Somebody Somewhere

Did you notice that spring training started this week for Major League Baseball? I did, so I tuned in to catch some of the action because I absolutely love baseball. Watching a game though, made me sad because it’s been exactly one year since I played my last MSBL baseball game. I miss the game, I miss the competition, but what I miss most are the close friendships I made over the past 16 years in the MSBL.

I can’t play baseball anymore because it’s too hard on my aging back, so I’ve turned to golf to get my fix for competition. And as far as friendships, the cool thing about golf is that it gives you the opportunity to make a lot of new friends when you get paired up with strangers who love the game just like you do.

So, here’s a question. How do you handle it when you have to compete against friends? The answer might say a lot about your character and here’s an example. Over the weekend my wife and I went to visit a couple who live in San Diego who are really good friends of ours. He loves sports as much as I do, so we played two rounds of golf, several games of darts, and a mini billiards tournament as well. I only won one round of golf and he won every other competition. Funny thing is, at times I found myself rooting for him to make a putt, or hit a bulls eye, or sink the eight-ball. Trust me, I am extremely competitive, but if I compete against a friend, I am rooting for both of us to play our very best.

I know there are a lot of people who might think my attitude is stupid and makes me a loser. But if you think about it, being upset or envious of others can make you a miserable person. But if you choose to rejoice in God’s goodness to others, you can be joyful all the time – because something good is always happening to somebody somewhere!

Angels Spring Training starts at Tempe Diablo Stadium

A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.

~ Tim Cahill

In-N-Out

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve noticed that sometimes it’s the small things in life that make a difference. If you stop and think about all the different interactions you have with different people in a single day, and all the different words spoken, you might discover that small things really can make an impact.

For example, I’ve owned three companies over the past 40+ years and had interactions with hundreds of employees. Over time I learned that it pays off to pay attention to each and every one of them. So I would always try to catch an employee doing something right and when I did, I would immediately reward them with a gift card from In-N-Out Burger. The gift cards are only $5.00 but I swear you would think I was giving them $500 by the way they reacted. That’s because praise and recognition are rare gems that are not handed out very often these days.

At this point in my life I am currently working on my fourth company. Even though it’s very small, (I am the only employee), I still carry In-N-Out gift cards with me everywhere I go because it’s become a habit for me to look for people doing something good. Last Thursday I got the chance to put them to use.

I was making sales calls all over Orange County and I always carry my thin black notebook with me everywhere I go. In that notebook are my business cards, a pen, and a yellow pad to take notes. But hidden behind the yellow pad are three very valuable items; a copy of the “Salesman’s Prayer”, a picture of my family, and a photo of the most influential man in my life, my Dad. These items are my motivation to work hard every day, do what’s right, and make my family proud. Unfortunately, as I got to my last sales call, I realized my notebook was missing. I thought hard about the last time I saw it and realized that I might have set it on the back of my truck and driven away. So I drove back to my last three stops and scoured the parking lots and streets for that notebook. I never found it and my heart sunk. Those photos are irreplaceable and to make matters worse, there was a check in my notebook that was made out to my company by mistake, and I needed to return it.

As I was heading home, angry and upset at my own carelessness, I received a phone call from someone who said he found a black notebook in the street. The caller said he thought I might want it back, especially since there was a check inside. I was ecstatic and immediately drove to Lake Forest to meet up with this wonderful good Samaritan. When he handed me the notebook, I thanked him and handed him every In-N-Out gift card I had with me, which was four of them. He tried to turn them down, but I explained how I enjoyed rewarding people that I catch doing something right, and he loved that idea. Said he would try that with his own employees.

There are so many times that we pass “in and out” of people lives. Even though it may only be for a brief moment, that doesn’t mean… it doesn’t matter!

Oh Creator of all things, help me. 

For this day I go out into the world, naked and alone, 

and without your hand to guide me, 

I will wander far from the path which leads to success and happiness.

~ From the Salesman’s Prayer, by Og Mandino

One Word

I always seem to have mixed emotions around this time of year. I love that Valentine’s Day is coming up on February 14th, because it gives me the opportunity to do something romantic for my wife. But February 12th is the day my father passed away and although it was many years ago, I still remember that day like it was yesterday. 

Losing my dad was devastating because he was my rock and my hero. I loved him very much. Fortunately, I did not have to face that situation alone. I had a loving wife who was at my side at the hospital, every day for six months. And when my Dad took his final breath, I was holding his hand…and she was holding mine. I will never forget her support when I needed it most and I hope she knows that she will always have mine.

