Actually, theĀ youĀ isĀ me.
This is another prompt from the bookĀ 300 Writing Prompts. As you might have read, it’s a book a friend gave me when I left Red Ventures. I carry it with me everywhere. When I’m on a plane, I ask someone to pick a prompt for me to tackle.
It usually goes well, the ask.
The person who helped me with this one was in for a huge change in life. I’m going to send her the link to this, so I don’t want to give all the details. It was a great conversation and I have a feeling she’s doing wonderful things where she is.
If you had unlimited time and money, what would you do to help your friends and family? What about strangers?
I would start a program that would show which things would make us happy. For some friends, that could mean better health. It might be a new job, further education, or something real, like learning to yodel.
I would help them find that thing, then provide access to make it happen.
For my family, I would do the same. I’d also want to find our together thing. I’d take a week to KonMari the hell out of our house. I’d schedule a week to travel. I’d start a new soccer club with training for coaches.
I’d create a sliding scale for dues so everyone who wanted to play could.
I’d create similar opportunities for strangers. We’d identify a goal, create a path, and provide aid in exchange for charity work. I would start 100% on my charity idea, Bears & Balls, to provide kids with a teddy bear and a soccer ball, or both.
We’d toss them over fences and kick them into playgrounds.
I’d hire marketing staff to manage volunteers, who would also be in my program to find what makes them happy. They could earn help with volunteer hours.
I’d be sure to be at any game my girls play! As long as I can relax, travel, and have grilled cheese, I’d be happy.
-30-
#AtoZChallenge
A is forĀ Aināt Too Proud To Beg, Adam and Avril, and Amidala
B is forĀ Bonnie Marie Williams, voiceover superhero, a #GirlsRock interview
C is forĀ Conversations, Camdyn and cookies (#GratitudeAndShit)Ā
D is forĀ Dorsey Standish, yoga teacher and mindfulness coach, for #GirlsRock
E is forĀ End-of-your-career awards
F is forĀ Frank, my uncle
G is for šš½āāļøĀ Go Ask Daddy about what you GET to keep on Flea Market Flip, if Iām GOING to sit in a racecar next time I get my hair cut, and how high basketball scores GO
H is for āš»Ā haiku (my quarantine journal)
I is forĀ being IN progress, IMMUNE system meditations and INSIGHT (for #GratitudeAndShit)
J is forĀ Jess Cohn, an interview with a senior acquisitions editor, for #GirlsRock
K is forĀ Kelly Calhoun, an interview with an influencer, reporter and model, for #GirlsRock
L is forĀ learn
M is forĀ middle finger, mercy rules, and mating (Go Ask Daddy)
N is forĀ Nancy Kempa, realtor and translator, for #GirlsRock
š” O is forĀ observing, opportunities, and optimism (#GratitudeAndShit)
P is forĀ purify your mindset
Q is forĀ quarterback
R is forĀ Rebecca Reid, global development globetrotter, for #GirlsRock
S is forĀ still alive, stolen things and (green) screen (#GoAskDaddy)
T is forĀ teacher book review ā Schooled, by Stephanie Jankowski
U is forĀ unexpected fun, Uncle Frank, and understanding
V is for theĀ various roles I play
W is forĀ Carra Wheat, director of ticket operations for Charlotte Independence soccer (for #GirlsRock)
X is for 10 (my favorite players to wear that number)
Just a dad ... 
Great post and I am happy with grilled cheese as well! š love the idea of teddy bears and soccer balls. Mother Teresa’s quote fits perfectly!
Grilled cheese makes everything better, doesn’t it? The teddy bears and soccer balls idea came to me a couple of summers ago.
We were sorting things for a yard sale and had a pile of teddy bears. I could hear kids playing in the next yard, so, on a whim, I lofted a bear high in the air and peeked through the fence to see it come down.
A little boy ran to it and looked all around the sky. His big sister asked where he got it, and he yelled excitedly, “it just dropped out of the sky!”
As she turned around and he ran into the house, I lofted up another one. It landed on top of the AC unit and she spun around in surprise. She was smiling and looking around at the sky and toward the fence, but never saw me.
