JWsPOV

We are all many things in life. We all carry multiple hats. Some we wear straight and well; others are a little crooked. That is okay. Working and striving to be better is all anyone can ask. Doing more than one thing in life is expected. It has been since the beginning of time. There will always be multiple roles to manage as we navigate this thing called life.  Here is a list of things I am and that matter in my life.  I am a son. Sometimes not the best, I try. I am a brother. I hope I was the best brother. I miss that role.  I am an uncle. I care for those kids as if they were my own. I am a writer who works to get better every day. I am a baker. I have a chess pie and sweet potato pie recipes that will make you slap your grandmothers.  I am a livestock judge. I love sorting animals, working with kids, and people. I am a photographer. I love taking pictures and nowhere near good yet.  I am someone who motivates. Hopefully, helping people find purp...

I have always been a big proponent of education and learning. I think a solid foundation of math, reading, and science is a great start to any child’s life. Give them an afternoon nap or recess and then a good school bus ride home. These are some basic needs that give kids a good start in life. No matter what their homelife is like, school should be a place they want to go.  Education starts at home. It begins when we hear our parents and siblings speak to us, play games with us, and even discipline us. We watch the behavior of our moms and dads and want to imitate them and be like them in life. As we grow older, we start gaining our own identity from meeting friends, travels, family, and family friends. This is called growth and it is good.  No matter what is taught in school though, the education at home is a strong bond. This is true for a number of reasons. If teachers in the classroom were as effective, we would not have certain words or phrases around anymore...

  . With the hectic world we live in, we should treat ourselves and at the same time teach our kids a few lessons. When I was growing up fast food was not an option. We ate at home with something prepared and normally not from a box. Dining out was a treat and saved for those vacation times or just a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary. Reservations were almost always needed, and we typically cleaned up well.  Every child and human should be treated to a night of fine dining. Cloth napkins, reservations required, and service that is impeccable. Not everyone gets to experience that in life. Some have never been out of their county for anything. It doesn’t make them less of a person. It also does not mean they don’t understand the world.  People should dress up for dining out. If the restaurant has cloth napkins. You should not be wearing clothes so tight we can see the type of underwear you have on. We should also talk about wearing pajama bottoms out in public...

I remember growing up in our old farmhouse. Life seemed great. We loved getting summer rain to cool things down. We had a window A/C unit in the living room and box fans everywhere. When it rained, we would open the windows and let the cool air into the house. The sound of rain and the cool off was wonderful.  I didn’t know anything else when I was growing up. Life was wonderful.  We had a party line on our telephone. That changed later. My dad worked for the telephone company and my mom at the bank. I had an older sister that picked on me constantly, yet took me to the movies and to hang out with her friends. Life was wonderful.  We had a TV that got 3 stations. Most of my time was spent outside. Cows, bikes, marbles, hot wheels, and my toy tractors were my life. My sister played basketball and dad set up a goal and net in the backyard. Life was wonderful.  In the evenings we sat outside under the shade trees where it was cooler than in the house. Mom an...

Years ago, Joes Crab Shack, a popular chain restaurant, coined the phrase, ‘Peace, Love, and Crabs’. The phrase is catchy. Mainly for the fact that deep down we all want peace and love. We can add whatever noun at the end that soothes the soul. When my nephews were showing cattle, we had, ‘Peace, Love, and Herefords’, as a theme. They even had it printed on tie dyed shirts as well. Everyone loved it and the theme carried out to other cattle breeds. We only get peace through trials, troubles, and turbulence in life. Unless you are born an old soul, it takes time to get to that part of your life where you do not care what others think about you. You have conquered most of the demons in your life. You find peace with your family, friends, work, and especially home life. This is a super important step to a wonderful life.  Love can be accomplished in many ways -  family, friends, and even animals. You need to love what you do for work in life too. We spend a minimum of 40 hours a ...

  Baseball season is in full swing. Here in Texas, we have more than a few places to participate in America’s game. I really enjoy baseball games live. Cold beer, hot dogs, and the 7 th inning stretch. As a family outing for many, baseball is a very patriotic game and should be one that continues to inspire young people to believe in the good part of life.  When my dad lived in St Louis for a spell working, he and his buddy would go to a baseball game. There would normally be a double header. They would drink a beer and eat hot dogs for a ridiculously low cost. They may have spent one dollar for the tickets and another dollar for tons of food and drinks. Life was a little simpler back then and dad always has fond memories of that time of his life.  By the time the 5 th or 6 th inning rolls around, that pitcher is probably getting tired. He is struggling to get the ball over the plate and the speed has dropped. His arm is giving out. The unique aspect of baseball is wh...