Pep Talk: "Not So Tough"

It had been a good final April weekend Saturday with workout, yard work, catching up with neighbors, nice stroll with 15-year-old daughter, securing donation from community-minded restaurant owner for daughter’s high-school volleyball team, first sighting of darling girlfriend in too long and short bike ride to neighborhood liquor store for weekly six-pack. Dang, so far so good.

Last, but certainly not least, opening day for Pep Talk writing from Poor Man’s Porch. Oldies’ music on the radio and sounds of Congress Park in the background. It might be smart to buy a lottery ticket this evening. I’m feeling real blessed.

And then my mind wanders to the before-mentioned wonderful soul who is teenage daughter. The volleyball setter has become, often, chauffeur. Yea, that’s right. The blue-eyed beauty has a learner’s permit and needs to drive, with a family member, about 50 hours before attempting to earn a license upon 16th birthday. She’s a good driver and recently achieve a major, at least in her mind at that time, milestone: successfully navigating the tight turns of a restaurant drive through. It’s a piece of cake for us old timers but for someone just starting out, a bit intimidating.

It’s so cool to witness evolution. For whatever reason cranium venture to younger years. A favorite story in my first book, Kids Teach the Darndest Things, recalls a time shortly after the fashionista had learned to read. At night we had bedtime reading. Well, one night, and I know many, if not each, of you have been there, I was just not in the mood and was tempted to blow it off. I didn’t. Here’s where it gets interesting.

So tempted to bag the reading and not wanting to sort through children’s books to find the right story, I just grabbed a framed copy of Life’s Little Instructions
occupying a corner of my bathroom vanity. Simple little statements about, my words, playing life a champion in the game of life. Stuff like, “sing in the shower; compliment even small improvements, wave to kids on school buses, don’t expect life to be fair.” Simple statements that at Rachie’s reading level at the time, I thought she could handle.

She had been sitting in a comfy reading chair a few feet away and zooming through them when we hit turbulent water. Toward the end of reciting the short but powerful phrases, there’s more than 50, the little lady got stuck: “Live you life as an.....x.....x......, not an x...........” The precious princess was stuck on words starting with “x”. She bounced into the bathroom with “Daddy, how do you say this?” She hands me the plaque and point a dainty finger to: “Live your live as an exclamation, not an explanation.”

It was one of those moments folks. I love telling that story in live Pep Talk presentations.  Here comes the question. Are we living our lives as an exclamation, not an explanation?
If not, why? How could we this week do one thing to turn a lemon of life into a sweet and savory margarita? Make it a virgin margarita if desired.

But where is it time to cease with the explaining and do some exclaiming? Wherever it might be, go for it. You can do it! Perhaps, just like a novice driver navigating a drive through, you’ll realize exclaiming not explaining is not so tough and so worthwhile.

Good luck!