MOM KNEW BEST (AND STILL DOES)
We have so much in common. We’re short. We love desserts. We’re a bit stubborn and, at times, overly sensitive. But most of all, we love people, which may be the best trait Mom gave me. I appreciate that everyone has a story, as did she. My Mom taught me the art of understanding others and the fact that not everyone expresses themselves the same, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care. People love differently. Mom taught me that. She was a friend to everyone and did so much for people that I’m still hearing about her thoughtfulness, almost an amazing 15 years after her passing. Mom loved being a teacher and a child advocate. Still, she could have been anything—a senator, a top-shelf counselor, or a public defender—because she had the unique ability to converse with anyone. It’s amazing that at an early age, I noticed that no matter what my problem was, she had a comforting way of communicating an answer that made sense and put me back on track. She would deliver these messages without pause. That was her skill, the art of knowing what to say and when to say it. She gave me and everyone around her a unique confidence that after talking with her, you would be ok. Mom knew best. Recently, I attended my first college graduation as a faculty member. Honestly, I didn’t want to leave. It was great seeing so many students I had worked with, and it was fun meeting their parents and those closest to them. Mom gave me that—the love of people and the joy of developing relationships. Her impact was felt by so many and is still alive and well today. I should have listened better because she was and remains quite the fortune teller. Mom’s crystal ball is almost always on the money regarding my future. How about these beauties…… She would say, “One day, when you get older, you will have to watch what you eat.” I would laugh at her. Of course…Mom was right. When I graduated from college and knew I wanted to be a sportscaster, she repeatedly told me, “Why don’t you get your Master’s degree? It will give you more options.” I respectfully told her I wanted to be a sportscaster and would never use a Master’s?! Oh, how I was wrong; going back to school at age 50 to get my Master’s has allowed me to teach and has changed my life. Mom was right. When I was early in my sportscasting career, Mom told me, “Why don’t you just “sell” your stories?” That was a good one, Mom—nobody would ever buy my stories if I weren’t working for a select local TV station. In the past 15 years, the heart of my income has been selling my stories to various networks and professional organizations. Remarkably, Mom was a soothsayer in so many ways. Growing up, I wasn’t a great athlete or student. Honestly, I wondered what the hell I was good at. Mom never wavered in her confidence in me, always encouraging me to try new things and have the confidence to fail and then learn from it. She personified the old cliche—she believed in me more than I believed in myself—which is such a great lesson for all of us parents and mentors of the next generation. Most are just finding their way—frankly, scared about what is to come. They fear which career to take, as it seems hard to fathom that you could get paid to do something you love. I was lucky to have a Mom who fostered that belief in me. She didn’t just believe in me. She motivated me to be better. She pushed the boundaries to take chances and see what was out there in this crazy world. My Mom and I had our differences when it came to competition. While I hate to lose, Mom was the least competitive person in the world. She was so sensitive. She didn’t like seeing anyone lose. It was a reason she never enjoyed board games??! But there was one exception when it came to competition: her children and grandchildren. My Dad tells me the funny story of my first athletic endeavor, a swim meet when I was around 7 or 8. The event was merely a 25-yard freestyle race. It was probably the first time in Mom’s life she rooted for anyone in any athletic competition! My Dad tells the story that when we all left the starting blocks, Mom didn’t just yell my name; she was walking alongside the pool and seemingly swimming with me, walking while yelling my name repeatedly until I finished. It’s ironic —because the support never stopped after that. Mom was always in my corner no matter how low I was or how futile life looked from my teenage years to when she passed in my mid-forties. Mom was the strongest support unit a son could ask for—-she always passed on this unwavering confidence. It’s still with me today. She taught me it’s ok to put yourself out there—-she led by example…. Fearless! She taught me to stand up for myself. I’ll always appreciate how she didn’t seek confrontation but wouldn’t shy away if it was something she believed in. She routinely went the extra mile for her friends and family. I remember when we were looking for colleges before my senior year in high school, we drove from Titusville, Florida, to Las Vegas and then back across the country to Washington, D.C., and then back home. We never stopped discussing family, life, the future, and what it may hold. Those great conversations, I miss them dearly. She was a great mom, making my home the home for so many of my friends growing up. Amazingly, she never really got upset when I had parties when she and my Dad were out of town. (it’s true.) Her faith in me will never leave. She was a respected teacher, an innovator
