Mortality… something we never think about.

Right?

Well… it’s something I have been thinking about a lot.

There’s a poem I live by called “That Man is a Success”…

Here it is:

That Man Is A Success…

Who has lived well,

Laughed often and loved much;

Who has gained the respect

Of intelligent men

And the love of children;

Who has filled his niche

And accomplished his task;

Who leaves the world better

Than he found it,

Whether by an improved poppy,

A perfect poem

Or a rescued soul;

Who never lacked appreciation

Of earth’s beauty

Or failed to express it;

Who looked for the best in others

            And gave the best he had.

Point2Ponder When’s the last time you thought about… dying… and what you’re leaving behind?

I have lived my life with this poem in mind.

Over the years, I have gone through the checklist:

Have I laughed often and loved much?

Have I gained the respect of intelligent men?

 – I didn’t care about buffoons—I just wanted intelligent men to respect me!

Do children love me?

Have I filled my niche ?

Have I accomplished my task?

Have I left the world better…either by a poem I’ve written or… or rescuing a soul?

Have I stopped to appreciate earth’s beauty and paused to express it?

I remember seeing the Grand Canyon, and I wrote a poem that said “I saw God’s footprint today!”

Have I looked for the best in others?

Have I given the best I have?

As I look in the mirror, and that man looking back looks older than I feel…

I pause and realize… soon—I will not be looking at him again.

Sooner than I want to accept.

But… when that time comes…

Will I be satisfied to know…I have lived a life well lived?

There’s so much that I still want to do…

But… IF I don’t get to do one thing more…

Am I satisfied that I have lived well, loved much and appreciated the blessings bestowed upon me?

And the answer… for me…

Is Yes!

I am completely satisfied with the life that I’ve been given, the life I have lived, the journey I have taken.

Even with the extreme emotional pain that others have inflicted on me, the betrayal of loved ones, the loss of dear ones…

Still—I will close my eyes for the last time and smile!

I gave the best I had!

Not that I am planning to go anywhere anytime soon!

I’ve always said “I’ve got my reservation made, but…I am NOT in a hurry to get there!”

But, what about you?

Are you satisfied that you have had a life well lived?

Do you feel like you gave it the best you had?

And…if not, why not?

At some point…we really do have to stop blaming others for the fact that we are not happy with ourselves.

Yes—they did something horrific and traumatizing to you—

BUT – what will you do with the rest of your life?

Haven’t THEY stolen enough time from you?

How about taking it back, living your life, making those memories, giving your BEST!

This is not a “Rah! Rah!” cheerleader speech!

It’s a checkpoint, reality check statement – IF you died today, would you be satisfied with the life you lived?

Not “what you didn’t get to do” stuff—

It’s the “what I got to do made me feel exuberance, exhilaration, ecstasy! Joy and Peace, wrapped up into Passion!

Don’t die wondering what passion feels like.

Don’t let anyone take that opportunity to “laugh ‘til you peed your pants” away from you.

Don’t stop caring, because that’s really when you stop living!

Time is ticking, and it waits for no man…or woman!

IF you haven’t lived “a life well lived”….

Get at it!

 

 

 

 

I’ve have often been described as Type – A.

My cardiac doctor said that negatively when he explained how I had a heart attack at age 49.

He said “You Type-A’s don’t ever stop for anything—until anything stops you! And gets your attention! Serious as a heart attack!”

I have often been asked what part of New York I was from?

I tell them Seffner—they then say “what borough is that in?”

And I smile and say “Florida!”

And they are astounded—I’m from Florida?

I’m not from New York City?

I guess you could say that I am focused, driven, on-point, assertive.

And yeh, sometimes, maybe even aggressive.

None of which normally go along with the description  that I am most proud of –“Southern Gentleman!”

Point2Ponder           What’s the one word people use to… describe you?

I have a part time job that I do for my publishing company who I publish my books through—Xulon Press.

I am their reporter and interview their most successful authors and compile the information into an interview which is distributed on our

Website www.xulonpressblog.com in a column called Successful Author Spotlight.

Check it out sometime—very interesting Christian authors who are changing their world with their commitment to be a change champion.

I also provide my opinion of the experiences I have had with publishing both of my books with Xulon.

So occasionally, they will enlist me as a testimonial for prospective authors who want to know that the process was like.

They will call or email me, and I set up some time, on my own dime, to answer their questions and share my experiences.

It’s a way of paying it forward—I was once that new author who was scared and unsure and needed sage advice—and received it.

So now—it’s my turn.

I got a call from a rep who wanted to have someone call me for a testimonial.

I wholeheartedly offered my services to answer any questions they may have.

She thanked me and said “Alan, everyone in the office is so excited with your passion: to help, to write, to share, to encourage, to inspire!”

Then she continued and said “Please don’t ever lose your passion—that’s the one word everyone around uses for you—and it’s refreshing!”

Wow!

Passion!

The one word used to describe me…

And yet—I have heard that all of my life—from colleagues, from friends, from family… I am a passionate person.

