Building Character – Page 12

The New York City Marathon!

The New York City Marathon–A Race Like No Other!

The headline in the 11.4.13 USA Today newspaper read, “NYC Marathon is 50,000 strong!” Add to that number, friends and family members who come to cheer from the sidelines, and it seems almost incomprehensible! However, I see New York City as being very much like a large family, whose various members invite other friends and acquaintances over for Sunday dinner, and the parents just welcome the extra people with open arms–you know sort of like “the more the merrier”…since after a certain number of people, it just doesn’t seem like that big of a deal! New York City, in it’s usual capable way, hosted people from all over the United States and the world with efficient and congenial care!

You often hear that the New York City Marathon is like no other! After watching my daughter, Mandi, run in the marathon this past Sunday, November 3, 2013, I believe it! Since last years race was cancelled due to super storm Sandy, combined with the very tragic events that took place at the Boston marathon, many runners looked to this year’s New York City Marathon as a chance to heal emotionally!

The energy and vibrancy of New York City was amped up to full throttle as the throngs of marathon runners arrived!

We enjoyed indulging in the pre-marathon meal with Mandi at Lombardi’s, the oldest pizzeria in America! So good! If you ever visit New York City, this is an experience worth having! The ambience of this quaint, little restaurant alone, is classic New York City–such fun!

What do you follow-up the best pizza with–the best cake! If you’ve ever heard of the black and white cookies that are so popular at New York City deli’s–this is the cake version–it is moist, creamy perfection! It’s a good thing you walk and walk and walk some more in New York City!

Come marathon morning, Mandi was bused to the starting point in the wee hours of the morning, even though her start time wasn’t until 10:05. The weather had turned quite cool on Sunday morning, (apparently runners like it a little cool?) so Mandi was glad to wait for her turn in one of the warm tents set up for the runners!

Mandi’s husband, Cole, is always great support to Mandi during her races! A biker at heart, Cole, recently bought himself some new running shoes! (Mandi can be very persuasive!) I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it was to have Cole help guide and maneuver us through the busy streets and barricades as we tracked Mandi’s progress!

The New York Police Department was a strong and firm reminder to everyone that New York City was in good hands!

Local bands played and added a fun addition to the festivities!

Mandi’s dad was a proud spectator–although having run his fair share of marathons, I know he was a bit itchy to join the runners!

Even the birds seemed to be enamored with watching the tireless tenacity of the runners!

Mandi rounded the corner by Central Park at mile 25 looking good and ready for the home stretch!

Mandi’s tired but triumphant look of accomplishment was truly inspiration to me to remember that even when we’re busy just living life–we need to always strive to make time to fulfill a few of our dreams in the process!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE RUNNERS!

Have you got a dream you’re going after?

–Mary

All Kinds Of Kinds! Recognizing Our Superpowers!

It Takes All Kinds Of Kinds!

“Ever since the beginning, to keep the world spinning, it takes all kinds of kinds.”

From lyrics “All Kinds Of Kinds” by Miranda Lambert

My husband and I entered our local airport in the early morning hours one day last May to catch a flight for a combined work/play vacation to Puerto Vallarta. We were just a few of a handful of people in the airport terminal at the time, so we couldn’t help but notice the energetic disposition of an airport employee who greeted the ticket agents with warm regard and polished the metal fronts of their individual ticket counters with meticulous care! I wasn’t sure whether this person was just coming on duty or about to finish up his work shift, I just knew that in the few minutes I observed him, he had made enough of an impact on me that I seemed to feel a little less weary and made a mental note to approach the rest of my day with a more positive outlook–after all, I was going on vacation!

Once settled in our seats on the plane, my husband and I observed a disgruntled passenger in the aisle that an airline attendant appeased with charming finesse! By now, I couldn’t help mentioning to my husband how great some people were at their jobs! Not that I hadn’t noticed before, but with little else to really occupy my time, I was a captive audience! As my husband adjusted a pillow behind his head, he simply stated, “That’s what makes life so great–most of us work hard to find our niche, then we try our best to do really well at it!” Pretty impressive wisdom, considering it was very early and my husband was about to go to sleep!

Since that day, I’ve tried to do better at noticing all the hard work others do–especially when it impacts my life…

I think I’ve mentioned, oh, maybe at least a few dozen times, that we’ve had some yard construction done around our house this summer! The workers who came to re-coat our foundation were some of the hardest working guys I’ve ever seen! It was a hot summer, but the heat never seemed to bother them! It takes amazing skill to apply the cement mix. These men are truly artists at their profession!

On a quick trip to the store to buy more drinks and treats for some of the men working at our house, I was helped with my grocery sacks by a kind, energetic worker gathering carts in the parking lot! I had my two granddaughters with me, and after we’d gotten back in the car, my oldest granddaughter, Makena said “It was sure nice of that guy to help you grandma, and he was so happy!”

I was in awe at the coordination and attention to detail that was required to pour the cement for our new driveway! The contractor worked as hard as the rest of his crew members! A couple of the young workers were his sons–I mean we’re talking really young guys here, and yet the skill set they had obviously learned from their dad on the technique of finishing cement was amazing! You could tell they took real pride in a job well done!

I am reminded of the expert skills of some talented and diligent workers every time I set foot out my front door!