FINDING YOUR “MINE”, BEST NFL STADIUMS, GREAT “HAPPINESS” READ, & DEFENDING DAN CAMPBELL
Ironically, an “old” adage from author/playwright George Bernard Shaw famously declared that “youth is wasted on the young.” Cute…..but I respectfully disagree. While I get Shaw’s motivation, I find it hypocritical. We all made mistakes when we were young, but it helped define us in our later years. I loved my youth but am happier now, having experienced decades of the ups and downs of life. I enjoyed being 25 but am better at 55. My late father disliked this saying: I will continue the family tradition. I’ve frankly learned a lot from those younger than me. My students constantly are teaching me lessons in a variety of ways. Some of the best innovators are those younger than us who always inspire me. I respect the chances they take and the goals they achieve at such a young age. And then you have my daughters- two different ladies who have taught me plenty. They are honest in their assessment of my clothes, my snoring, and my work. They have had a great impact on my life from the beginning….. Both are in college now and recently, I asked my youngest why she was so happy at the University of Alabama. Her reply was, “It’s mine.” Meaning that it’s her identity, one she’s proud of, and she’s made her own. Boy, that was refreshing to hear and educational as well. Alabama is her new identity. A place where my baby girl has discovered newfound independence, brand new friends, and limitless opportunities. She’s soaking it all in and loving every minute. A new lease on life has improved her, giving her confidence and a prideful purpose. What a valuable lesson for us all. It made me think in this New Year with plenty of resolutions how, at any age, we should make something in our lives “mine.” We should all find something that drives us, gives us a new start, or a new motivation that is all “mine” or, in this context, all “yours.” It could be starting a new business, chasing that goal you’ve been putting off for years, whatever it is—find your “mine.” It’s liberating to create new happiness at any age, and my daughter’s response was the smartest reply I’ve heard in some time. Her response was heartfelt as she said it without hesitation, immediately and sincerely. It made me happy for her and secure that she is perfectly adjusting to her new life —something we should all strive for. This fall was the first time I hadn’t covered football as a sportscaster in almost two decades. I love my newfound profession as a college professor but wasn’t sure how much I would miss a career I had wanted since elementary school. The answer is I didn’t miss it at all. I have found my new “mine,” a job that has made me more fulfilled than I could have imagined. I am eager to improve and help my students realize they can find happiness in their respective careers if they put the work in at this point. I’m excited about new projects I’m working on, the possibilities seem endless. So sorry Mr Shaw, I respectfully disagree, youth isn’t wasted on the the young. When this author made this infamous statement, he would later throw gasoline on the fire by adding to his perspective on our youth: “They’re brainless and don’t know what they have; they squander every opportunity of being young, on being young.” It’s such a general, reckless statement, nonsense, and blanket generality that’s so untrue on many levels. I remember watching my daughters at home when they were around 6 and 3. I was in the middle of a hectic work project and asked them repeatedly if they could be quiet so Daddy could work. They didn’t listen, and the asking turned into yelling. It got to a point where I told them both, “I’m tired of yelling,” My then three-year-old looked at me and replied, “Then why don’t you stop.” Common sense, right? I had to turn the other way so she wouldn’t see me laughing. Youth isn’t wasted on the young. So far this year, my youngest has inspired me to keep searching for my next “mine.” Hopefully, this inspires you, too. Here’s hoping your “mine” adds meaning to your life in the New Year. A lesson not wasted