Making a difference...

I am very blessed. I have a great relationship with God. I have a wonderful husband…a wonderful family…fantastic friends…a great job (my full time job and my TriBalance Coaching business)…some great pets and people who support me through thick and thin. As I am getting older…I realized that I would like to make a difference in someones life…whether it was just one person or a whole bunch of people. I feel fortunate because this weekend…I did. In more than one way… This weekend, I was in MI…working on my Dad's house. As you may have read, my Dad passed on November 13th. It has been extremely tough…mentally. When I am in TX…I think of my Dad but think that he is in MI…mowing the grass, playing with his dog, planting his flowers for the year. He had a beautiful garden! When I am in MI, it is a completely different story. I am driving his car…going to his house…that is empty…getting an appraisal on his house, looking through old papers that he kept. I found a letter from my Grandma to my Grandpa and she was talking about how big my Dad was getting. He was at his 6 week check up. The letter was dated January 1946. I took some things of my Dad to Salvation Army…clothes, shoes, jackets, ties, suits and then the household things…dishes, bowls, cups, glasses, old knifes, etc. The gentlemen that helped me unload the things and I had a wonderful conversation. Salvation Army Worker: "Madam, you have a lot of nice stuff in here." Me: "Yeah…it is nice…but I wasn’t sure I was able to sell it in a garage sale." SAW: "Are you moving…is that why you are getting rid of it?" Me: "No, it was my Dad. He passed away in November." SAW: "Your Old Man passed away…I am so sorry. How old was he? You did say Your Old Man?" Me: "Yeah...he was young…he was 62." SAW: "Dang, that is young. I am so sorry." Me: " Yeah, I wanted to drop these things off and hope that I can make a difference in someonelse's life. I really don’t need to try to sell the coffee mug for 5 cents or the jacket for $5.00. It is not worth the hassle. Life is just too short. I want to help someone out in need more than needing the money." SAW: "Amen…thank you." As I left the Salvation Army and realized that I made a difference by dropping off some things that folks may need…I realized so did my Dad…I just started balling. I couldn’t control it. I think it hit me…I was in MI. I didn’t know who to call…everyone was at work. Hubby was in Houston, my brother was working with his new interns and my sister in law was in a meeting. I called my Mom…you can always rely on Mom. She will drop everything for you. I needed to hear a peaceful voice. She made it so easy for me. And I thank her for this. Happy Mother's Day! After I calmed down…I stopped for some retail therapy at Somerset Mall and went to one of my favorite athletic store, Lululemon Athletica….http://www.lululemon.com/. They have the best workout clothes! You need to check it out if you haven't already! I grabbed my Blackberry to check my messages. I received an email from a women who read my TriBalance Coaching blog. She told me thank you for writing a blog regarding my miscarriage and getting back in the swing of things through exercise and triathlon. I made a difference…again! Wow! Earlier that day…I spoke at my nephew's 2nd grade class regarding my full time job. I talked with them on how to become an animal trainer and how to train animals. I talked with them as well to have goals…be a good brother or sister, a good daughter or son, etc. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. I picked up Jaxson from school that day and we were chatting in the car and he said…"Aunt Jennifer…I have something for you…" He pulled out 24 thank you cards for the kids that I gave the talk too. Wow…once again, I made a difference. As I look back at my week in MI…I felt that I wasn’t accomplishing much, especially physically. I wasn’t getting my workouts in. I wasn’t eating right. I only went to CrossFit one time. But looking at the big picture, I accomplished a lot…. 1. I made a difference in my nephew's 2nd grade class. 2. I made a difference with another fellow triathlete. 3. I made a difference with possibly hundreds of people through Salvation Army. 4. I even helped my Dad made a difference with possibly hundreds of people through Salvation Army. 5. I spent quality time with my brother, sister in law, my beautiful niece, and handsome nephew. I am very blessed. I made a difference in numerous lives on Monday in MI. Now, I have to wonder...how many lives have I changed each day of my life?...I will never know but I do know...I am MAKING A DIFFERENCE!