My husband works in the financial planning field and helps others budget and invest their money. He does a lot of retirement 401K work too. He is well versed in the nature of our crazy roller coaster economy and plans his investor’s money accordingly. He is patient and kind as he reassures clients of their financial futures; it seems that many often view him as an extended family member! I also love that my oldest daughter’s husband knew that he wanted to work with numbers when he was about twelve years old. Shane is a math wizard and a great CPA, and seems to know the tax laws like the back of his hand! I work hard for my money, but find that paying the bills and balancing my checkbook is about as far as I want to venture into the financial world, so I am very appreciative for those who know how to help manage it!

Naja is a housekeeper on the women’s unit at the hospital where I work. Naja came from Bosnia and doesn’t speak a lot of English, but always greets you with a smile! Naja goes out of her way to make everything neat and clean. The floors are perfectly polished and the patient beds are beautifully made by Naja–she doesn’t miss a thing! I once asked Naja if it was hard for her to go home and clean her own house after work, but she just laughed shyly and told me that she enjoys making things nice for everyone. The patients especially take note of Naja’s hard work. Naja constantly inspires me to do my job better!

I work with doctors and nurses who are a credit to their profession and are fun to be around and considerate of others, despite the long hours spent at the hospital. As my son-in-law, Cole, works to finish up his last year of medical school, I know he will be a valuable asset to the medical field, and not only because of his keen ability to grasp the ever-expanding knowledge base that is required to be a doctor, but also for his desire to be genuinely kind and caring as well!

Watching my father during his many years in the teaching profession, I know how hard he worked, and I realize that being a teacher is one of the hardest jobs in the world if it is done right! More on this topic coming next week!

Finally, as my husband and I waited for our flight on that morning last May, I saw that most of the other early arriving travelers were military personnel who were leaving for deployment or making a transfer to another base assignment. Words are not sufficient to describe the selfless, courageous work of these brave people!

Recognizing Our Superpowers!

This is a saying on a cup I recently received as a wonderful gift. It made me stop and think what I might be capable of in my life if I worked like I really believed that I did hold some sort of superpowers! In all the various roles we take on each day, how much better would we be at the things we wanted to accomplish if we conducted ourselves as if we actually held magical abilities to help make life better for others?

After being more observant of other’s abilities lately, I’m starting to believe more and more in superpowers!

Since I’m required to wear scrubs at work, I have to at least let my shoes show that I’m willing to go the distance, so to speak! Ha!

Anyone you’ve observed lately with the extraordinary ability to be amazing at what they do, no matter the circumstances?

–Mary

The Future Is Bright!

The Future Is Bright!

The phrase, “The Future Is Bright” was emblazoned in bold letters across a bulletin board in my son’s bedroom while he completed his pre-dental courses in college. I watched Jake’s determination and sometimes sheer grit as he strived to do well in his classes and seemingly endless labs required for his chosen field of study. But just like so many others trying to achieve their goals in life, my son recognized that his success would be determined, in large part, by his ability to take responsibility for his own personal accountability! Most often, doing this requires hard work and putting forth our best efforts in order to help make our futures bright!

Considering the latest tragedy and senseless loss of lives in Washington, DC, as well as the devastation of the Colorado floods, it seems that sometimes, despite our best efforts to be considerate, hard-working human beings, we can’t help but feel somewhat vulnerable to the disparities of mankind and the unpredictability of mother nature! In these situations, hope and trust can most certainly elude our personal convictions!

As a maternity nurse, I’m fortunate to be able to witness, almost on a daily basis, the hopeful, yet protective gazes of loving parents as they welcome their new babies into the world, practically willing, if they could, a perfect future for them! I also see the innocent looks of anticipation in the eyes of my granddaughters, and other sweet children, as they eagerly approach so many new experiences in their young lives that will surely add up to creating the brightest of futures for them!

Assuring A Bright Future!

This classic poem by Shel Silverstein, in the book “Where The Sidewalk Ends” used to be tacked to a bulletin board in our playroom when my three children were younger.

The message is very simplistic, but it also serves to preserve my hope for the future–which is in sore need of a supportive gesture now! It also gives me better faith that there truly are great things ahead for future generations…including those of my children and grandchildren!

My daughter had an early morning meeting at work yesterday, so I had the opportunity to take my oldest granddaughter to kindergarten. What a fun experience to witness the energy and happiness of all the children on the playground!

My granddaughters exchanged hugs before we left to take Makena to school!

The delightful faces of these children lined up for kindergarten on a beautiful morning, reaffirmed in my mind, the need for us to always try and work better together to assure that their futures are bright!

What I’m learning now is…

When my parents moved to the city from our small hometown in the country, so that my father could be closer to the college campus where he taught, one of the things my dad loved most about our new home was that it was across the street from an elementary school–he often said that listening to the children playing at recess was one of the things that kept him so young at heart! What I’m learning now is that in spite of tragedy and things beyond our control, we still need to believe that we can make a difference and work together to maintain the strength and integrity of our core values so that the future of our posterity will be nothing but bright!

The look of anticipation on my sweet granddaughter’s face as she waited for her school to start, truly touched my heart and renewed my firm desire to always try and do the things that would assure a bright future for her and other children!

This is a picture of a picture that my son sent me when he lived in upstate New York. Although the quality isn’t the best, the message is clear and seems all too appropriate for such times as these, while we once again try to buoy ourselves up and remember what’s really most important in looking forward to bright futures!

What inspires you to look to a bright future?

–Mary

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