on the young or the old. Finding your “mine” is the first stop in another trip around the Naborhood. As always, thanks for stopping by. BEST NFL STADIUMS: It’s funny how getting older changes your perspective. I used to love going to games, but frankly, these days, I enjoy watching it all from home. There are some exceptions, though. I like experiencing new stadiums. I’ve been to over half of the Major League ballparks and look forward to finishing that list, but I just completed my NFL tour. Entering this season, I had been to every NFL stadium except the relatively new SoFi stadium, home of the Rams and Chargers in Los Angeles. It was built in 2020. With all the others in my rearview mirror, I finally crossed this one off by taking in a game back in the fall. My expectations were high, and it didn’t disappoint. It has a new-era design and feel, but what stood out was the not-so-surprising LA feel. They flashed celebrities on the JumboTron during every commercial time out and, at halftime, boasted a mini Busta Rhymes concert, but overall, in my eyes, it wasn’t the nicest stadium in the league. It barely made the top five. So, while I await my pending MLB tour in the coming years to finish off that list, here are NFL rankings of the top five stadiums in the league: (5) LOS ANGELES/SoFi Stadium: A beautiful stadium which boasts a unique location—adjacent to the NFL Network studios and a quick 20 minute Uber drive to the LAX airport, in fact SoFi is directly in the LAX flight path. To keep the structure’s
CRAZY COLLEGE FOOTBALL, FANATICS ARE EVERYWHERE, ALBERT BROOKS DOC & CHICK FIL A
My opinion hasn’t changed for decades…… I love college football, I hate college football. I love its beginning and its action throughout, but I routinely hate its ending. Does what happened this year surprise me? Absolutely not — the sport’s playoff system is set up to fail where, frankly, this postseason plan should have caused chaos for years but was routinely bailed out until this year when everything blew up. Can you name another sport that has this type of postseason? There isn’t one. Can you name another sport where you go undefeated, win your conference title, and you have no chance to play for it all? There isn’t one. Can you name another sport where you win 29 of 30 games yet are shut out of the playoffs? Again….college football is in a class all by its lonesome—-it’s insane, archaic, and thank god the Madness is almost over. March has the right madness. College football has been maddening for years, and it drove us all mad. How fitting the long-awaited 12-team playoff arrives next year but before then, this college football playoff exposes all of its flaws before escaping to the promised land. College football history is riddled with the idiocy of the split polls, then the BCS, and then we graduated to the four-playoff system (it was never enough). How are we in 2023 and still allowing this to happen? What happened this year was bad, yet we’ve been victims of a bad system seemingly forever. The ironic part is I think Florida State would have a better chance of beating the top seed (Michigan) than the team they will meet in the bowl game (Georgia)?! Chaos abounds! This shouldn’t surprise anyone—-history, as always, is a great teacher— look at the history of those Noles who have been on both sides of the insanity. Take you back to 1993, when FSU won a National Title after losing to Notre Dame late in the season. The Irish lost to Boston College afterward, where the Noles leapfrogged an unbeaten team in West Virginia! Was that fair? A few weeks later, FSU beats Nebraska, and Florida hammers West Virginia —-Notre Dame had a case to play the Huskers as they won head-to-head against the Noles—-should have had a 12-team playoff then to sort it all out. Just nuts! FSU won another title in 1999, their first perfect season—hard to argue there, but Marshall (with future NFL stars Randy Moss and Chad Pennington) was also unbeaten—don’t you think that team would have been fun to watch in a 12-team playoff? Like many years, we never got the chance to see it unfold….. Fast forward to 2004, Auburn is undefeated but is shut out of the nonsensical “BCS” (take the C out) system we lived through for years—the Tigers watched USC and Oklahoma play for it all. Consistently dysfunctional. Along the way, we’ve had undefeated Boise State and even UCF, who claimed to be national champs on the outside looking in—we have deserved better for a long time. College football has been a mess for years. It’s fitting it all blows up before they finally get it right. In an era where we can Zoom, Facetime, and create cutting-edge AI technology, why is college football still creating a playoff akin to the telegraph and the covered wagons? It is inexcusable this system is substandard