Resolution Reversal For The New Year

Well, here we are at the end of another year. A time when most start making those New Year’s resolutions. I myself am often a victim of the Resolution game…only to feel like a failure by mid-February. So this year I am going to try a little resolution reversal. Instead of making a list of things I want to do in 2014, I am going to make a list of what I’m NOT going to do.

I am NOT going to take my health for granted. Several friends and people I care about faced health battles in 2013 that I can’t even begin to imagine. I am starting 2014 healthy, for that I am thankful and I don’t intend to squander it!  

I am NOT going to spend more time with my kids. Not because I don’t want to, but because, frankly, their schedules don’t allow it. They are all at ages where they are busy with their own activities and don’t have a lot of time leftover for, well, me. (They’ve chosen good, healthy activities and are happy, so it’s okay.) So instead of having unreasonable expectations, I will just vow to focus on the quality of time spent with them, rather than on quantity. I can sure make the most of those moments spent in the car, in the kitchen making dinner, and when telling them good night.

I am NOT going to ignore the needs of my neighbors. I am already involved in several community groups, but in the new  year I may focus on helping individuals in need. They are everywhere I look. Some may need food, some may need my time, often I’ll bet, they’ll only need encouragement. I think I might start not doing this one today.

I am NOT going to read more in 2014. Instead, I am going to write more. For the past several years, I have probably averaged reading a book a month. And now I have the makings of a book of my own in my head and this may be the year I get it down on paper (or on a flashdrive as the case may be).

I am NOT going to stop sweating the small stuff, because for me it is the small stuff that can make such a big difference. Issues that some people may deem small…are huge to me. It is just the way it is, so might as well stop fighting myself on it.

I am NOT going to take up a new hobby. The hobby I currently have, Rick Springfield and his music, keeps me plenty busy, and frankly helps keep me sane (okay, so this point may be debatable). Instead, maybe I’ll  focus on enjoying that hobby even more. So all this basically means is that he needs to beef up his Midwest Tour Schedule! J (Rick, I hope you’re reading this.)

By NOT doing the above, I believe I will NOT lose sight of what truly matters in my life; family, community, things that make me, me. I will not lose sight of what makes this The Good Life.

 

People Are The Prize

My daughter’s Fifth Grade teacher sent out an email saying that cups, spoons and hot chocolate were still needed for the class Holiday Party. Within 30 seconds, she got several responses and the needs were all filled right away.

At my other daughter’s school it was evident a few kids, who perhaps relied on school lunch each day for food to eat, may not have the Christmas feast that many of us will enjoy. A discreet plea went out from some concerned parents and students, and families responded by bringing in baskets full of food! Enough so that several families could enjoy a Christmas feast! (And there was lots extra, to help them  get through all of Christmas break.)

Driving my kids to school this morning, I noticed a car pulled over to the side of a busy road. I didn’t see a driver at first, but as we went by I could see the head of an elderly woman peeping over the steering wheel. As I prepared to turn around to see if she needed help, I noticed in my rear view mirror many other cars had already stopped to see what was the matter.

So for as much as I write about The Good Life here and my love for the schools,  the many activities for families, the fact that it seems Rick Springfield is often performing in a six-hour radius and the DIVISION 1 HOCKEY! It always, always comes back to the people.

The people in the Greater Mankato area, that are so generous with their time, talents and often their money. Whether it’s simply sending in a pack of plastic spoons, feeding a family of four, or getting out in the cold to help a stranger, it’s more than “Minnesota Nice.” People here see a need and fill it without thinking of themselves.

People are what truly makes living here, The Good Life.

More Than Just Sound

A few months ago my daughter was listening to her music in the kitchen. She kept playing one song over and over again. It was not a song I’d heard on the radio so I asked her about it. She explained it was this singer named Jake Miller who she found on YouTube and whose songs were “so awesome and Mom, you just have to listen to the words.” And so I did. The song was “A Million Lives” and turns out, I then listened to it over and over again.

I looked him up, which wasn’t hard because, good grief, does this kid know how to use social media. Now I feel compelled to tell you about this young man.

He was 20 at the time, and at the time, young artists/musicians were making headlines for not so great things…urinating in trash cans, twerking on TV for all the world to see…you get the drift. But in the middle of all that is Jake Miller, rapping words of hope and encouragement to teens (well, anyone of any age for that matter) dealing with bullying, peer pressure, suicide notions, losing a loved one.  And he is bringing positivity to their world via a means that they can understand and relate to.

