A couple of thoughts from a couple of different angles.
I don’t know how to fully describe the last twelve months. I don’t know if it’s even worth the time and effort to describe. Tack on the first eight months of 2025, for a combined look back period of January 1, 2025 through August 15, 2026…and all I’ll say is that if I knew where to begin writing about this period in my (our) lives, I would have started writing sooner than in August 2026.
I do not have any underlying life philosophies. No mantras to get me through the day-to-day while focusing on the long-term horizon. When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year…queue the Friends theme song…for me, the I’ll be there for you, is the collective positive experiences and memories I’ve had throughout the years and the knowledge that it takes relatively little effort to continue generating future positive experiences and memories. Not to put any pressure on children but having a child in my life has been the best way to create positivity. Every day, from the moment we wake up until we kiss goodnight, is filled with one positive experience after another. I believed that local travel was a positivity hack, and while that is still true to an extent, watching what Charlotte does, hearing what she says, and observing how she reacts creates better memories than any quick road trip ever did.
There is a lot going on in the world. There is a lot going on in our local community. There is a lot coming down the road. Everything is more intense. There is no better way and no substitute for living a fulfilling life than creating positive memories.
I often find myself biting my tongue when talking with other parents about their children. There’s the typical minor mischief kids get into. At work parents were discussing how children can get antsy on road trips…I said nothing and thought to myself “not my Charlotte.” I don’t know where her patience comes from – especially considering she has a direct view of my impatience every time we are on the road. There’s a grace to how she handles other children who misbehave around her, who are pushy and line cutters, that I have no explanation for where she derived that quality. When she plays with her toys there is genuine regard for the wellbeing of her dolls and stuffies. She’s always looking out for their best interests and comfort.
Every night, before we go to bed, Charlotte asks if we are waking up early to on a trip or to the airport. Maybe she gets that from me. There’s a curiosity and enthusiasm she brings to everything she does that I hope never fades. When you have years like the past year that we had, that you realize that feeling is temporary and that there’re many memories and new positive experiences waiting to be created that simply overwhelm the worst that life can throw at you. You may not realize at the time how amazing it is that you do everything that you do and that you appropriately handle every situation and to the point that you are who you are but some day, you’ll put all these pieces together and realize how special you are, how you unique you are, and realize the edge that gives you in living life on your terms.
I don’t know how to fully describe the last twelve months. I don’t know if it’s even worth the time and effort to describe. Tack on the first eight months of 2025, for a combined look back period of January 1, 2025 through August 15, 2026…and all I’ll say is that if I knew where to begin writing about this period in my (our) lives, I would have started writing sooner than in August 2026.
I do not have any underlying life philosophies. No mantras to get me through the day-to-day while focusing on the long-term horizon. When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year…queue the Friends theme song…for me, the I’ll be there for you, is the collective positive experiences and memories I’ve had throughout the years and the knowledge that it takes relatively little effort to continue generating future positive experiences and memories. Not to put any pressure on children but having a child in my life has been the best way to create positivity. Every day, from the moment we wake up until we kiss goodnight, is filled with one positive experience after another. I believed that local travel was a positivity hack, and while that is still true to an extent, watching what Charlotte does, hearing what she says, and observing how she reacts creates better memories than any quick road trip ever did.
There is a lot going on in the world. There is a lot going on in our local community. There is a lot coming down the road. Everything is more intense. There is no better way and no substitute for living a fulfilling life than creating positive memories.
I often find myself biting my tongue when talking with other parents about their children. There’s the typical minor mischief kids get into. At work parents were discussing how children can get antsy on road trips…I said nothing and thought to myself “not my Charlotte.” I don’t know where her patience comes from – especially considering she has a direct view of my impatience every time we are on the road. There’s a grace to how she handles other children who misbehave around her, who are pushy and line cutters, that I have no explanation for where she derived that quality. When she plays with her toys there is genuine regard for the wellbeing of her dolls and stuffies. She’s always looking out for their best interests and comfort.
Every night, before we go to bed, Charlotte asks if we are waking up early to on a trip or to the airport. Maybe she gets that from me. There’s a curiosity and enthusiasm she brings to everything she does that I hope never fades. When you have years like the past year that we had, that you realize that feeling is temporary and that there’re many memories and new positive experiences waiting to be created that simply overwhelm the worst that life can throw at you. You may not realize at the time how amazing it is that you do everything that you do and that you appropriately handle every situation and to the point that you are who you are but some day, you’ll put all these pieces together and realize how special you are, how you unique you are, and realize the edge that gives you in living life on your terms.
You never know what's coming next. That doesn't mean you don't plan for the future. That just means you take advantage of today. If it's a Monday, and you are slow at work, head to Wildwood and take advantage of the cheaper hotel rates on the weekday compared to the weekend. Eat an ice cream for breakfast. Eat another after a pizza dinner. Although listen to Baz Luhrmann - wear sunscreen.
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If you don't know what to do, do what you do know.
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