to every other sport (even their own in the lower divisions that have had a postseason for years)? I feel for FSU quarterback Jordan Travis and my FSU friends, who likely wouldn’t have won it all but should have had a chance to see….? College football, you’ve been a wreck for years. We have missed out on so many priceless postseason moments a 12-team playoff would have delivered over decades of meaningless bowl games—finally, the insanity will end this year–2024 can’t be here soon enough. College football craziness, the first stop in another run around the Naborhood. As always, thanks for stopping by. ALL FANS HAVE THEIR “CRAZY: Speaking of college football, I can’t remember the last time I wore a T-shirt and hat of a team I was rooting for to a game (probably when I was in college at the University of Florida). It’s crazy that it was over 30 years ago. I always get a kick out of fans who say well, the Gators have the worst fans, or Bama has the worst fans, or have you been to Baton Rouge? Those LSU fans are the worst. You wanna know the truth? All fan bases “have their crazy”! I take you to the recent SEC Championship, along with my sister decked out in Bama gear to support my daughter, a freshman, and found our seats–smack dab in the middle of what felt like the Georgia Bulldogs fan club. I hadn’t felt that way in years, and it was fun at first—walking down the row, getting looks and a few light-hearted jabs. Then the Dawgs score first?! Then the crazy ensued….. A young fan in front of me (probably in college) starts flicking us off (I started laughing yet thinking, are you serious?!) For the next hour, for every penalty against Georgia, we heard, “can’t play 11 vs 18 all day. Those officials are taking over the game.” On and on and on clearly have spent too many afternoons in front of my TV or in a quiet press box where they require “no cheering.” I forgot how crazy some fans can get. But here is the thing—I saw the Georgia Bulldog crazy, I’m not naive—every fan base has the “us against the world, I drank too much in pregame, so I’m gonna flick off the opposition early” fans. There is Gator crazy, Bama crazy, Oregon St crazy…..and so on. The funny thing—-that little wipper snapper was pretty quiet in the second half—he left before I got to say goodbye?! ALBERT BROOKS DOCUMENTARY: There are so many moments I feel my late parents’ spirit—recently,
NO FINISH LINES, JIMMY BUFFETT’S BEST, PRIME TIME & BOB BARKER
Sometimes you know it’s coming, but no matter how much you prepare, it doesn’t matter…you’re going to be an emotional mess anyway. I had one of those emotionally messy moments recently, one I wasn’t looking forward to and one that was every bit as hard as I thought it would be. I can’t remember feeling that sad— save when I lost my parents. Dropping my baby girl off at college left me proud of how far she’s come, happy for all the great times ahead for her, but selfishly very sad that she’s on her own now and frankly will never need me as much anymore. Or will she? In the days leading up to the sad goodbye, we fixed up her room, which had us running several errands. I frankly loved every minute knowing the “perceived” end was coming. She was excited about her pending freedom, and her Dad was counting down the hours like we were breaking in a New Year. The last errand had us loading a variety of items into the cart. A brand new garage can. Some storage bends for her clothes, and a few small odds and ends for her first home away from my home?! At the end of our tour of Home Goods, I received a friendly, sarcastic, yet revealing reminder from an unexpected source. As I picked up a rug and placed it in the cart, I saw a family looking at me like they had been there before. I looked at the father smiled and said “We finally made it to the finish line.” He quickly responded, “There isn’t a finish line.” At the time I thought he was funny but later that day and now weeks later, I realized what a smart statement it was. You see our kids may go off to college, graduate, get married, and have their own kids but in “some” way they will always need us. There is no finish line—it’s comforting, kept me going when I cried driving to the airport, but have tucked the statement in my back pocket since. My baby girl may not need me as she did when I videotaped every step of her getting out of the car and walking into her first preschool class. She doesn’t need me in the same manner as when I read to her class in elementary school, and I’ll forever miss the days when I looked forward to eating lunch with her friends in middle school. But my buddy in Home Goods was right. As parents, there is no finish line. One day, she will meet the man of her dreams, become a great mother, and find a career that stimulates the wonderful mind she