The idea that the kids thought the toys just fell out of the sky made me happy. And to think of kids who might not have teddy bears otherwise, it became even more appealing. I don’t believe these kids were in that situation, but to see their joy was priceless too.
Any post that you can write that a Mother Teresa quote fits has to make you feel good inside, too, right?
Awh! Love that story, thanks for sharing! I bet those kids told that story again and again to their friends! I can just imagine how happy that must have made you feel! ā¤ And yes about the Mother Teresa quote! š
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it. Once, I dropped a quarter out of my pocket at McDonald’s in line to order. It bounced once and landed in a little girl’s shoe. She reached down and picked it up, and showed it to her mom. “Where did that come from?” Her mom demanded. “I don’t know,” the kid said. “It just landed in my shoe!” The mom actually got pissed at the kid.
Awh! You are like a secret Santa for kids. LOL! š
I really don’t understand some parents though! Getting mad at her daughter!?? Did you say anything to the parent? I am sure I would have been saying things in my head probably.
I chose not to address it. I figured the mom would get over it – and I wanted the kid to believe in magic.
šā¤
make sure they all were taken care of and know they are loved. and flamin’ hot cheetos for all!
That’s a given, the hot cheetos, beth! Also that special detroit chocolate.
Sanders hot fudge for all !
yessss
What a wonderful prompt – and I love your response. (Bonus love for your additional comment about the teddies falling from the sky. That’s making me grin like a fool). I’ve always had a dream that schools would actually help kids find out what they love and then actually help them garner the skills to express themselves fully. Your response is very much like that only exponentially broader and more encompassing. I’ll be thinking more about this – after I have a grilled cheese sandwich.
It was fun, and I’m glad you liked the vision, Deborah! The teddy thing was just one of those in-the-moment things. I feel like we should not ignore those.
I love the idea of schools helping kids discover their path. It’s also about finding your strengths.
When I was a kid, I used to put a pat of butter in between the slices of cheese on my grilled cheese. Yeah.
That would be a wonderful way to improve the world.
And I’d have a blast doing it, Mimi!
I feel like if I had unlimited money, I’d pay off all of their homes. I feel like having that kind of peace of mind would make people happier. I don’t know that any one thing can make a person happy, to me that means you’re happy 24/7. Being happier would be an improvement from where you are and I think that’s pretty important.
A mortgage-free life would be kind of incredible, wouldn’t it? I’d invest and donate more if I had that. Maybe it’s just setting yourself further from your stressors that could make for a happier life.
Lovely post. And congrats on making it to the end of A to Z!
Thanks, Lynette! Still one to go that I haven’t finished… and I look forward to visiting your space, too.
I love what you’d do! So you and so fantastic.
I’d create a healing and therapy center to help people who’ve experienced trauma. And it would not only have a sliding fee but allow for people to gift sessions to others. As well as having traditional therapists, the healing would involve hypnotherapists, somatic healers, acupuncturists, intuitive nutritionists, massage therapists, and other intuitive healers. Oh, I just remembered, unlimited time and money. Along with therapy and healing, I’d have an education and training center, and transitional housing.
Thank you so much! I would have a blast.
I love the idea of a healing and therapy center (also so you). Especially the concept of combining so many means of healing in one spot. You have thought of not just the here and now, but sustainable difference, and that’s crucial.
Wow, what a great post. Love the challenge. Oh, how we would all love to be free. Life would be great for sure! Great post.
Thank you, Inna! The challenge got me thinking. What would freedom look like for you?
I agree that grilled cheese makes everything better ā¤ļø Also I love the idea behind bears and ballās. Like I really wish this were a thing right now. Hmm…. it seems weird to think about what to do with $$ when the first things that come to mind canāt be purchased at the moment, like travel tickets/ I mean I guess I can purchase and have that to look forward to m, right??
I hope you are staying safe during this time and that your daughters are well ā¤ļø Sending all my love to you, buddy!!
It’s scientific, or maybe religious, Charlotte! I really hope to find time and resources to make Bears and Balls take off. And I believe there’s tremendous momentum in making a plan to jet off somewhere, to have something awesome to look forward to!
We’re doing well, adjusting fine, missing friends, and enjoying the time together here, my friend. All my love to you and your beautiful family, too!