Changing The Mood In America

All of life I grew up with the stories of old. How Joe Shelton could really move. How Kelly Lunn was the best and “Son you should have seen him. Let me tell you something, Kenneth Morgan was damn good.” I also heard that Jack Shelton was better at playing Rook than he was baseball. The stories went on and on. I never grew tired of hearing them because you could see the sparkle in my dad’s eyes as he talked about his teammates and more importantly his friends.

When I was 9 years old I thought the team was the New York Yankees or the Atlanta Braves. I played later as a young man on some of the fields. My big day was July 4, 1970, pitching for Eagleville playing against Rockvale. Want to here the results? I know that it would bore you to tears. But guess what? I learned about life from some of the old teammates and friends of my dad. Kelly was always my biggest fan, Jack and Kenneth coached my baseball teams and Joe was the class act as a coach and high school principal with big pearly whites always shining. May I add, Jack also taught me how to play Rook. Somewhat!

Remember that these were the days in the 50’s before steroids or multi-million dollar contracts? They worked all day in the fields and played ball on the weekends. They loaded up in the back of hay wagons instead of private jets. They never had a bat with their name inscribed on them and the ladies didn’t line up at their hotels just waiting for a call. Their championship rings were non-existent however I did learn later that moonshine was hidden in the back of the old black pickup truck.

Over the years, so many of them remained friends and even worked together to grow their farms or businesses. They understood the value of relationships and having fun more than being rich or buying big cars with fancy clothes. They didn’t have contracts but they did care for each other. They even knew the names of their children and would often tell the stories to them. They didn’t have kids born in different cities by different women during a baseball series. They just hoped that the truck made it back home that night so they could be back in the fields the following day or hope to make it to church.

The most interesting thing is that my dad never told me how good he was. You see in those days it was all about your friends. He never said anything good about himself or anything negative about his friends. He loved playing ball with the boys. I learned later in life that times were economically bad but I never heard it from my dad. We didn’t have TV so I thought times were great. I had a dad that carried me everywhere and we had food. I learned that friendships and teammates were everything in life. My biggest thrill in life was when my dad bought me my first baseball glove. We got it at Lambert’s Sporting Goods and I will never forget the drive home with my mom. Dad was waiting for me after worked and we played catch till dark. Looking back I bet dad hoped I would have teammates like his and sure enough I did. That is a later writing.

Last week I received an email from an old friend and she sent me a picture of the 1950 baseball team. Hal Manier, too young to play at that time, had sent her the picture and I have included it in this writing. Connie is the daughter of Kelly Lunn and now her kids are learning the great game of baseball. Let the legacy continue of building great teammates and friends. They will carry you through any hardship or bad economy. They will make you smile with memories and of hope that tomorrow we will Change the Mood in America teammate-by-teammate and friend-by-friend.

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Yesterday, I was listening to a local radio station from Los Angeles as I drove home from having a nice lunch with my daughter. It was focused on the impact that the recession has taken on our youth. Several high school seniors were sharing the pain that they had taken on since their moms and dads had lost jobs, mortgage payments were not being made, which then resulted in not being able to do what they had previously enjoyed. It was stated at the end of the program by a well-known psychologist, that the impact might never leave these young people. As I listened to the recordings of our youth, I was intent to see what they were feeling and thinking. Honestly I had more questions than answers. Everyone seemed to share their pain and worry of only missing things.

Why do our young men and women have so much pressure to have more things, or save the things they already have? Who influenced our youth to be so worried or concerned about things? Did they get this from their schoolteachers? Did they get it from their friends and peers? Where did their friends and peers get it? The psychologist’s concern was for their future. Driving along the freeway, I was only left to think of what lesson had to be learned.

It changed my mood in just a few minutes, and I was so happy to have heard the program. I wanted to share my thoughts about recession-proofed people, and the most important factors to surviving in this recession while not being scared for the years to come.