possesses. But the finish line will still not be in reach. I appreciate the sage stranger as I loaded the last item of our Bama moving day—-I look forward to the opportunities I have to help in the coming year’s event, though there won’t be as many. But (I’ll be ready) When you’re a Dad, your girls will always need you. They both know I’m always a phone call (or a Cash App deposit away). My life will never be the same after this drop-off but I look forward to the next step in our relationship knowing she will always need me in some way….the race is long, but it’s never over. No finish lines the first stop in another lap around the Naborhood as always thanks for stopping by. JIMMY BUFFETT’S BEST: Some people in life are universally loved, and for my money, Jimmy Buffett was one of them. My late parents loved him, my generation adored him, and many of my young students also have an appreciation for such a unique talent. Country music fans, rock and roll fans, all genres, and all ages loved the king of the Parrotheads. Buffett admitted that he only got into music to meet girls in college. Safe to say he overachieved?! He built his empire by constantly expanding his brands from music to books to restaurants. He was the ultimate entrepreneur and entertainer. So many love Buffett, but the proof of his greatness lies in the depths of his music. I bet if you asked five hard-core Parrotheads their top five Buffett songs, you would get five completely different lists. Sure, everyone loves the iconic Margaritaville and Cheeseburger in Paradise but his hits are seemingly endless, and he has so many that some great ones are lost in the shuffle. So with that, let me do the impossible and give you my top five Buffett songs (I would love to hear yours): (5) Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes: Old school Buffett, where this song features possibly his best line, “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.” So true! (4) Lucky Stars: this one is sentimental to me as years ago, I was going through a crazy time at work, hoping to land a new job and stressed out. My Dad played it for me. It’s all about gratitude—- be thankful for what you have in life–I firmly endorse you hear this underrated song. (3) Grapefruit-Juicy Fruit: It’s hard to believe this was released all the way back in 1973. Like so many Buffett songs, it has staying power and takes you away from everyday life. This song does it better than most. (2) License to Chill: The title track on one of my favorite Buffett albums. It was his 25th, and I highly recommend it–so many duets with great artists in many genres. This song was a collaboration with Kenny Chesney and showcased how much these two artists are alike but gives you that Parrotthead touch. (1) Pencil Thin Mustache: My all-time favorite, vintage Buffett, a nostalgic tribute to Buffett’s childhood. The title refers to the mustache style of one of his heroes, Boston Blackie. Buffett wishes he had a pencil-thin mustache like the fictional crook-turned-private eye in a popular film series of the
DEFENDING SOCIAL MEDIA, ARNOLD DOC, UNIQUE SPEECH, MY FAVORITE NFL QB & DARIUS RUCKER
You are complicated….. Let’s face it. Many don’t like you. Some don’t want any part of you, while others are so damn tired of your act. Yet I defend you. I’m glad you weren’t around when I was younger, and I feel for this generation who have been bullied and felt added peer pressure because of you. Still, I see your good side. Yes, you, social media, the home of often the fake, the exaggerated, and the irritating but at your core, I have a soft spot for you as you have provided a connection we wouldn’t have had before you arrived. Think about it—how many friends would you be in contact with if it hadn’t been for social media? Would you know their birthdays? Would your class reunions be as good? Would your overall network be as strong? Thank you, Social Media. You’ve even helped my business as your platforms have enabled me to promote my ideas where you never know who’s watching. You can break news faster than your predecessors, and you often make me laugh, too, so there’s that. But most of all, it’s the relationships—childhood friends, high school buddies, lost college acquaintances, and countless connecting of the dots to those we have worked with throughout the years. I never thought I would be in my mid-fifties and be in touch with so many of the people I grew up caring about the most. It continues to amaze me….. An amazing example of this came to the forefront recently when I traveled to North Carolina and thought, who do I know in Wilmington, NC? I do this often with places I travel to with mixed results. This time, it was a home run. On this trip (thanks to Facebook), I was reunited with a childhood friend I hadn’t seen in over