At this moment in time, as we near Valentine’s Day once again, my wife is the one going through a very difficult situation. Her Mom has mid-stage Alzheimer’s and her Dad also has serious health concerns. Since I remember her support when my Dad was sick, I definitely want to be there for her as well, so I decided to get her a Valentine’s Day card early, on February 1^st. Obviously that’s a very small gesture for sure, but then I got her one on Feb 2^nd, and Feb 3^rd, and Feb 4^th, and Feb 5^th, and so on. She will be receiving a unique and loving Valentine’s Day Card every day for the entire two weeks leading up to February 14^th. I hope it takes her mind off her troubles and brightens her life up just a little.

Going through difficult situations is typically when you find out whether or not your love is real. Tough times can threaten a lot of relationships, but if your love is cemented with respect and admiration, and if you understand that love means giving more than taking, your relationship can be strengthened instead of destroyed. As I write this Monday Message, I remember a letter that I wrote to my wife right after I learned my Dad was terminally ill. It wasn’t a Valentines Letter, but it was a letter celebrating our love. I hesitate to share it, because it is so personal, yet it does seem appropriate for a Valentine’s Message. 

That Letter is below....

One word frees us from all of

the pain and suffering in life.

That word is love.

 ~ Sophocles

     February 7^th, 2001

     Dear Debby,

I NOW KNOW

There is a very difficult situation that lies ahead, that it will be particularly hard on

me and I will need your help, your love, and your utmost patience. I will be strong

for I am a warrior. Whether or not I make it through this situation is not even

a question, because with you, I know I can make it through anything. Although I

do not know exactly what the future holds, I do know that you have always

been there for me, to listen, to talk, to share, and to love with all of your heart,

as I love you with all of mine. We will get through this… together!

MY WISH FOR US IS

That we will continue to share new interests and adventures

And allow each other the freedom to develop as individuals.

That our faith won’t be shaken by occasional feelings of hurt or anger.

That we will continue to acknowledge our differences openly,

And see them as opportunities to learn and grow closer.

That we will find in each disagreement the patience to listen,

The courage to trust, and the strength to forgive.

That we will find in each difficult situation that plaques our lives,

The wisdom to work together and find the right answers.

MAY WE NEVER FORGET

The qualities that first attracted us to each other,

And how much we still appreciate them.

To always inspire each other, applauding successes,

Nurturing strengths, believing in each other’s dreams,

And working as one to make them come true.

MAY WE ALWAYS

Look into each other’s heart and see the love that binds us.

                   Love,

                   Joseph

                

Falling Behind

I watched two major sporting events on TV this past weekend that were really great as far as the entertainment factor. However, both of them left me with a sour taste in my mouth.

In the afternoon, I watched the final few holes of the TPC Sawgrass Golf Tournament in Phoenix. I was rooting for young Tony Finau to win and it looked like he had it all locked up. He was in first place on the leaderboard most of the day, all the way up to the 18^th hole.  Unfortunately, his competitor, Webb Simpson, who fell behind for a while, never gave up. Webb made a birdie on the 18^th hole to tie, and then went on to win in a surprising come from behind playoff victory.

The evening belonged to the biggest sporting event in America, the Super Bowl. I lived in San Francisco when I was young and going to college, so I was definitely rooting for the San Francisco 49ers to get the win. Plus I felt like their superstar quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo was really coming into his own. Thankfully, by the start of the 4^th quarter, they had a solid lead and were playing with confidence. But then something happened. They failed to convert an easy 3^rd down and turned the ball over to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs took the ball and ran with it. I remember saying to my friends when the 49ers failed to convert, that the Chiefs fall behind in games all year only to pull out a win in the end. Unfortunately, that was a prophetic statement and once again I was swallowing the sour taste of defeat.

And that got me thinking… Falling behind is a just a normal part of life. It might be due to illness, bad luck, a bad boss, or some other bad break. But whatever it is, we can always count on life to throw us a wounded duck that is just out of reach, falling to the ground, stealing our joy. But so what! If we didn’t drop the ball once in a while, and get drop kicked in the gut at least once a month, the victories that we finally do achieve wouldn’t taste half as sweet!

Jimmy Garoppolo still smiling (kind of) after the Super Bowl

Some of God’s greatest gifts

are unanswered prayers.

~ Garth Brooks