And then there's Daniel...
I have a day off...a Tuesday off and most of the house is packed. There are a few things I can do today, but unfortunately for me all of the fun things (art and sewing supplies) are packed away. A typical routine for me on a quiet morning such as this is to have a couple cups of coffee and peruse my favorite blogs, catch up with my peeps and then spend a little time writing.
This morning I read the latest from Pondering C who desires a bit of bravery in order to take the plunge and follow a dream. Fear plays such a role in our lives when it comes to our accomplishments and the gumption it requires to take that first initial step towards achieving them. I recently asked my fifth grade class why choosing an "easier" goal makes more sense than a "harder" one and their answer was you're less likely to fail at the easier, more attainable goal. The idea of failing and not finding immediate success was less appealing than overcoming trials and striving for the more desirable goal. Quite predictable, I think, but still disheartening. Of course, there's usually one in the crowd that disagrees and this class was no exception. One of the students announced her disapproval and added the need we have for greatness, high achievement and lofty ideals. She felt it would be a great disservice if everyone felt the same way - someone had to think Big. She made me think of my brother.
Daniel is one of those guys you just don't forget...now, at times, you might want to - but ultimately, you can't. He's the most obnoxious person you'll ever meet and the most charming. Social graces elude him but he would take in a family of 12 in a single heartbeat if, at the time, he had a place to share. His heart is enormous and at times his bitterness is just as large. He's a walking paradox and one of the only persons I know who will try just about anything to find success.
I have a million Daniel Stories and I love adding to the collection. I was talking with my Dad on Saturday and asked him what he was up to. He said he was in the Man Barn with Daniel and that they were building some fruit crates. I asked him why fruit crates and apparently my brother is currently in the fruit business and needs some crates to sell his fruit. After a few more questions I finally understood that my brother is buying fruit and then selling it out of convenient stores, like 7-11 (the QT of OKC). His vision includes a farmer's market kind of fruit stand in which to display the fruit.
Now, how, when, where and why Daniel chose fruit (or, quite possibly how, when, where and why the fruit chose Daniel) is still a mystery for me - but what isn't mysterious is the fact that my brother made the decision to sell fruit. After all, there have been many, many other endeavors: carpentry, the Navy, nail school, housing for foreign students, a Moroccan girl, Nepalese interests and of course, Danny-Bands- a device attached to the hem of your jeans to keep them off of the ground thereby reducing general wear and tear. In the grand scheme of things Daniel's fruit idea really fits in nicely.
My brother hasn't exactly been remarkably successful with everything mentioned above, but I am certain there have been numerous lessons learned, friends made, and challenges met - all extremely valuable to a life lived. What isn't as pleasant to recall, however, are the hard lessons learned, friends lost and challenges avoided. Daniel has certainly met many, many obstacles. He is the only person I know who lost his apartment AND his job in the same day by the same tornado. He's faced frightening moments and lonely nights, of this I am certain. However, he still manages to get up and take on fruit.
Where it all comes from I will never know. He and I are incredibly different people and I can't say I endorse his beyond unorthodox tactics, but I so admire his drive and desire to find success. He dreams big and acts big and I really think that's the secret towards the journey of his success. Defining success might include achieving a dream job, making a certain salary, finishing school, having children or for Daniel, surviving his youth...seriously. It might also mean making a choice. I have a friend who recently made the decision to stay home with her child, giving up, for now, the career she worked so hard to attain. For her, simply making a choice and finding peace with that choice created an environment of success.
Oh, how I would love to see my brother accomplish something enormous, something meaningful and life-altering, but mostly I want his indefatigable spirit to keep at it. For Daniel the everyday success he finds means one more step towards finding himself and I truly believe in what a little fruit can accomplish.
This morning I read the latest from Pondering C who desires a bit of bravery in order to take the plunge and follow a dream. Fear plays such a role in our lives when it comes to our accomplishments and the gumption it requires to take that first initial step towards achieving them. I recently asked my fifth grade class why choosing an "easier" goal makes more sense than a "harder" one and their answer was you're less likely to fail at the easier, more attainable goal. The idea of failing and not finding immediate success was less appealing than overcoming trials and striving for the more desirable goal. Quite predictable, I think, but still disheartening. Of course, there's usually one in the crowd that disagrees and this class was no exception. One of the students announced her disapproval and added the need we have for greatness, high achievement and lofty ideals. She felt it would be a great disservice if everyone felt the same way - someone had to think Big. She made me think of my brother.
Daniel is one of those guys you just don't forget...now, at times, you might want to - but ultimately, you can't. He's the most obnoxious person you'll ever meet and the most charming. Social graces elude him but he would take in a family of 12 in a single heartbeat if, at the time, he had a place to share. His heart is enormous and at times his bitterness is just as large. He's a walking paradox and one of the only persons I know who will try just about anything to find success.
I have a million Daniel Stories and I love adding to the collection. I was talking with my Dad on Saturday and asked him what he was up to. He said he was in the Man Barn with Daniel and that they were building some fruit crates. I asked him why fruit crates and apparently my brother is currently in the fruit business and needs some crates to sell his fruit. After a few more questions I finally understood that my brother is buying fruit and then selling it out of convenient stores, like 7-11 (the QT of OKC). His vision includes a farmer's market kind of fruit stand in which to display the fruit.
Now, how, when, where and why Daniel chose fruit (or, quite possibly how, when, where and why the fruit chose Daniel) is still a mystery for me - but what isn't mysterious is the fact that my brother made the decision to sell fruit. After all, there have been many, many other endeavors: carpentry, the Navy, nail school, housing for foreign students, a Moroccan girl, Nepalese interests and of course, Danny-Bands- a device attached to the hem of your jeans to keep them off of the ground thereby reducing general wear and tear. In the grand scheme of things Daniel's fruit idea really fits in nicely.
My brother hasn't exactly been remarkably successful with everything mentioned above, but I am certain there have been numerous lessons learned, friends made, and challenges met - all extremely valuable to a life lived. What isn't as pleasant to recall, however, are the hard lessons learned, friends lost and challenges avoided. Daniel has certainly met many, many obstacles. He is the only person I know who lost his apartment AND his job in the same day by the same tornado. He's faced frightening moments and lonely nights, of this I am certain. However, he still manages to get up and take on fruit.
Where it all comes from I will never know. He and I are incredibly different people and I can't say I endorse his beyond unorthodox tactics, but I so admire his drive and desire to find success. He dreams big and acts big and I really think that's the secret towards the journey of his success. Defining success might include achieving a dream job, making a certain salary, finishing school, having children or for Daniel, surviving his youth...seriously. It might also mean making a choice. I have a friend who recently made the decision to stay home with her child, giving up, for now, the career she worked so hard to attain. For her, simply making a choice and finding peace with that choice created an environment of success.
Oh, how I would love to see my brother accomplish something enormous, something meaningful and life-altering, but mostly I want his indefatigable spirit to keep at it. For Daniel the everyday success he finds means one more step towards finding himself and I truly believe in what a little fruit can accomplish.
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