This week's Pep Talk Blog: "The Fantastic Foundation"

On a recent road trip across America with my two kids a wonderful stop was St. Louis, Missouri. Home of Anheuser-Busch, the Gateway Arch and my former in-law’s, the Martirez’s: Emmanuel, Dawn and their three darling children.

In Lemons into Margaritas I wrote about this family and the events surrounding it and the television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

The story centers on Evan, a handsome young boy who was born with an abnormality on his 9th chromosome that makes life challenging for him and his loving parents. The five-year-old either crawls or moves around with the aid of a walker. The young couple’s aging St. Louis home was not built for this beautiful soul: too many stairs, levels and tight turns, to quote Emmanuel, “Said no to Evan.”

A little more than a year ago, the award-winning show, in less than a week at the same location, built a new home that says “yes” to the entire family. It’s beautiful, energy efficient and incredibly functional. There are few walls and the wide-open design allows Evan unlimited mobility. There’s even an elevator to the basement and the kids’ very cool playroom.

As we visited and dined on delicious pizza from Imo’s, a St. Louis institution, Emmanuel shared a touching tale of the teamwork required to build – in five days from start to finish – this spectacular gift. “Often when we’re out and about, we’ll run into someone who worked on the project,” beamed the advertising professional. “People will say to us, ‘thank you’ for allowing me to work on your home!”

Whenever giving a Pep Talk to a group, I always encourage them to never grow weary of doing good things for others because of what it does for us. It’s the “law of circulation” in effect. Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, contractors – folks who often don’t work side-by-side – united to transform a lemon – the heck with lemonade - into a sweet and savory margarita for a husband and wife desperate for housing solutions considering their unique challenges.

And the people who performed the work are thanking the recipients? It’s a great reminder of a real truth: the recipe for a successful life – at home, work and community – must have, as a critical ingredient, a heavy dose of generosity toward others because WE benefit as much, or more, as the recipients.

Generosity with our time, talents and treasures is a fantastic foundation to building a life that honors us, nurtures those dependent upon us and adds value to the communities we serve. And boy does it feel good.