three decades, so I randomly messaged her. It was great she got right back to me, and we immediately set up a date with her husband and my girlfriend that weekend. Old friends are the best friends—even though we agreed we hadn’t seen each other in 35 years, it was like no time had passed. It was funny our significant others were left talking to each other as we caught up on the many lost decades of news from our lives. I’m confident this would never happen without social media. It surely wouldn’t have been as easy as it was that weekend. Reuniting and keeping up with the favorite people of our past is a plus, and so is reaching out to new connections that social media allows. As a teacher, I have reached out to the authors of books I want my class to read along with peers in my profession I don’t know well or at all, and often they will appear as guest speakers. This couldn’t have happened as often in pre-social media. Sure, we often get consumed with the bad—-it’s tough on our kids, we get overloaded on politics, and those who act like their lives are a Norman Rockwell portrait is annoying too. Still, I think we can agree a considerable positive is how this phenomenon has brought us all together. That Saturday lunch in random Wilmington, North Carolina, was a friendly reminder. It was a special day I could never have experienced without modern technology—I look forward to the next random reunion. I hope you have enjoyed the same. Defending Social Media, the first lap in another race around the Naborhood. THE ARNOLD DOC: Say what you want about Arnold Schwarzenegger, but it’s safe to say nobody has lived a similar life. From afar, his reputation for some may be this weight-lifting meathead, but I have always been impressed with how he has continued to re-invent himself when he could have quickly settled for less in many parts of his life. The recent Netflix documentary on Schwarzenegger’s life was fittingly three parts as nobody had ever had the three stages this bodybuilder, actor, and eventual politician endured. An amazing journey from seven-time Mr. Olympian to Hollywood’s biggest box office draw to the 38th governor of California…..incredible. The doc unraveled an impressive journey but proved that you can always use your acquired skills to find new careers. Ready to move on from his bodybuilding days, Arnold admitted he had five years without an offer for an acting role, yet “I was always a fanatic about preparation.” His workout mindset kept him going in pursuit of being a leading man. I was impressed by how Schwarzenegger was never satisfied. Even after becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest leading men, he wanted more—trying comedy. A funny story in the doc had him running into famous comedic director Ivan Reitman of Stripes, Meatballs, and Ghostbusters fame in Aspen, where he said: “You’re the Ghostbusters guy. I could be a Ghostbuster.” Can’t you hear Arnold say it when you read that? Amazingly that connection led to Arnold starring in his first of many comedic roles in “Twins” with Danny Devito. Talk about beating the odds…… After years of rejection, Director James Cameron said Arnold told him in their first meeting, “I don’t want to be an actor. I want to be a star.” You gotta admire the confidence. Schwarzenegger’s run at politics was as improbable as acting, where jumping into the California gubernatorial race at the last minute, he leaned on his bodybuilding and acting skills when prepping for debates. “I did exactly what I did in bodybuilding. I was thinking, how can I derail them psychologically.” Arnold admitted he had much to learn about policy and made up for it by asking for help. “I had my comedy writers write up some jokes, so whenever I didn’t know the issues very well, I would use the jokes.” Fake it till you make it….. He’s still active on many issues he pushed for as governor, and Arnold addressed the mistakes he has made in his personal life. This doc had it all, just like
DAD’S BACK POCKET, SECOND HALF STRENGTH, AN ODE TO SAJAK & SUCCESSION FINALE
Father’s Day is bittersweet for many. Many of us treasure the time with our kids but greatly miss our Fathers. Recently another Dad’s Day came and went, and it was remarkably the fifth without my main man Bob Nabors. I thought it would get easier over time, but this celebrated day gets more complex. Sure, I appreciate the 50 years we had together, but I was greedy. I always wanted more. It was never enough with him. We had a great relationship where I miss all of the little things which were so huge in our lives: sharing the latest YouTube videos, re-watching old movies, taking him to baseball games (he would have loved this Rays season), yet mainly the random phone calls, which always were unpredictable, funny, and motivating. In the