Events and Traditions

Special events and annual traditions are really important because they build relationships. They provide opportunity for reflection, celebration and commitment to a future. Last Sunday, we celebrated our second Porch Music Store recital at the Franklin Elks Club. The joy of it brought me to tears more than once through the afternoon.
In reflection, we witnessed the progress of amazing young people at the beginning of their musical journey and expanding their musical journey. Some were part of our first recital at the Barrow Little Theatre last spring. Others were new students who, in just 6 months, were able to prepare for a recital performance. As I shared the pride of their families and instructors, I could not stop tears of joy.
We packed the Little Theatre at the spring recital. We had to limit the number of guests. Back then, just over 6 months ago, we had just 20 or so students. Reflection - so much has happened since then! Just after that recital, we expanded into the Porch Music Studios. Now we have 82 students! And there's capacity for more.
Last Sunday, we filled the Elks Club with 140 people attending and only around 1/4 of our students performing. Our timid adult students didn't want to perform, some of our young students were too new and others were committed to other activities. Thinking back just months ago and looking ahead to the next recital, the impact was again one of joy. Just 6 months ago, we could not have imagined this! In 6 months, where will we be?
I looked over at the instructors. They are a wonderful group of talented collaborators. I looked at the audience full of family and the parents/grandparents we see every week. They enthusiastically show support to all the other young people as they do their own. In the days after the recital the depth of their kindness and support was incredible. Tops was a parent asking about one student who did a wonderful job with a difficult piece and asking if they could bring that girl flowers. The young woman had lost her place in the middle of her performance, she held her composure and finished the piece beautifully. She may not fully understand but we saw great poise and character in how she handled it. It was more significant than if she had played it straight through flawlessly.
That young woman reminded me that we are not always perfect in what we are doing at Porch Music Store. But our true character shows in how we handle the difficulties. This recital has left me inspired to follow her example of poise and determination.
Special events and annual traditions are really important because they build relationships. They build lasting memories and inspire us to greater things.

Mr. President! Build that San Antonia wall!

Dear Mr. President,
Your recent siting of the border wall success in San Antonio is brilliant. It's easy to see how this can solve the whole wall thing and end the shutdown. There is no reason the Democrats won't agree to do exactly the same wall the entire length of the southern border!
Put that in the budget deal with specification to spend the same price per mile and this shutdown is over. Within months you can tell your base the wall is underway and way ahead of scheduled completion - no land disputes, no EPA concerns and no cost overruns. Boom! Done!
It will drive the media crazy as you repeat the winning success at rallies and in interviews. The new chant can be "love that wall". As the media questions, just do the same thing you and your staff have been doing these past few years. Your base will believe whatever you tell them. You tell the wall is done and it's done!
The whole wall thing will dominate the news. Democrats will go crazy. Meanwhile, you can point to actual data; Illegal immigration levels at a 20 year low, fewer illegals crossing the southern border, crime rates down....
Sarah Huckabee Sanders has your back on this one, Mr. President. She's great at this. Imagine the press conference...
Reporter - "The budget just passed and doesn't actually fund a wall. Is the president aware of that?"
Sarah - "It most certainly does. Don't you people read?"
Reporter - "But the fact is you cannot build a wall like the one in San Antonio, because there is no wall there."
Sarah - "Look - the fact is the President got a wall deal. That's what you should be reporting. He got the government re-opened. Millions of people are now back to work, thanks to this president!
Reporter #2  - "Does the president actually believe that a wall is being built? Facts don't back that up."
Sarah - "You people have fact checked this president to death. And nobody cares! Look! The facts are that illegal immigration is at a 100 year low. Not a single illegal immigrant can pass over that southern border now. It's over. Unemployment is the lowest of any civilization in existence! There are more super rich people in this country than ever before and we can thank this president for that."
Then the reporters start asking about income disparity and she's got that covered too!
Meanwhile, the whole Russia things gets buried.
Mr. President! Build that San Antonia wall!
Thank you,

Amused Citizen

What would George say?

Once an election is over, candidates have a short amount of time to remove campaign signs. It doesn't matter if they won or lost, the campaign is over and signs must come down.There are likely many reasons for that beyond signs cluttering our streets and roads.
Removing the signs represents a transition from campaign mode to governance. It's time to put the wounds of the campaign behind us and focus on the missions at hand. Whether we like the outcome or not, democracy has served its purpose.
Can you imagine making a flag of the mayor you voted for and hanging it in front of you house? Or your senator, representative, commissioner?
The flag waving and obsession over a particular office holder defies democracy. It's short sighted and divisive. We humans have a tendency to get caught up in celebrity hero worship that clouds our vision and ability to think rationally.
That human tendency is not new. In the early days of our country, George Washington was a great hero. He was so loved and trusted, that he held the power to shape the presidency into any form he wanted. It would serve us well to revisit his legacy and the wisdom of the path he set for the highest office of our land.
We have traveled far from his early vision. Before you raise a celebrity flag, consider the values of the one that we all claim. Visit President Washington's history. Compare that to what is happening today.
https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-first-president/

