about community in the neighborhood is you don't really have to plan it. You just live your life and look for opportunities to participate. It's what I try to do. Sure, not all of us have that social bug in us. You don't have to. Live your life and put others above yourself. It is simple but yet so hard. Community in the neighborhood is a powerful tool. It can encourage and bring hope. People are desperate for both. Don't sell yourself short or others around you. Get out there and be great. Remember, it's about the dash!

The Great Kind of Makeover

 Sometimes in life we need to make adjustments. We need to take inventory of ourselves and make some changes. One of the best things you could ever do for yourself is perform a gut check. I'm not talking about a day or two or a five minute gut check. I am talking about going deep with yourself and involving others who will speak truth to you. Most of us don't do it enough because we are afraid of what we might find. Trust me I have been there. I demand better of myself. For the last few years I have been able to look deep. It has been a wild ride. My creative fire needed to be stoked. That's just what came on the other side of the figurative operating table.

 We sometimes create new things in conjunction with our passions. This blog represents a deep passion for me. It was created because I love to write, speak publicly and motivate others. I found I could do all three through the blog. I wanted to have an outlet to write about what I believe. It has served me well thus far and I hope you have enjoyed reading my posts. I hope you might take some time to communicate your thoughts on the blog. I value your feedback and hope you have found it to be an encouragement to you as you live your dash.

 For a little while I have felt my blog needs some re-tooling. It is not out of boredom but rather trying to re-design the blog to get across a more sincere, concise and inspiring message. My overall message is a simple one. Our lives are short and we are only on this earth for a short time. Each of us will eventually pass away and we will leave behind a legacy. Our tombstone will have the year we were born followed by a dash followed by the year we passed away. The dash represents our lives. What did we do with that dash? That's really my message. Each of us has a purpose to live for in this life. Each one of us has been given certain gifts and talents. My hope is that we all use them to the fullest so we can impact people and bring change to a world that REALLY needs it.

  For the next little while I am going to spend some time re-working the blog. This will be a short period as I search and re-work the details and design. Recently I met with a young man who loves to write. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his words. He has a message he wants to communicate and it's one that is positive and impactful. After I left my meeting with him I felt this desire to re-work the blog. I challenged him to take what he was doing to another level. I guess I am walking the walk and not just giving others advice on what they should do. I guess that's living with the dash in mind. People want realness. It is sorely lacking in our world. There is a lot that needs changing in our world--much more than some nobody's blog.

 It is my hope to return with a new and improved blog. One that may look at a series of things or topics and focus on them for a while. I want to be more consistent and tight with my message. I don't want to go through life and think everything is going great. In order to grow personally you need to look at all areas of your life and make adjustments. We may never achieve a fullness in any area but quitting or not trying to be better is the easy way out. We can't be about taking the easy road. It doesn't do what we need. It only breeds mediocrity and doesn't allow you to be the person you were destined. The blog has been and will continue to be a great outlet for me. If nothing else it lets me use my writing passion to hopefully deliver a message of inspiration to others. So, I am signing off for now but will be back soon. Remember, it's about the dash!

A Time to Say Goodbye

  One of the things I have done many times throughout my life is say goodbye. I left home for a college in Virginia and said goodbye to family and friends. I moved from Virginia to Maine to be with my then, soon to be wife, and said goodbye to friends who are like family. Our family moved from Maine to North Carolina recently and we said goodbye to family, friends and people that poured into our lives unconditionally. Needless to say saying goodbye has become a regular reality in my life. I don't like goodbyes even though I have become a pro at offering them up. I prefer, "see you on the trail." Recently I had to say goodbye or see you on the trail to a very special lady. This was a different kind of goodbye and I knew this day would come. My grandma Rose passed away February 21 and this was my first experience with death regarding someone close. She was 96 and it was her time. Death is one of those permanent goodbyes. Well, at least it is permanent for this life on earth. Death is tragic and sad. Even when you know the end is nearing you still feel death's sting. I said my goodbyes but I hang onto the memories. Not even death can take those from me.

 This was not an easy goodbye for lots of reasons. Grandma Rose and I were close. I always looked forward to seeing her on my many trips back to New York. She made a killer sausage bread, pizza and any other Italian cuisine. I love to eat and she loved to cook. Between my mother and grandmother I knew I would never go hungry. She poured herself into her grandchildren. All of us at some point were impacted by the passion she had for life. We affectionately called her Rosie. There was always a respect for her even when we called her that. Grandma Rose was a fighter. She had a will to live and overcame death's call many times. I thought she would live to be one hundred.  Even as she was dying she taught us all something. It was the spirit of never giving up. She lived a full life and gave everything to the ones she loved. I know she is in a better place free from pain and suffering. Thank God for that. I still miss her though. She was THEE grandmother of all grandmothers!

