The road may be dark
But always look for the light
Never give up
Life’s full of unknowns
You are stronger than you think
Always forge ahead
Laughter exudes joy
Enjoy life to its fullest
Make precious moments
Be with your loved ones
Make love spring eternal bliss
Let you heart explode
Live with no regrets
Challenge yourself constantly
New things await you
You make me smile
when I’m feeling down,
You chase away my problems,
make it hard for me to frown
Your wise advice,
though they maybe small
These are the ones
that help most of all
A watchful eye,
that’s alert and aware
of how I really feel,
whether good, bad, or fair
Thank you so much
for always being there
You give of your time
to show that you care
You give so much
to help me in life,
of the good things to expect
along with the stress and strife.
Father’s Day is once upon us again and I for one always look forward to this day. Why you may ask? It’s because I cherish the homemade cards that my children give to me. Their words of appreciation and love are truly priceless and beats any material gifts that I receive. 
Being a father is by far one of the “BEST” jobs that I have. When I’m not disciplining my children for something bad they may have done, I’m their adult buddy.
That’s my excuse for going to the toy store and perusing shelves of toys to my heart’s content. It’s my chance to purchase awesome “action figures” (I call them that because calling them “boy” dolls are totally not cool at all).
I also am afforded the opportunities to do things like hip hop dancing, playing video games, being up on the most current social media app, learning how to navigate my phone, all the stuff that kids nowadays do.
Don’t let my “over the hill” appearance fool you; inside this battle-worn body is a goofy kid that’s willing to make a fool of himself as well. There are even times when my kids join in my tomfoolery; more often than not, my kids are slightly embarrassed at some of the mischievous things I tend to do in public just for a laugh. My wife often says that she has not two but three kids and the “oldest” one is the most immature.
Aside from all the fun things that I get to do with my kids as a dad, I’m also there to provide guidance and strength in crucial moments in their life. I’m a father first and my family is my world…my everything.
I try my best to be the best father I can be and I can honestly say that it’s not that hard to do. I had a good role model in my father; he took a vested interest in my well-being, gave sound advice and made me into the person I am today. 
My father’s quiet strength, extensive knowledge, vast experiences, quirky sense of humor, gentle kindness and champion against all forms of danger belied his gruff, stern exterior. No amount of thanks will ever be enough for what he’s done in my life.
Yeah moms are given all the honor and glory that they rightfully deserve but give dads the same as well. So this Father’s Day, if you’re fortunate enough to still have your father around, spend time with him and cherish it with all of your heart. If you’re a father, be with your kids and love them for all their worth. Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there!!!
How do I define myself?
It’s not through
exquisite jewelry,
expensive cars,
a spacious mansion,
a lavish lifestyle
or money
How do I define myself?
By leading a simple life of
love,
laughter,
hugs,
smiles,
hope,
and joy
How do I define myself?
Through years and years
of knowledge and experience,
filled with trials and tribulations,
both good and bad
shared with family,
friends,
acquaintances,
myself
How do I define my life?
By sharing a smile,
offering a helping hand,
lending an ear,
being with loved ones,
enjoying everything around me,
taking nothing for granted,
simply living for now.
The love from a child
is most meaningful to see
What comes from their soul
is beautiful and carefree
Their love is unconditional
straight from the start
It’s unwavering and bountiful
warm the cockles of your heart
Their innocence, their laughter
their unabashed delight
Their huge, beaming smile
a pure treasure at first sight
The emotions you get from a child
sensations so pure and true
They wear their heart on their sleeve
on full display for you
So when a child comes to you
and gives you their all
Accept it post haste
be at that child’s beck and call
We’ve all heard the phrase “That team played a perfect game”, “He/she got a perfect score on the test”, “That was the perfect date”, “He was a perfect gentleman” or “That was a perfect day.”
That word “perfect” obviously meant flawless, without fail. Things went so smoothly that the stars aligned and there wasn’t an ounce of disruption in your particular quest.
For some odd reason that word came to my mind this past week and I tried to fathom what I did in my life that was so “perfect.”