Alyssa hasn’t received the word. She is behind the times. The poor girl wouldn’t know the difference between Rush Limbaugh and James Carville. She never watches CNN and the Wall Street Journal is not on her morning read while she sips her coffee. You see Alyssa has been through more surgeries and hospital visits than most people will do in a lifetime. She has been poked by more needles and smiled at by more surgeons that one deserves. I am sure the insurance company doesn’t like Alyssa, and the drug companies adore her for more reasons than one. What makes her so special? How is she any different than the seniors interviewed for the previously mention radio show? She is two-years-old. She is my granddaughter. She is no more special than any of my other grandchildren. She is who she is, and has been given a different path than my other grandchildren, but still smiles and says, “I love you papa.” As of this moment, she has not been affected by the recession. She has not chosen a political view or the condemnation of the other side that just can’t seem to get it right. She prefers pancakes for breakfast, and not the stock market update. She seems to smile with a hug, and giggles with a kiss on her cheek. I think she has it right. She is recession proof.

Jacob is recession proof! His was kicked out of more schools by the time he was 6 than most of the radio show interviewed seniors ever entered. School administrators knew him on a first name basis, but that didn’t mean that he was headed for a college scholarship; it simply meant that he had disturbed the system once again. Jacob was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, and he isn’t like the other kids. Now he has found a fantastic school that supports his different ways of learning. In his latest national test scores for third graders, he tested as an eighth grader. Does that make him odd or weird? What makes him succeed? Jacob, like Alyssa, has been given a different path than many others but has chosen to succeed in a different way. He reads a book a week, and is tested after each book. Maybe that seems odd to you, but for me as a Papa it thrills my being and I am proud to call him my grandson. He just turned nine years old last week. He is recession proof!

How do you recession proof you? I would suggest to stop focusing on the things, and pay more attention to what you have. Things that can’t be bought with money, or damaged during a recession would increase your ability to see down the road to a brighter tomorrow. As I’m writing this, I keep hearing the recession proof words, “ I love you Papa” and wonder how these two special people keep from becoming a participant to the recession, or the recessions to come, when they reach adulthood.

Think about these things:
1. Is your focus on what you have or what you don’t have?
2. Are your friends close to foreclosure or forgiveness?
3. Does your business need an Alyssa makeover?
4. Do you need Jacob’s reading habits?

I am sensitive to the recession and what people are going through. My heart goes out to the people that are losing their things. But remember there are certain things that are recession proof.

Write down the 5 things that are recession proof in your life. Once you write them down ask yourself this question, “ Are they 5 things or beings?” You see they cannot be owned, but live and thrive on their own. They will never be repossessed or foreclosed upon. You can’t control them, because they are not yours to own. They are beautiful beings that have been given a different path to journey and could be our greatest teachers during any economic time, not just in a recession.

I was thinking over the past several days about America and how a “Movement” should begin. It is time for real change. Not the political rhetoric or vote getting stuff that I am talking about.   Here is where we begin:
1. Send a note of gratitude to someone that is associated with your business. Just say “thanks” and really mean it. If we do this everyday for one year we will change the mood all around us.

2. Smile when you go to the grocery store. I mean stay off the cell phone and focus on the smile and the people in front of you. This is a better outbreak than the swine flu. It will have a much more far reaching effect and probably be a smile that will change the mood in America.

3. Hug your vendor. Come on and go for it. Don’t worry about lawsuits or what that wonderful vendor might think. Be sincere and let the professional know how much you appreciate the opportunity just to be in the same world working together to change the mood in America.

4. Take a walk around the neighborhood after work. Say “hi” and move on. Imagine if you say “hi” about 23 times this afternoon. Now if you really want to see a change ask them about their day. Listen for something positive and repeat it back to them. Good news should be repeated several times so it will stick.

5. Turn off the NEWS! I am thinking of trying to open a new TV station or maybe just stick to radio. Not sure but I need your help. Let all the news channels know that I am looking to be hired. Well, maybe!
Here is my lead story: Changing the mood in America, by Coach Phil. Good evening and glad you have joined us. Several small business owners took to the streets today in North Carolina to thank the constructions workers for such a great job just completed. Masses showed up and everyone was filled with joy.
In Iran today 23 second graders were caught on tape hugging their school teachers just before recess.
Now from California. Two drive by delivery guys heard shouts of joy coming from a neighborhood as they delivered pizzas. It was late into the evening and when they knocked on the door at 2 homes they were greeted with smiles and a huge tip in both cases. After further investigation, they were shouts of orgasmic proportion.
Finally in sports. 11 little league kids shared a victory with their opposing players. They had trophies for the losing team and felt the need to comfort them. ESPN was on-hand and covered the event and most of the broadcasters only asked about player enhancement hugs.

Will you join me in “Changing the Mood in America.”