An eventful weekend has passed. So many fun things to participate in …
Liz McCullough had a birthday. Lisa Johnson threw a birthday party in her back yard for Liz that was a Prom. Sort of a Prom for Old People. A prom where everyone had fun. A prom where there was little angst about what others thought of you and more enjoyment in who all was there. Many found old prom dresses from years and years ago to wear. The most common accessory in the photos were smiles.
Lisa worked hard to get it done. She cleaned (before and after), decorated (and many friends helped some), and planned and organized and a wonderful evening ensued. But the fact of the matter is, it happened because Lisa worked her hind end off.
Maya Angelou is Lisa’s favorite poet and Angelou once said, “Nothing will work unless you do.” Lisa works and we all benefit.
“Every man’s work,” said Samuel Butler, “whether it be literature, or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself.” Lisa’s portrait is one that shows energy and fun and love.
What is our portrait?
Think along the lines of Sam Ewing (whomever he might be), “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” Which describes you? Me?
Also on Saturday my friends Mark and Vicki Freeman had a barbecue wedding shower for Pete Dahl and his intended, Brandi. That’s where I was, rather than at the Prom. Here again is someone that cleans and plans and makes ready to have a large number of people disrupt their home … for another person. Although Vicki and Lisa don’t really seem much alike (Lisa is loud, Vicki isn’t; Lisa is opinionated, Vicki keeps her opinions to herself), they both have a ready smile and an open heart to do nice things for people.
It was a great shower. Lots of people brought food and lots of happiness was around. Happy is contagious, have you noticed?
“Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity,” according to Bo Bennett. He must have known someone like Vicki.
Greta Garbo once commented, “Anyone who has a continuous smile on his face conceals a toughness that is almost frightening.”
Larry Carter and associates held a Cookout Benefit for Sophia Rose and her family. Talk about a smile! That Sophia Rose has the biggest smiles you’ve ever seen. Well, except when she saw me. She cried then. For only being alive for six months, this little girl who didn’t have a very good chance for life, has turned the world inside out. When you see her you realize that your problems are not problems, they are momentary challenges. When you watch her family with her you realize that the things most important are right there with us and we should not lose that focus … our friends and family. She puts a proper perspective, in a really happy way, on life.
In between goals is a thing called life that is to be lived and enjoyed.
At church on Sunday we had a pot luck dinner. I have to admit, those folks in Oslo are such great cooks. The church service wraps me up in a hug, the people I get to see all smile and make my world a better place, and then to follow that with the delicious pot luck is beyond wonderful. If you aren’t going to church, find one that makes your life better. If none of them makes you happy, then I’m thinking the common denominator is you that is not happy. Work on that. That being yourself.
Start with a smile for others.
Then follow with doing something for others … like a Prom birthday party for a friend or a barbecue shower or just a nice lunch, maybe. Work on making yourself a happier person, one that is more enjoyable to be around … one that happiness rubs off on other people by being around you.
Sometime I need to tell you about the Mentoring Workshop that Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence held here in Guymon last week. Great ideas for helping. Great ideas that make us better people.
Remember “if you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.” That’s according to Norman Vincent Peale.
See you on the bricks with zest and enthusiasm.