Normally, this type of music would make a headache hip-hop around in my skull. But not this stuff. I listen, I learn a little more about the world my kids are growing up in, and sometimes, like when he sings about just “kickin on the couch” I laugh and have a bit of fun. I’m waaaaay past relating, but my kids do and we can talk about it. I wish his music was on the radio here. It is so unlike most songs played on the radio today, songs that make me frantically try to change the station when the kids are in the car because I don’t want them listening to it.

 Ten months ago, Jake Miller remembers performing in Minneapolis to a crowd of 75 or so people. This past weekend, he performed to a sold-out crowd of nearly a thousand at The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis. Yes, among those in the sold out crowd were my two daughters and I. Before the show we got a chance to talk to Jake…well, I talked, they swooned.

I asked Jake if it was intentional, if he all along planned to send these messages through his music. Did he know it would have such an impact?

Jake Miller responds, “ I have all these followers and fans and I feel like if you have the power to say something to change someone’s life or the power to help someone, then you should do it.” He goes on to say “Music without a message is just sound.”

 By all accounts, Jake is a hard working 21-year old but his fans are hard working as well. Particularly through social media, which Jake credits with much of his young success.

Jake says, “ Yeah, I mean, I started on YouTube and started getting a following there. And that’s just how it all started. Now I try to meet as many fans as possible.  Even though they’ve increased in number I still try to meet as many of them as I can at each show. That connection with the fans has to be there and it always will be. I have a dream and they are making it come true.”

He is now in the midst of a 43-city tour across the country to support the recent release of his first full length CD, “Us Against Them.”

As a mom of four, I told Jake I appreciated his music. He shyly replied “Thank you” and said the greatest compliments he gets are from parents.

I would suggest listening to  "A Millions Lives," "Like Me" is super sweet, and "Steven" will likely make you cry. 

Now, are all of his songs delivering some sort of positive social message to young people? Well, no, some of his songs are just meant to be fun. He is after all a 21-year-old artist. Rapping about what it takes to live The Good Life. 

On The Right Track

I was recently referred to as a great example of a Greater Mankato “boomerang!” I am indeed someone who spent time in Mankato many, many years ago…then returned to stay forever! (You’ve all heard that story!) But this week I experienced something that made me even more sure that I boomeranged back to the right spot.

I was a part of the Greater Mankato Growth Business Hall of Fame and Awards ceremony.

At just more than 400 attendees, it was a sold out crowd. And what a crowd it was! Dynamic yet humble, competitive yet encouraging of all those around them. Listening to the acceptance speeches that night, two themes stood out: they all said they took huge risks that ended up paying off, and they feel the greater Mankato area is, in their words, "ready to explode!" As prosperous as the community is now, I think the genuine feeling in the business community here is that this is just the beginning and we are on the cusp of something special here.

I also got a sense of respect and teamwork from all those in attendance. Two things that I think helped the community overcome obstacles that often pop up as any area tries to grow. Several of the recipients talked about partnerships they forged that helped with their success, and the need for collaboration between the city, the business community and the educational systems both Higher Ed and K through 12… to get the job done, and done well. Not all parties always agreeing, but coming together to problem solve and move on.

I am already looking forward to next year’s event! To once again reflect on the victories we will surely see in 2014, and review how we grew stronger from the road bumps that will also inevitably try to slow us down. But right now we are staying on track, a track that keeps us living The Good Life. 

Time is Fleeting: Embrace The Good Life

When I started this blogging journey, I was committed to writing a new one each week. And even through vacation, first week of school, new position at work…I’ve been able to maintain that. But this week I’ve hit a stumbling block otherwise known as writer’s block. Not a good thing when you do what I do for a living.

So, I have started at least four blogs for this week.

One was on the beauty of this region this time of year. I find there is nothing more calming than a drive down Belgrade Avenue in lower North Mankato in the fall. The tree lined streets abloom with rich reds, yellows and oranges. Trees framing a street with homes exuding so much character I just want to stop the car, get out and go meet the people residing in them. I love the scenery there so much, I take that route even if it is “the long way” home. I know in a couple of days those bright colors will be replaced with the gray of winter.

Then, I started a blog on the passing of Snickers this past weekend. Although he was a TINY Siberian Dwarf Hamster, Snickers was a BIG part of our family. Snickers taught my daughter Grace  a lot about responsibility and five days ago, he taught her a lot about death and losing a loved one. A lesson that was sadly put into perspective as her classmate’s father lost his battle with cancer Monday. My aching heart for the Schwartz family prevented me from going further on that blog.

