Net Miles Of Smiles

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All stories copyright 2008 Bob Perks
Today’s message:

“Sometimes”
By Bob Perks

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“It is how I was raised.  Now that I look back
I see how limiting that was and wonder how much
more I could have accomplished,” he said.

“What’s stopping you now?” I asked.

It was a simple word but in his childhood it
was more of a philosophy.

Sometimes.

I watched that day as two men played cards in
a nearby park.  It was a warm, sunny day blessed
with an occasional breeze just when you needed it.

I saw it as the kind of day I would rather be resting
in a lounge chair in my yard with a cool drink within
reach.  Eyes closed, baseball cap tilted slightly
over my eyes to shade them from the sun.

Here I was, walking in the park perhaps in search of
the perfect tree to sit under while watching the
world go by.  It is another one of my favorite
things to do; watch the world go by.

Two men caught my eye when I arrived.  Because
they were playing cards, I thought it was best not to
interrupt them.

Instead, they called to me.

“Hey, fella!” one man shouted.  “Come over here
and settle this.”

This might not be a good thing.

“Are you asking me to take sides on a bet?” I asked
as I walked toward them.

“Not a bet,” he said.

“Keep in mind, sometimes you win and sometimes you
lose,” I added.

The other man began laughing hysterically.

“There you go.  I told you.  That’s exactly what I said,”
the man shouted.

I was a bit confused at this point.  I thought they
were going to ask me about the card game.  I don’t
play cards, so I thought I’d be safe in this
conversation.

“What’s this all about?” I asked.

“Sometimes,” the man said.

“Sometimes what?”

“The word.  I just told my friend that sometimes is a
philosophy.  He brought it up when I lost the last hand.
He said exactly what you said, “Sometimes you win…”
 
“How’s that a philosophy?”

“My parents, my father in particular, always used that
word when I asked about things growing up,” he said.

Pausing for a moment as though he was remembering some
particular conversations, he continued.

“It is how I was raised.  Now that I look back I see
how limiting that was and wonder how much more I
could have accomplished,” he said.

“Give me an example,” I asked.

“We were poor.  If I asked him if poor people ever
get rich, he’d say sometimes.

If I asked if I was smart enough, he’d say sometimes.

If I asked if he loved me, he’d say sometimes.”

The sunlight that warmed the day suddenly sparkled in
the corner of his eye.  That last thought brought a
tear.

“So, hearing your friend say, “Sometimes you win,”
made you think about that?”

“Yes,” he said in a whisper.

“So, what’s stopping you now?” I asked.

He looked surprised.

“Men our age don’t get second chances,” his friend
said.

“Sometimes,” I said. He smiled.

“But here are three ways to change that.”

First…Every ending is a new beginning. If
retirement brings an ending, freedom to dream big
doesn’t end there.

Second…they say attitude is everything so choose a
better one than that.

Third…take on the challenge to change the perception
of being old.  It’s nice playing cards in the park. 

Why not be proactive in your community.  If you have
children, prove to them it’s never too late to begin
again. 

The truth is sometimes you win but you always learn from
losing.  That’s a win, too.”

The man stood up to shake my hand.

“Sometimes,” he said with emphasis, “you have a second
chance and you don’t know it,” he said.

“When God can’t get you to see it, “Sometimes” he
sends a “Friend you never met” to remind you, I added.

“I believe in you!”
Bob

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“I Wish You enough!”
 © 2001 Bob Perks

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear
much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough “Hello’s” to get you through the final “Goodbye.”