last five years, I wonder how he would have felt about the pandemic, I would have loved to have had him review my first book, and it would be great to share all the stories of my newfound experiences as a college professor as my Dad, who was an accomplished lawyer taught at FSU’s law school. My father passed on to me so much—the idea that work shouldn’t be work. Following your passion is vital. He encouraged me to build relationships and take chances. I took those lessons to heart, but maybe his most impactful words of wisdom were always staying humble and trusting your instincts. To summarize that mindset, he routinely said, “Tuck that in your back pocket, buddy.” I want to cry every time I hear him say that–and I still hear it. “Tucking it in your back pocket” applies to many things, all for a rainy day. It could be a compliment you receive that you may not share with everyone, but it serves as a helpful reminder for another day. It may be an idea you believe in that isn’t universally accepted at first, or it could be simply taking the high road when you want to say or do something else. All reminders of the good in your life and the hard lessons learned—that make you better and keep you going. Tucking these experiences into your back pocket meant compartmentalizing your life in a space you can revisit when times get tough. This can pertain to your work or your personal life. Since he’s left us, I’ve tucked a lot into my back pocket, but in my mind (just as when he was alive), I feel we have experienced it together, but admittedly it’s not the same, not even close. I hope my daughters one day feel my Dad’s impact on me in these areas. They are both hard-working, respectful, and driven young women with everything in front of them. My Dad would have been so proud of both of them, who are different in their approaches but have strong cores and affectionate hearts. A foundation my Dad aimed to build inside me for as long as I can remember. I recall him calling me at the most pivotal times with the perfect words to fight through crucial moments. Even after a great visit, he made it a habit to call right afterward to ensure everything was okay with me and my family. He always went the extra mile. His central message inspired quiet confidence to be humble, trust your gut, and go for your dreams. He left a legacy for me, all stored in my back pocket. Passing on the importance of tucking away the essential things in life has kept me going since he passed, a powerful lesson that we all have several reasons to keep trying, keep hoping, and ultimately keep dreaming. Quite a gift from the ultimate dreamer (and doer!). My Dad’s back pocket, the first leg on another gallop around the Naborhood. As always, thanks for stopping by. FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH: Dad has given and recommended many great books over the years. Recently I heard about a book from two random sources–it fell in my lap twice. My introduction came after recently speaking to the St Petersburg Rotary Club, a man about the same age as my Dad waited for me afterward and, out of nowhere, gave me Arthur C. Brooks’ recent book, “From Strength to Strength.” I initially appreciated the gift but had no idea how much I would enjoy it. From Strength to Strength delivered many parallels to my talk, which centers around finding success and staying passionate in the second half of your life. You’re not always going to love your job, but if you have a passion, it keeps you going and pushes you through whatever obstacles you may face. The book taught me how to add to my motivational talks, which I pass on to my students and my kids too. A month after getting the book, I seemed unable to avoid it; where a few weeks later, a good friend who has been battling career obstacles randomly told me to read it, telling me it had inspired him to trudge forward. I agree. It motivated me as well. “From Strength to Strength” gives many of us a reality check and shows that we need to appreciate our achievements more as we grow older while finding that work/life balance. The book has something for everyone—it’s motivational, educational, and extremely spiritual. It makes you think about how you approach work, your family, and your mortality. Just because studies show the older you get, your skills may lessen doesn’t mean your impact does. Having experience is immeasurable at the workplace, and this book backs up one of my biggest beliefs —it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. Use the skills you have acquired to pivot towards new passions and avenues you have always wanted to pursue. It was nice to read a fresh perspective on this topic. Brooks’ book puts your outlook on life into a great perspective from many angles. It will motivate many to look forward to the