Finally, I started a blog about karaoke. Despite years of peer pressure to just try it, I finally did for the first time Friday night, among a small group of good friends. Friends who did not care if I could carry a tune or keep a beat. So in my safe and secure environment of the Coop (my friend’s most awesome man cave!) I sang Red Hot Chili Peppers “Can’t Stop.” And indeed I couldn’t stop, singing the night away with my small audience of four. Isn’t it a great feeling to have friends that you are comfortable enough around to leap out of your comfort zone? I ended the night thinking, “why didn’t I try that sooner!”

I will not likely be karaoking again anytime soon, but for that one night I imagined myself as a backup singer for Rick Springfield. No, he doesn’t really have backup singers per se…but maybe that’s because he hasn’t heard me yet! Yes, it was getting to be a silly blog so I stopped.

So, I will have to wait until next week to get going…or should I say blogging…again. This week I just don’t have much to say. Oh wait. I just did.

If you look close, all three of these short stories have a theme: time is fleeting, go embrace The Good Life!

A Balanced Community: Business and Artistic Ventures Are Key

I think my lack of artistic ability was apparent at a pretty young age. I recall being around 5 or 6, when a simple first grade art project of painting a tree on a piece of legal size paper ended with me being put in a separate corner of the classroom with drop cloths all around. Sigh.
But it was two years later when an art teacher taught me, art can take many forms, and as long as it is done from the heart is always beautiful to someone. There is no right or wrong,she said,and unlike the grammar lessons I loved so much (seriously, I loved them, weird I know) art had no “rules.”
To be honest, though, that really never stuck and I ended up never understanding or even attempting many artistic ventures since then. But the older I get, and as I watch my children try different creative pursuits from music to sculpting, I am thinking, “why not pursue those things now if I want?” I'll tell you why not. It's still intimidating.
I would walk into an art studio and not be able to tell a pastel from an acrylic (I'm hoping those are actual art terms, I recall my 10-year-old telling me about them.) But, I should have known this community I love so much would come through for me. You see, we hear all about how our region is growing; manufacturing, professional business, population. Well, the arts community is growing right along with it.
And mixed in with the restaurants, bars, and office buildings downtown is a little place called the 410 Project. It is a non-profit, completely volunteer-run art gallery and "experimental station." (I’m told it’s the only one of its kind in Southern Minnesota.) I had the pleasure of meeting the volunteer director, Dana Sikkila, last week. She and her troop of dedicated volunteers open the space on weeknights and weekends, after working their full-time paying jobs. They give “amateur” artists a place to display their work and they offer classes. They have such a heart for it because they know for a community to truly thrive, you need to have a way for people to express and explore.
It was clear this is a place where even I, who can’t tell my Picasso’s from an 8-year-old’s painting (true story), could go to try something new. It’s totally open to everyone no matter age or ability. And the vision Dana has for it is incredible, she truly has a passion for bringing this community into full balance between artistic ventures and business ones.
The 410 Project, its volunteers and the community members who help support it are all part of what makes this “The Good Life.”

How Was Your Weekend?

“How was your weekend?” may be the most used phrase at the start of each workweek. A look back at this past weekend in the greater Mankato area is a good indication of what makes living here, well, great! The weekend kicked off Friday night with a sold out country concert. Florida-Georgia Line filled the Verizon Wireless Center with folks of all ages. And contributed to the thousands that flooded downtown Mankato restaurants and bars. Ah, camaraderie and country music. Saturday, I’ve heard from many of you, was time spent with family and friends. Many taking advantage of the waning summer days to have get-togethers with neighbors. Personally, I took part in a “Best Burger Cook off” hosted by Jason and Julia Pohlman. This was not just your regular, friendly cook off. It was highly competitive I found out, after I arrived. My simple bacon and cheddar burger (and by mine, I really mean Hy Vee’s…as many of you know I can’t cook), was not even close to being enough to top a fried egg burger on croissant, a tomato basil burger and a super yummy fried onion patty that was to die for. I didn’t walk away with a prize, but I did walk away with a few extra pounds! Not to worry though, I could work them all off Sunday morning on the Mankato River Ramble. I predict this to be an autumn destination for Minnesotans all across the state in a year or two. It features bike rides of various lengths along the beautiful river. It’s more than just a ride though. There’s plenty of scenery, entertainment and refreshment along the way…oh yeah, and more that community camaraderie I keep talking about! The weekend culminated with Division 1 hockey baby! The Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks held an exhibition game Sunday evening, again at the Verizon Wireless Center (think that thing gets used much? J) There’s already an air of excitement this year surrounding the Mavs, and they intensified that Sunday with a 7 – 1 victory over Lethbridge. So many of us hit Monday tired from the weekend. But it was a good weekend, part of what makes this The Good Life.