Focus matters

As we enter the new year, we'll see an increase in social media posts promising to get rid of negativity and drama in their lives.
That's backward.
Would you start building your dream house by focusing on all the houses you don't like? Would you research building materials and plans that you don't want to use? Would you chose a location that is not for sale and the seller won't consider selling?
If you want negativity and drama out of your life, don't be negative and don't be dramatic.
We may not like or understand what another person is doing, but we don't need to be equally negative and dramatic in response. We all create a certain energy and that energy attracts a certain energy.
We receive more of what we are creating.
Turn your attention toward the positive. Focus on the examples of excellence that inspire you to be better. Think positivity and gratitude. Speak positivity and gratitude. Build your dream house.
The "negative" people in your life will either get on board or grow weary of your not feeding their negativity.
You can stand cursing the ruble of the house you don't want, or you can set about building what you do want. Where you direct your attention makes the difference. 

If you could see the future.....

If you could see the future, would you want to?
At this time of year, I begin reflecting on the past year and how amazingly different things are today than they were just a year ago. At our end of yearly gatherings, I always tell our staff and collaborators 'We're going to be amazed at where we are a year from now'. Without fail, each year we are indeed amazed.
Would we liked to have known? Would we have chosen to see exactly what was going to happen?
While it may been have nice to know that a risk was worth taking or that a tough time would lead to unexpected rewards, I love the surprise of it all. Perhaps that's because the year has been overwhelmingly successful and rewarding in so many ways. But there were also some very tough and stressful times; just enough to make the rewards seem that much sweeter.
Knowing exactly how things would turn out may have spoiled it somehow. The unexpected surprises are often the most treasured. It's like opening that one gift under the Christmas tree that was totally and wonderfully different than you expected. Part of the joy of Christmas is the anticipation and not knowing what gifts there may be.
Perhaps life is sweeter as we prepare to be amazed. We watch for it. And in the preparation and the anticipation, we create the amazing things that come. It is, itself, an energy that lifts us into the amazing. Because we are watching for it, we celebrate it. The celebration creates more and reminds us to anticipate more amazing things.
Today, I am thankful for the journey and the unexpected. It's a time of celebration.

Town was closed today! Thank you.

Today was Thanksgiving day. Late morning I drove through downtown Franklin and marveled at the beauty of Liberty Street heading toward the courthouse with all the Christmas decorations. Then my attention was drawn to the fact that every downtown store and restaurant was close. And I was thankful!!! Owners, employees and their families were together today. Our town closes on Thanksgiving. You will see the same on Christmas. YEAH!!!!
There have been years I was traveling on those days to get home. I felt bad when I stopped for gas or paid the toll and realized that person was working instead of being home with their family. While in the Air Force, there was only one holiday spent with family and only because my sister happened to be in the same state at the time with a husband in the Army. It was painful at times.
So, today, I am thankful for perhaps an odd thing - town was closed today. Yes, there were a couple of gas stations open. One place was serving Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, the hotel was open. But everyone else paused for a day of giving thanks and time with family.
There is a slippery trend to start "Black Friday" early with large stores starting Thanksgiving eve or sooner. As a small business owner, I can understand the temptation to reach for opportunity where it may be but this small business owner will focus on a day of giving thanks and being with family. There is something worth much more than a dollar. And I will celebrate seeing a quiet street on family days as I imagine togetherness.

Stop Poking!

People of all political persuasions are expressing weariness with the tone of discourse in the country. It's draining. We're not exchanging ideas or thoughtful discussion. It's more like eye poking and taking sucker punches. It's full of soundbites and one liners intended to provoke rather than provide a forum for contextual information exchange. It's emotionally charged rather than fact based.
How do we stop it?
We stop poking and sucker punching. WE stop.
In recent days there have been silly "poke in the eye" memes that crossed in my feeds. You know the kind; a graphic with a tiny body and big head and some statement that groups a bunch of people in that group as being something or other. Another patting themselves on the back for not being mobs or rioters like that group. The temptation is to poke back with equal venom and stereotyping. Maybe say something like "no, your group just sends bombs and shoot people in churches or synagogues." And that's how we keep things going. Punch - counter-punch.
If we really want to stop all this, we have to stop. First, don't post provocative graphics. It doesn't help to try to walk back the tone in later post discussion. We already poked somebody in the eye. They are looking at the walk back with one eye now and it's seeing red.
Don't poke back when a post annoys you. They don't need to know it annoyed you. If everyone ignores them, it will stop eventually. Get thicker skin.
Finally, if you do have fact based information that isn't emotionally charged, consider sharing it on your own page - not theirs. Let their snarky posts inspire you to be educated about the related subject. Check a variety of sources. Focus on facts. Be ready for a possible discussion - in person. It's quite likely that person is not seeking greater context than what they saw on Facebook or heard from their favorite commentator. If it becomes a discussion someday, be ready to name sources and provide valuable information that may cause them to think about the issue differently. Be sure your position is fact based and logical. If it doesn't change their mind, let it go.
Once in a while you will discover a person of opposing view who has actually done their homework. That's cool. Be open to it and take it in. That's how we resolve differences; by learning to understand and hear each other. We solve problems by looking at them from all perspectives. When we can get to a point where we want to solve problems together, we make America Great Again.