Yes, I’ve had a perfect score on an exam before so that was easy to relate to but as for the rest, I had a hard time trying to comprehend what that really meant. I figured I’d sleep on it and try to tackle that the next day.
The next day arrived; there were no plans or errands to do so it was pretty much a chill day.
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP…I sluggishly turned off the blaring alarm clock and rubbed my tired eyes awake. I looked to my left and saw my wife, Iris, of 20 years still asleep; she was always a deep sleeper.
I gazed at her for a moment and a flood of memories washed over me. It was like a video album showcasing all of the good and bad times; I smirked at how we ended up together and miraculously endured all of this.
Just then, our 3 year old dog “Chibi” started to lick my face as if to say “Good Morning, time for my morning walk now” or it just could have meant “Are you awake now? Good, let’s go play!” Chibi then turned her attention to my wife and did what the alarm clock could not do.
We got out of bed and did our normal routine. Soon after my son, Conor, woke up somberly said good morning and immediately turned on the TV as he plopped on the couch. Soon after my daughter, Chloe, awoke and joined Conor on the couch.
They weren’t their boisterous selves, more like morning zombies adjusting to the daylight and getting their bones, muscles and joints acclimated to the new day.
As the day wore on, our house started to liven up to its usual self. There would be times where I saw Chloe and Conor laughing about something, joking with Iris or playing with Chibi.
Throughout the day, we all would be interacting with each other in some fashion. As the day turned to night, we continued doing our little things to keep us occupied, all the while still connecting with one another.
The day came to an end and we all prepped for the next day of work and school. As we said our goodnights, I laid there in the dark and mulled over what took place throughout the day.
It was just a simple ordinary day of really doing nothing and just relaxing with the family. We laughed, joked and did inconsequential things but enjoyed every minute of it unbeknownst to us all.
I replayed the entire day in my mind’s eye and took stock of how beautiful that was. My sense of appreciation was immeasurable. Nothing went wrong, there were no major disruptions…I couldn’t have asked for a better day. It was simply “perfect”; it was “My perfect day.”
As I was growing up, I never really got the full grasp of what it was like to rely on family members for support; especially that of the emotional kind.
I was always off on my own, or with my friends, involved in insects, cartoons, action figures, video games, comics or remote control vehicles of the fast kind.
When I wasn’t squeezing every ounce of free time for my personal pleasure, my head was preoccupied with school. So as you can tell, it was either trying to finish that super complex homework, study for zillions of quizzes and tests or what to do first when I had free time; those thoughts took up most of my emotional journeys.
Nothing major happened to the point where I needed to consult my parents or siblings for advice. A lot of my life’s lessons came either from trial and error, mostly HUGE ones, or talking with friends. Life was simple, there were no worries.
If it didn’t involve school or play (or girls) then it completely fell to the wayside. That, however, took a different turn as I got up there in age and started a family of my own.
My focus adjusted and my eyes began to really “see” the value of having family around you. I could have a bad day at work, a traumatic incident, health issues or just feeling down in the dumps, but just knowing that my family was there made the trials all the more bearable.
My wife and my kids provided emotional support in ways that inspired hope in me. Just having someone in my corner, through thick and thin, really made all the difference in overcoming the obstacles that were in my path. Their positive words of encouragement, daily affirmations and big burly hugs made all the difference; they truly became my emotional cheerleaders.
My outlook towards my parents were in a state of flux as well; it changed from seeing them as an authoritative figure to that of sage-like confidants that I can pour my heart out to.
It’s interesting how time really changes you and strange that it took me this long to value the bonds we share with our family. I might have grown up slightly different from others but at least I can say that I finally learned how strong family bonds can be.
With 2016 winding down, I ,like many others reflect on what took place in our lives and put things into perspective. As I was doing my year end house cleaning, I stumbled upon a picture of my beloved dog “Tigger”several years removed from our lives; attached was a note that I had penned soon after his passing.
I read through it and reflected on how important he was to me and my family and wanted to share how I felt at that time with you.