 I wrote earlier that death is tragic and I believe it is. Whether a person's death is expected or sudden it still is tragic. We miss those we love when they are gone. Their death brings to mind our own mortality and perhaps that of others we love. It gives us time to pause. I know I have done a lot of thinking over the last week or so. I don't think we ever get over death but rather we get better at living with the loss of loved ones. Death sometimes call us to action. Perhaps we make changes or turn over a new leaf. Maybe we slow down or speed up. In any case death affects those that are left behind. Sometimes there is time to prepare for it and other times there is not. The one thing that remains true is that all of us living today will one day pass away. None of us are exempt from death. It is a reality we all must face. I am not one to focus on death even when it appears to be happening all around me. Lately it has. My grandmother lived with a purpose and I intend on doing the same. Her legacy will live on.

 We have all had to say goodbye to the people we love. This is a practice all of us will continue to encounter as we live our lives. The difference between death and a geographical move is that in death people are no longer living somewhere on earth. At least with geographical moves we are still afforded the time to reach out to the ones we love. If you have someone in your life you have not talked to in a long time (for whatever reason) I encourage you to reach out to them. Soon enough they will not be here anymore. No one wants to live with regrets. They will jab at you every day and possibly turn your world upside down. Whether it is a family member, friend, neighbor or co-worker don't let time pass without reaching out your hand. Death will take that chance away from you. Don't let it win. Death's sting is painful enough. When we live with the dash in mind we hold ourselves to a higher standard. All relationships are hard no matter the level. We have to work diligently at them. Rise above all of that. Remember, it's about the dash!

 

The Tension of Talent Versus Trouble

 The death of Whitney Houston is sad. She had a remarkable smile and a voice unlike any I have ever heard in my 40 years' existence.  I remember hearing her songs on the radio as a kid growing up in the 1980's. All of her hits are still wildly popular today. She was special and died before her time. She sang the best rendition of the Star Spangled Banner I have ever heard. It will be hard for anyone to ever top it. I look at her death and mourn for her daughter. She lost her mom and that breaks my heart. I am not sure how I could even process that if I am her. It's easy to say Whitney was headed in this direction because she did drugs. I am not totally convinced. People everywhere have overcome addictions. Her life was not meaningless because of how it ended. None of us still living can look in the mirror and see a perfect reflection. Each one of us has messed up. We all still do. There is a tension that exists in our world between our gifts and talents and the inner desires to consume trouble. Both offer us something. The tension is fierce. We live in a fallen world where evil exists. I fall on the side of grace in most situations. It's easy to pile on. She was not perfect and neither are we.

  There have been countless celebrities who have gone the same way Whitney Houston did. Sometimes people cannot handle the fame and fortune. Not long ago I read Josh Hamilton's book about his own struggles with addiction. He recently had a setback in his own sobriety. Our hope should be that he does not have another one. We should be in his and everyone else's corner who are dealing with something similar. The fact that the person involved is a famous baseball player, celebrity, family member, neighbor, co-worker is irrelevant. We should be for people and be all-inclusive. We should want to help encourage others and offer any support we can. The world is full of stories of people whose lives have been cut short due to tragedy. Everyone will fall down. Everyone will mess up. Yes, there are consequences and no doubt people have to live with the choices they make. Whatever your shortcoming is, all of us live with the tension of our talents and the troubles that threaten their prosperity. We can help each other. Maybe use our talent to invest in helping someone else dispose of their demons.

  Each one of us have been given talents. We are all born into a world that needs what we have. We are all special people and each of us has a purpose to pursue. Whitney Houston's purpose was not to show people how to flush your gifts down the proverbial toilet. Anyone who dies tragically had more to give. None of us truly want to turn our lives upside down. Have you ever ended up somewhere and wondered how you got there? I know I sure have. I am sure she wondered that countless times. We always have a choice. I get that. We don't always make the "right" one though. Each one of us could use a little grace. People line up to take their shots. Now, I am not suggesting all of us run out there and live our lives foolishly and use the evil world excuse hoping people will give us a pass. I am simply stating that we all live in a world where the enticements of the dark reel us in and our lives take a detour. It has happened to me and probably to you too. All of us are weak. It's not an excuse but a fact. Those outside of the situation tend to focus on the failure and not the person. We have to see the pendulum swing the other way. It's time for that to change.

