Connecting with my small town past

I live in a small Iowa town and our high school consolidated with a nearby district in the ‘90s. I graduated high school in 1975 so I was a Bulldog and our schools colors were purple and gold.

When the consolidation happened, the ‘new’ school kept the old schools’ colors (red and white) and adopted the Bulldogs’ school song—“On Wisconsin.”

But the spirit of the Bulldogs lives on, and it’s coming from an unlikely place and source. I drove by the ballpark the other day and the equipment shed is trimmed in purple and gold paint and has a huge Bulldog on it with the words “Kanawha Bulldogs.”  This movement is coming from young adults who never graduated from the old school. There are also purple and gold t-shirts sold in town.

I find this a heart-warming occurrence. Obviously many of these young adults have parents who were Kanawha Bulldogs and they want to keep that history alive.

People say generation gaps are a problem. But there is no problem here. This gesture draws people together-–a great thing.

Learning from the Past

I am a sentimental person. People in my past and the places I have been, still pull at my heart when revisited.

Last week, I traveled to my alma mater, Northwestern College, in Orange City, Iowa. Don’t get back there much. The last time was in 2013 when I delivered my “Keep Your Uniform On” speech at homecoming.

Every time I return there, pictures from 1975-79 (college years) enter my mind. I see my brown ’72 Monte Carlo getting 11 miles per gallon and thinking my transmission will blow when I go over the softest bump. I see that car smashed after a drunk driver crashed it while sitting innocently in the dorm parking lot. I think of people I knew at college and friendships established—a few lasting.

But I don’t live in that sphere. It’s a part of me and I am thankful for the experience, but it’s in the past. Oftentimes, we wish to hang on to the past (the good and difficult times) because it’s comfortable and known.

We should be thankful for the experience and people in our past and use that memory to better our world in our present circumstances.

Don't Believe It

I enjoy speaking to students on overcoming their challenges and if I could offer one piece of advice as high school and college students return to their studies it would be this:

Don’t believe people that tell you, you can be anything you want to be in your career. Rather ponder this: “You can ‘try’ to become anything in your career.

I am all for goals, hard work etc. but sometimes a particular opportunity never happens. It doesn’t mean that a plan B, C or D, will not bring career fulfillment. For example, my father wanted to become a farmer and he ended up managing a gasoline service station for almost 40 years.

So students give it your best shot with your first career goal and if it doesn’t work out, try something else. Don’t get stuck in the disappointment when something else may become a road to a fulfilling career.

Wound Enjoy Speaking at Your Event

Would count it a privilege to share my inspirational and motivational message, "Keep Your Uniform On," with sports teams, schools and/or organizations. My talk is hopeful, encouraging and engaging. I interact with audience members before, during and after my speech. How may I assist you?

Love the Life You Have Been Given

Do you ever find yourself jealous of certain people and want their life? Maybe it’s your neighbors down the street Bob or Deb. They have high-paying jobs, wonderful children or maybe grandchildren and plenty of friends. To you: the perfect life.

Maybe it’s a popular actor or actress, sports star or world-famous executive. You reason, “If I had that notoriety my life would be great.”

It’s a slippery slope wanting someone else’s life. I know because I’ve been there and occasionally return to that place.

Being born with a physical disability, I have yearned for the so called good health of another person. Plus, I have struggled with wanting other’s business success when my career goals fall flat.

We may perceive other’s perfect lives, but in reality it’s strictly a perception. Nobody has the perfect life and everyone struggles with something.

Last year, I heard a pastor on the radio say “Love the life God has given you.” A couple weeks later: the same message. I couldn’t remove it from my thinking.

We all have a life given to us whether we believe in a creator or not. The journey is our own and unique. In times of success and particularly failure, let’s remember our life is a gift and embrace our uniqueness.

Do you struggle with wanting someone else’s life? What steps can you take to greater appreciate your own life?

We All Need Hope

One of the privileges of taking my personal story out on the speaking circuit is interacting with junior high, high school and college students.  Students are fun, energetic and hold a certain untainted view of life and the world in general.

I speak on overcoming personal challenges based on a lifetime of living with cerebral palsy. Another privilege I have is when students approach me after my talk. Some thank me for simply coming to speak, others appreciate my content and others connect with my brokenness.  This third group usually has a physical disability or they may struggle with mental issues. They apparently feel safe to share their ‘story’ with me. That is an encouragement.

My speaking desire is to bring hope. No matter what the personal story, we can all bring others a little hope. Sometimes that is a special and much-need gift to a person.

I trust I can share more hope with students in 2018. Please contact me at speakerpaul@comm1net.net for more information on how I might serve junior high, high school and college students.