I have always said “there’s no wonder in me—if I love you, you know it; if I don’t, you know it!”

But to hear a colleague I have never met tell me that people describe me with that one word—it was surprising.

It caused me to reflect—is that the one word that I want used to describe me?

I am an “all out” or “all in” kind of guy.

I have often said that I see emotions in colors—and I talk about my Bright Red Moments!

And I won’t trade anything for a Bright Red Moment—priceless!

My praise is passionate—my relationships are passionate—my consecration is passionate.

And yet—I never ever think about it.

Until I heard her say “that’s the one word everyone uses to describe you!”

And I pondered on that word… and I dug deep inside my soul, and I realized…

No better word I could pick—

To live an ordinary life extraordinarily well—that’s always been my goal!

And if my passion is contagious, then let me set the world on fire!

There’s a whole lot worse words for people to use to describe you, right?

Right—I’m okay with “passion!”

Just makes me wonder—

What Word do they use to describe you?

And… are you happy with that description?

And… if not, what are you willing to do… to change it?

Think about it…

 

 

So I always said… “My next car will be a BMW 745!”

And I meant it—all 10 years that I have been saying it.

All those 10 years while I’ve been driving my 1997 Ford Expedition.

Driving it through 6 teenagers, one of which is a son!

And that son decided to take his friends on a wild ride on rainy night…

That would be the night I got the call about the “flat tire!”

That’s what my 16 year old son called it—funny though, the AAA guy said “This rim is bent—he did more than just get a flat tire!”

My $400 rim—that was somehow bent from getting a flat tire.

Yeh—about that!

I found out about 5 years later that—he was doing crazy 8’s with the truck, on a rainy night, to impress his friends…

And…hit the curb, causing the “bent rim”!

The things you find out years later!

I always called my truck “Max!” I’d say “To the Max, Max!” and the kids would go “Papa, that’s so corny!” or “lame”, or “mature!”

Depending on the teenager—I told you we had 6 of those, right?

But the deal was—no Beamer until—Max died!

Did I mention that Ford Trucks are Ram Tough? Yep—287,000 miles later—Max is still kicking—at 12 miles per gallon—but, still runs like a champ.

I was never getting my BMW!

Point2Ponder When’s the last time you had to let go of a dream because… it just wasn’t what you wanted anymore?

So… 15 years later, I still have Max!

And… 15 years later, Max still runs like a champ.

And … 15 years later, I am no closer to getting that BMW 745 series!

But… funny thing is… 15 years later, that BMW drives by me, and where as I used to just daydream about someday owning that car…

Today? I just go “Wow! Pretty car, but… I would NOT want those payments!”

Yeh—funny thing happened in the last 15 years…I got closer to retirement!

And that means—closer to realizing that—I do not want a house payment for a car!

Nope—I had to let go of that dream—not that I don’t remember how much I salivated every time I saw that 745 wiz by me all those years.

But, I accepted that some dreams—are just that—dreams—and for me, I want to scale down, spend less, travel more, and prepare for my “slow down” years!

Whatever that means?

Bottom line is—sometimes we have to reevaluate our dreams and reassess their likelihood of ever becoming a reality.

And for me—that BMW will continue to wiz by…I just won’t be salivating anymore.

Nope—I readjusted my dream! I relocated my vision! I revamped my priorities!

Did I mention how much I love those Rappin’ Thug Hampsters?

You know the ones—“Well you can go with this, or you can go with that!”

I think they sell a little scootabout called a Kia Soul!

Well—I have loved that little car since it came out a few years ago!

Definitely NOT a BMW!

But…

Definitely NOT a house payment to pay for either!

And… 30 miles per gallon!

Hello!!! I said 30 mpg versus 12 mpg!

Well… “Max… meet Kobe Soul!”

Yep—we did it!

We just “readjusted” the Dream—and bought a 2014 Kia Soul!

And—I love it!

IT JUST FITS ME PERFECTLY!

And to prove it—

A BMW 745 passed me by this weekend!

I heard Kobe Soul say “That’s okay—we’re planning a Road Trip to New England!”

At 30 miles per gallon?                                                                        

Heck—I’m  planning a trip to Hawaii!

 

Sometimes, life can surprise you.

Sometimes, it can downright slap you in the face.

Sometimes, you can go “What you talkin’ bout Willis?”

Sometimes, life can wake you up and say “I didn’t see that coming!”

Point2Ponder When’s the last time you went to sleep thinking one thing… Just to wake up and be startled by the news you received?

So… about that Florida State University Seminoles versus Auburn University Tigers in the BCC Championship game on my birthday, January 6^th!

I have a good friend, let’s call her Kristy Louise, who is a die-hard Auburn fan.

Let’s get one point established early on—when it comes to college football, I am a University of Georgia Bulldog, also known as a DAWG!