  The tension of our talents and the trouble that threatens them is real. We should understand that tidbit if we comprehend anything at all. There is good and evil in the world. The story as to why goes way back. Our lives are not easy and we can be enticed by the lures of what seems to be harmless. No matter what you may be prosperous in there is always something you lack. We all have to make choices every day of our lives. Drugs are bad but so is shaming people. Greed is wrong but so is excluding others. Anger is dangerous but so is belittling others. Any poison hurts. Does it matter which it is? Recently I watched my favorite inspirational movie, Dreamer. It is the story of one girl's belief that the people around her had talents greater than they imagined. If we are to live with the dash in mind we must choose to walk with people rather than giving them a "pep talk" on how to walk better. Getting in the trenches with others is action with purpose. I feel sad for the talent that was lost in Whitney Houston's death. She died too soon and that is sad. Reach out to others and extend your hand. It all starts there. Help cut the tension in half. Remember, it's about the dash.

I Will Take the Sweet Please

 Sour Patch Kids are by far my favorite movie candy in the whole world. I could eat several during any movie. One box is no match for this movie guru. It is one of those guilty pleasures I have to have while watching a flick. Of course, I always have my popcorn but there is always enough room for some Sour Patch Kids. The claim of this candy is that it is sweet and then sour. So, when you put one of these sugar coated morsels in your mouth, you taste sweet and then your pucker face emerges and here comes the sour. It is such a welcome taste for me. This past week I had a taste of sweet and sour in my mouth but it was not the candy kind. The figurative tastes of sweet and sour in my mouth were a result of my reaction to the reaction of one man's blunder. I think there are people in our world who lack a filter. Just because you think it doesn't mean you need to say it (or post it on Twitter). A little seven-year boy would give all of us a lesson on what it means to love others even when they mess up. It's heartwarming considering the obscene that preceded it. Deplorable posts have become an epidemic. People need to grow up.

  Last weekend we (as in fans of the NFL) were treated to two magnificent conference championship games. I actually picked the two eventual winners. In both games there were players who didn't come through when their teams needed them. They failed to execute when the game was on the line. As a result, their respective teams lost and will be watching next week's Super Bowl from their favorite establishment or living room. Heartbreaking it was. You have to feel for these guys. However, their teammates picked them up and didn't throw them to the wolves. Baltimore had two guys fail at clutch time. Wide receiver Lee Evans dropped what would have been the game winning touchdown and their kicker Billy Cundiff missed an easy 31-yard field goal which would have tied the game and sent it into overtime. There was outrage in Baltimore-land. However, the reaction would pale in comparison to what happened after the NFC championship game later that day.

  Kyle Williams, son of the current general manager of major league baseball's Chicago White Sox, Ken Williams, was playing in his second year with the San Francisco 49ers. He was born in San Jose, CA and graduated from Arizona State. The wide receiver had the assignment of returning punts against the visiting New York Giants last Sunday evening. Normally, Ted Ginn, Jr. would be returning kicks but he was out for the game and Williams was thrust into this role. It would not go very well for the young man. He would mess up on two punt returns including the costly fumble in overtime that setup Lawrence Tynes' winning field goal for New York. You could imagine how the kid must have felt. He didn't mean to fumble the ball. He didn't mean to cost his team the game. It just happens. All of us mess up. Hopefully people would be more understanding and offer some grace. Get ready for the sour.

  I have my favorite teams in sports. I love competition. Winning and losing go hand in hand when it comes to sports. There is always a winner and a loser. It is just the nature of the beast. However, as a fan I realize something very important as I am sure you do too. It's just a game. So, Williams had two costly fumbles and the 49ers lost to the Giants. After the dust settled a storm arrived on Twitter. Here is what a gutless person under the account of Javier Pasquel wrote to Williams (grammar mistakes included): "I hope you, youre wife, kids and family die, you deserve it." I was speechless. I could not believe that anyone in their right mind could actually wish death to a person and his family over a football game. Apparently, this person was not. At least, I hope not. Seriously, no one 'deserves' to die because they fumbled a football. People need to have some perspective on life. He left everything he had on the football field trying to make plays. I tip my cap to the man. He gets my bulldog award.

  Enter the sweet. Sometimes it is the innocent of all innocent that leads the way. These innocent children have not been overtaken by the cynicism that exists in our world. They don't think everything or everyone sucks. They don't wish ill on others even when they mess up. There is still hope I say. The sweet in all of this came in the form of Owen Shure of Los Angeles, CA. He wrote a letter to Williams after having a conversation with his dad following the 49ers' loss. Here is the letter (with innocent spelling and grammar errors included):

 Dear Mr. Williams,

 We just watched the Playoff game. I feel really bad for you but I wanted to tell you that you had a great season. you sould be so very proud, so I wanted to thank you.
I am your #1 FAN!

Owen Shure
Los Angeles, CA

p.s. your awsome


A seven-year old boy taught us all a lesson. It is heartfelt and pure. It makes what was so ugly and vile have a happy ending. Life won't always turn out happy. However, it should never stop us from loving people no matter how bad they screw up especially with something so trivial as a football game. Owen is the man! For him, it's about the dash! Let it be for us as well.