Category Archives: Life

Moving Trucks

Career, Life

If you could see a real time view of downtown streets in NYC, Chicago, LA etc., what you see are moving trucks filling the streets. It is a mass exodus from these cities for two reasons. One, people no longer must live in the city to work because they can now work from home and two, these cities are now viewed as unsafe because of the civil unrest. Because of how they are managed, the loss of economic value for these cities is almost incalculable.

Over the past hundred years it is interesting to watch cycles where people want to live in the city and then cycles where people move out to suburbs. As one could expect, when the flavor of the day is living in the city, there is an economic boom in downtown areas. Additionally, when it goes the other way and people are leaving the urban areas in droves like now, there is an economic boom in housing in suburban and rural areas. This is what is happening in Atlanta and other major US markets as I write this blog.

This downtown versus suburban living decision cycles back and forth every 20-30 years. The last time people left large cities for suburban living was in the late 80’s and early 90’s. So, if you own a home in the country, its value has just increased. I have a friend of mine who lives one hour south of downtown Atlanta in a very nice but very rural setting. He just sold his home to someone from California who paid the asking price, sight unseen. They didn’t even see the house until after they had already closed on the purchase.

It will eventually shift back to urban city center living but given what can happen in these large cities, it could be years away.

I will see you in the country or on the lake. KT

Judgmental people

Family, Life

Have you ever met someone that never gives anyone anything and never helps someone in need because their excuse is always, “they are in that situation by choice.” or “they should have known better.” or my favorite, “if I give them money they will just buy drugs or alcohol with it.”

What most of these type people have in common is  they have never been in need. There is a hole in their heart they can’t seem to ever fill.

Two memories that are burned into my heart both involved my two daughters when they were young. They both were tender with a heart to give and to help.

When my oldest daughter was in elementary school, there was a little girl in her class that my daughter (even though she was young) knew she needed some clothes. We went and bought some clothes for the little girl and she wrapped them for Christmas for the little girl and we took the gift over to the little girl’s apartment where she lived. I watched as my baby gave another person’s baby some clothes for Christmas. She did this with no expectation for anything in return. She just wanted to help the little girl. When we left, I didn’t let my daughter see my tears but that act of kindness left a forever impression on my life. My oldest daughter to this day has the same loving and giving spirit as she did that day for that little girl in that small apartment.

When my youngest daughter was dating, she came home one night crying. She told us about her and her date sitting at a restaurant when a little girl about nine years old came up to their table and ask for enough money to get on the bus. My daughter’s date didn’t act quite right (which is probably why she broke up with him) and only gave the little girl a dollar or two. By the time my daughter got home she was crying over that little girl and wanted to go back to the area and see if we could find her and help her. Yes, we got in the car and went back up there to find her. We didn’t find the little girl that night but going the extra mile was what my daughter needed. I have no doubt if we had found that little girl, she would probably have come home with us that night. Like the first story, my youngest daughter didn’t see the tears in my eyes on the way home but that moment, like the first story, left a forever impression on my life and what it really means to help others. My youngest daughter, like my oldest daughter to this day has the same loving and giving spirit as she did that night for that little girl.

You can think what you want, but I believe God sees your heart and fully knows who you really are. When you show kindness to those in need, he is watching. Don’t let God catch you being one of the people described in the first paragraph. The truth is, the bible in Matthew 7: 1-2, starts with the words, ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged’ and then read verse 2 (on your own.) If that doesn’t drive home my point today, I will pray for you. KT

Everything worthwhile is uphill

Life

The only way you can coast (without any effort) is downhill. Everything worthwhile requires us to peddle hard uphill. Nothing great has ever been created or invented by someone who isn’t trying. Every dream requires effort, pain, sweat and sometimes struggle. Everything that means something to you is something you had to work for.

In 1969 I was in the 5th grade and someone stole my 10-speed bike. It was old and the insurance company gave my mom and dad some money but not enough to replace the bike. I cut lawns in our neighborhood all summer for two dollars a lawn and when I had saved up enough money, I bought a new bike with a banana seat and chopper handlebars. It was candy apple blue and I loved that bike. I washed it and took great care of it because I was proud of what I had worked for.

I said this above, but it is worth saying again. Everything that means something to you is something you had to work for.

Oh, sure there are some children that inherit wealth without putting forth any effort, but you will find most times, the child who simply inherits wealth, doesn’t really grasp, respect and appreciate the wealth. They are not proud of an accomplishment like the person that must work for it.

Next time you are pushing uphill (struggling) for something, remember that it will mean so much more to you when you get there. KT

Recognizing a blessing when you see it

Life

In the past four days, I have heard about three men who died very recently. All from heart attacks. One was a close friend of mine in high school and the other two were men who were known to members of my family. The one that was my friend was 62 years and the other two were in their very early 50’s. One died in fishing boat and just slumped over the steering wheel and one went to bed with his wife (probably told her he loved her) and never woke up.

Sometimes the greatest gift is the one we take for granted. Life itself.

I was asked a question one time that gave me great pause. The question was, if I knew I only had a short time to live, what would I do differently in my life and what changes would I make. I thought about that question for several days and realized my answer was very simple. I wouldn’t change a thing. All my family knows who I am and that I love them. There are no people I need to seek forgiveness from. My beautiful wife knows where everything is at, the wills are all in order, the finances are up to date, the words ‘I love you’ have been spoken and lived out in life. I know there are more things I want to do and accomplish in this life but that is God’s decision and his choice.

I hurt for the families of men and fathers that leave this life with unresolved issues and past mistakes that they never got around to fixing. I hurt for the children who never really know if their father loved them and was proud of them. I hurt for the pain some men cause to their families because they always thought there would be more time to tell them he loved them.

My advice for anyone reading this blog post. Don’t put off what you know you must do. Keeping with the title, recognize how blessed you are because you have today. KT

Faking yourself out

Life

Funny story. We started buying these vegetable straws from the grocery store that come in a bag like potato chips. The bag says one serving is 38 straws and is 130 calories. The big bag has probably eight servings in all.

I have been using these as a shack for a couple of weeks and the other day Elaine, came home with the same brand of straws, but in separate serving little bags. Each little bag had exactly 38 straws. I say exactly because there are no more or no less than 38.

Well… I learned something about myself that I didn’t know. Using the little portion control bags is not nearly as satisfying as counting the straws as you eat them from the bigger bag. I realized that I enjoyed, losing count,,,,,, every now and then, on how many straws I had eaten. Ha. With the little bags, there is no guess work and you don’t have to be concerned (not that I was) if you eat more than 38.

So, here I was the other night counting as I ate from the big bag and I caught myself fudging the number I had eaten to my own self! I caught myself lying to myself.  I was like,,,, who does that??? It is like deciding to eat a certain number of cookies but when you get them out of the bag, you see a few broken ones in there also. You eat the broken ones without taking away from the whole ones you planned to eat.  You tell yourself those calories don’t count.

So, I have determined that the great equalizer is the mirror in your bathroom. It has no ambiguity, no misrepresentation and is not misleading. It is exactness. So tonight, I will eat my “roughly,,,,,” 38 vegetable straws and be happy with myself. KT