“Today a part of me died,
you left a void within my heart that can never be replaced
You touched my life in ways that you could never imagine
I sit here trying to think of a word to best describe you
But no words can describe what you truly meant to me
You were my best friend for the past 18 years
and you did everything in your heart for me
You made me laugh and smile
and comforted me when I was scared
You protected me when I was asleep
and kept me company when I was alone
In your little funny ways,
you made me see what life was about
I will miss you with all my heart;
your perky ears, your jovial bark, and your gentle lick
It will be hard to face life without you by my side
Your support and love made me feel invincible
Your gift of love
was the best gift I ever received from you
For that I am most grateful
I’m so lucky and honored that you came into my life
For the rest of my life, I am in debt to you
Tigger…you taught me what love really is,
to give it and to receive it
you will never be forgotten
because you have a special place within my heart forever
Whenever I think of love or share it,
you will come to mind
you will live on in the love I give to others
Thank you Tigger,
thank you for choosing me,
thank you for being there for me
and caring with your heart.”
With the holiday season fast approaching, I can’t help but get into the festive spirit. Decorations at the office and at home were put up last week and adorned with the normal Christmas ornaments along with a few high tech modern ones.
Feeling upbeat and good-natured towards one another is at an all-time high; smiles are more frequently seen as well as laughter aplenty. Christmas music just fuels our inner core and harkens a time of simplicity and past innocence; when we believed that there truly was a Santa Claus.
Our somnolent consciousness reawakens and we’re transferred back to that very day when we were kids; eagerly counting down the days to when we can open all those presents under the Christmas tree.
I look forward to this time of the year, guess mainly it’s because of the positive energy that’s flowing about. Granted the stress of crowded malls, buying gifts, balancing our pocketbooks, finding parking and planning parties pop up but the vibe is just undeniable. We subconsciously strive to be nicer toward others and compassionate toward those that are less fortunate. It’s the season of “giving” after all.
I guess the whole point that I’m trying to get at is that there’s innate goodness in most of us; although we struggle with putting forth our best face throughout the year, this is the one time where it’s reassuring to know that we have the capability to be virtuous.
The world is in a pressing state right now, so we need to more vigilant in spreading this positive energy. Not just for the holiday season, not just for a day, not just for a week but for as long as we can.
So go forth and pay it forward; do everything with good intentions. Spread your smile, give a hug, lend an ear, hold the door open for someone, any little thing helps. Being charitable is a reward unto itself and the sense of self-satisfaction that comes from it is priceless.
Remember all the times when our family, friends, colleagues, strangers did something good for us – that feeling we got from that unselfish act…we need to reciprocate that back to the world.
Every time this year, like most people, I always take stock in what I’m grateful for…my family, my friends, my health, my life, so on and so forth. But this year, with the passing of two co-workers and a couple of family members and a health scare, I am truly appreciative for what I have.
Every day leading up to Thanksgiving, I’ve been taking stock in what I have and the people who are around me and have never been more cognizant and content with my place in life. There are just days when I can’t help but stop myself in my tracks and smile.
On days like this I always think “Nothing could be more perfect in my life right now. If I could just somehow stop time and live in this moment forever, I’d be totally ecstatic.” A sense of overwhelming joy consumes me and thank God for giving me this occasion to feel this way.
When I was younger, I often took for granted a lot of things in my life and somehow lost sight of what it really meant to be thankful for what I had around me. It was all about “me” and the mere fact that I had many more years ahead just made me concentrate on what might be instead of what might come to pass.
But if I hadn’t had all those missed opportunities, mistakes and regrets then I wouldn’t come to the self-realization of how lucky I am in life. Like that saying goes, “With age, comes wisdom.” And I learned that I needed to enjoy the here and now, accept where I am in life and recognize the people around me that where steadfast in everything I did.
Because of my newfound outlook on life, I preach to my children everyday on acknowledging what they have, to try and not be cavalier on thinking that you have all the time in the world. Time is a commodity that needs to be relished with respect and without regrets.
Midlife, Maniacal & Me 