However… I am surrounded by a family of Seminoles: my bother in Heaven Joe; my only son Schuyler, my lovely wife Bella, and my “Seminole in training” 4 year old grandson Jett. I say “in training” because Jett thought he wanted to be a Florida Gator, because his cousin Mykai is a Gator. I had to educate Jett on why he had to be a FSU Seminole. He protested, pleading “but why, Nano? I want to be a Gator!” I explained that his father was a Nole, and he had to be a Nole. He put up a good fight, but Jett now declares that “I’m a Nole, right Daddy?” as he looks to his father for affirmation. It really is funny to see!

Back to the game. Kristy Louise started talking about her Auburn Tigers and how they were going to beat the FSU Seminoles—before the game even started!

I advised her to get ready for a “smackdown” on the field.

And the game began… and FSU started losing—miserably!

Kristy Louise sent her first few texts—declaring the Tigers were gonna whoop the Noles.

At half time—it looked like she was right!

What was happening to this 13-0 Team?

I will tell you right now—they were losing!

Here’s the part most people do NOT know about this story.

Did I mention that I was a DAWG?

Did I mention that it was my birthday, shared with the quarterback of the FSU Seminoles?

Did I mention that I was tired?

Did I mention that I went to bed?

I may have omitted that last part.

I always wake up at 7 am each morning—to my lovely bride saying “Get up, it’s time for work!”

Oh how I love her sweet declarations just to start my day off on the right foot!

But this morning, I am in a sound sleep, and the door opens because… she closes it when she gets up at 5:30am.

And I hear “SEMINOLES WON!”

I jump up out of that sound sleep and go “What the Blank?” and yes, I say the word Blank—not that other word you are thinking of right now!

She declares “I can’t believe it—they pulled it off! Turned it around! Everyone is talking about it!”

I shook my head and said again “What did you just say?”

She repeated herself.

I was sitting straight up in bed, shaking my head, going “Well, I didn’t see that coming!”

I walked in at work and everyone was talking about the game—everyone had stayed up until the very end—just like I had!

Yeh—you read that right—suddenly, I remembered that I had stayed up to watch the very end of the game- what a game it was!

I probably forgot to mention to my co-workers that I went to bed at half-time… convinced that FSU had blown their chances of winning!

And all day long, we talked about what a great game it was and how tired we all are from staying up so late—me included.

Guess I should have felt bad about that, huh?

But nope, I didn’t!

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year 2014!

As we say goodbye to 2013- we reflect on our fond memories of the year that was!

My top 3 memories for 2013 were:

1 – Cali Harper Scaglione was born on March 6^th, 2013 – our Sweet Pea granddaughter, sister to big brother Jett Jameson

2 – My godson Shane Alan Wood’s marriage to his bride Jessica- performing their ceremony was a highlight of my life, not just my year!

3 – The release of my second book, the sequel to One Unexpected Event—Aftermath!

Unfortunately, the mantra Nothing Routine in 2013 brought a lot of unexpected events of the not so happy kind!

Nevertheless—we weathered each storm that came our way as a family united—and protected—under God!

And now—a new book with 365 blank pages await for us to put pen to the page—and live the dream—each and every day!

What you are accessing right now is a dream come true for me—my beefed up, all encompassing, all things Alan—repository for all of my words!

I have always dreamt of having one place where all that I have written, from songs, to poems, to short stories, to excerpts of my novels, to my blogs…

All under one roof—so the man who “draws pictures with his words” can have a home for his paintings!

All because I decided to quit talking about it and… Just do it!

The Bible says “The people perish where there is no vision!”

So? Where’s your vision?

What’s your dream?

When will you be ready to see it unfold?

The journey of a thousand miles starts with… one step!

 

Point2Ponder     Why don’t we stop and do what we have always wanted to do? Why do we always wait… and never get it done?

 

So here’s your chance to start something new—for you! All you have to do is… DO!

You deserve to make your dream come true—you deserve to place it as a priority—you deserve to allow yourself to see it thru!

I’ve talked about the “AllThingsAlan” repository for years—

But, now you see it and can experience all of the words God has given to me—I share with you!

Share your dream with me—I will be your accountability partner—to hold you to it—to gentle reminder you that “you deserve it—so do it!”

I have made COMMENTS so easy—Just select the Send me a Comment button—use your email address—and send it to me!

So… you have no excuse—now you can reach me—now you can hear from me—now you can talk to me!

One Last thing!

That “Year in Jar” that you saw in that picture?

That is something Bella and I have been doing for the past 4 years—our Year in a Jar!

We collect memorabilia of anything we experienced in the year—movie ticket stubs, playbills, napkins from weddings, restaurants, calling cards.

And we put them in this jar, starting January 1^st thru December 31^st—collecting memories of our year in a jar!

And we pull out the jar on New Year’s Eve and put the memories in a scrapbook—and reflect on our year together!

Oh the places we went, or the things we saw, oh the people we met, oh the memories we made!

Might be something you would like to start?

Feel free—I’m all about making moments matter so we can make lifetime memories!

So…Livin’ The Dream in 2014!

I challenge you—I dare you!

Catch the Vision—Live the Dream!

Make Moments Matter In 2014!