Learn from the Old, Look Forward to the New

The end of the year is approaching and with it, the new year is being forcefully dragged in behind it. At this time many of us examine our lives and look for ways to improve ourselves with a New Years Resolution. I have done this same thing in years past. Each year I would make a new resolution to improve one thing or another about my life and my life choices. This year I think I'm going to try something different. I love old sayings and famous quotes so I'm going to start each day with a wise a/o funny quote. Here are a few of my favorites: Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. Abraham Lincoln It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt. Abraham Lincoln You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. Albert Camus Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. Albert Einstein Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind. Albert Einstein Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one. Bill Gate Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet. Bob Marley Family not only need to consist of merely those whom we share blood, but also for those whom we'd give blood. Charles Dickens A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions. Confucius Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change. Confucius To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it. Confucius Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. Edward Murphy Losing your way on a journey is unfortunate. But, losing your reason for the journey is a fate more cruel. H.G. Wells Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they, therefore, remain bound. James Allen Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. Jim Rohn Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. Mark Twain Let no man pull you low enough to hate him. MLK Most people live and die with their music still unplayed. They never dare to try. Mary Kay Ash Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. Mohandas Gandhi What you're thinking is what you're becoming. Muhammad Ali A man is never as big as when he is on his knees to help a child. Pythagoras Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God. Ronald Reagan Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do. Voltaire No matter where you go, BE THERE! Dad--I'm just saying. I hope to put into practice the wisdom and humor I get from these wise sayings. I will start each day with a quote and look forward to a new day of love, laughter, and learning. I'm Dad-- I'm just saying

Let's Play a Game

One of my fondest memories as a child was playing board games and card games. When the whole family would be together, the adults would sit around the dinner table and play Dominoes. I think one of the first games I can remember playing was Candy Land and Go Fish with cards. My grandmother taught me how to play Concentration where all the cards are laid out in rows, face down and you had to try to find matching cards by turning them over 2 at a time. When I graduated high school and was living on my own, I didn't have a TV for the first 6 months so I played various solitaire card games. Games not only encourage you to think and keep your mind active but they can also teach you something. When I was a child, educational games were few but now, there must be 1000's of educational games for kids of all ages and abilities. Even today my family plays games. Usually, on Sunday, we will sit around the breakfast table and play a board game or card game. We are all very competitive and enjoy the usual banter and trash talk. When my wife and I have our best friends over, we have a meal then play a game of Spades. When I am asked to counsel a family, one of the things I ask the family to do is to set up a game night and stick with it week after week. Games level the playing field in the family. It doesn't matter if you are the father, mother, oldest sibling, youngest sibling, or somewhere in between, your chances of winning the game should be equal. Of course, I know there are games that require a lot of strategy and age and experience may make a difference in how well you play the game. There are plenty of games out there that the win is more on luck and how the dice roles than on strategy and the victory of winning a game of chance are celebrated with the same enthusiasm as a game of strategy. Game time is also a great time to find out what is going on in your child's life. It is easier for a child to talk about how they feel about things and what they think about when they are relaxed and having a good time. I have never had an adult or child come back to me after taking my suggestion of a game night and tell me it was a failure. Some have come back and told me it was so much fun, they have increased their game night to 3 times a week. That is always great to hear, besides wouldn't you rather have your family all interacting with each other than with their phones or video games. I'm Dad, and I'm just saying... Let's play a game.

Let's Eat!

Image by c1ph3ril via Flickr

I like to cook. Correction; I LOVE to cook! I have always enjoyed cooking for my family and friends. Jason is an accomplished musician, James is an athlete and Jared is fantastic on stage. When each of my boys are good at something I hear the applause or cheers from the audience or spectators, it make me sooooooooo proud. When I prepare a meal and I hear people say how much they like it, it is like I am on stage getting an applause or making the winning basket and hearing the crowd go wild. Even if my guest don't say anything about the food but I see them reach for seconds and end up cleaning their plate, I know that they enjoyed the meal.

So, do I cook just for the accolades? Sometimes yes, but it didn't start out that way. When my boys were young cooking for my family was a way for me to be nurturing. Knowing that I was giving them good food to eat that would keep them healthy and help them grow to become ever thing they want to be, was a big motivator. Seeing them clean their plates and ask for more was just icing on the cake. (pun intended) We didn't have a lot of money so we couldn't take extravagant trips to exotic places. We did live in a big house with all the latest in technologies. I never got into football or basket ball. Even though I enjoyed music and playing a few instruments, I was never as accomplished as Jason in this. And even though I did some acting when I was in high school, I was never the performer Jared is. What I was good at was cooking and making meal time a good time. A time where we could sit, talk, laugh, discuss and explore thoughts and ideas. A time where we could unite and feel included. My two youngest boys and their wives still come over on Sundays for a meal and sometimes some games. (My oldest lives in another town about 6 hours away)These are special visits for me and my wife. We cherish these times and look forward to them every week. And of course every time we get together there is food. Sometimes a lot, sometimes just a snack, sometimes exotic, sometimes simple, but always flavorful and seasoned with love. I'm Dad -- and I'm just saying.

Story Time

Image by NJLA: New Jersey Library Association via Flickr

Everybody loves story time unless the story is an embarrassing story about them self. We love to tell stories. It must be something that is deeply rooted inside ourselves because man has been telling stories ever since he could draw a picture on a cave wall. (which, now that I think of it, must be where children get the idea to draw on the wall. LOL) Our family is no exception. Anytime we have a new guest brought to our home, out come the stories. Each one of us have a particular story we like about someone else in the family and each of us have a particularly funny story about ourselves. I think these stories told over and over again help keep the past alive and deepen our connection with each other. Of course not all the memories of the past are jovial, but the sad and disappointing stories seem to fade as time goes on. Usually on Sunday, the family all comes together to eat, play games and laugh at each others stories, wit and short comings. How sad it must be for those who grow up in a family that doesn't share funny stories of their past experiences. I'm Dad -- and I'm just saying.