THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley


2 Comments

Impact

Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life. – So asks the daily writing prompt.

I was short on time yesterday I didn’t get a chance to write about my Mom. She had a positive influence on my life in many ways. The stories are personal now that she is gone. I might share them with my kids and grandchildren.

But I will say I saw a huge amount of courage, smarts, and determination in the face of very difficult circumstances. Love and compassion were things she displayed. She loved nature, be it nurturing her gardens or the wildlife or pets she spoiled. She was talented at the arts and very good at crafts.

She was calm at very stressful times. She endured a lot of emotional pain, losing loved ones at young ages. She was talented and insightful. She had a great sense of right and wrong. She loved her children and her sisters. And she could love a total stranger.

She believed there was good in everyone and looked for it. She was generous and sensitive. I miss her smile, her reassurance, her love and much more. When she passed over a decade ago, I was no longer #1 in anyone’s life. I miss that feeling.

And being she raised me I’d add that she had the patience of a Saint. I believe there is a saying about traits skipping a generation. I’m kind of sensing it might have some validity. I see a lot of her in my children.

A shot of her and I that I keep on my desk.


Leave a comment

Impact

Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life. – So inquires the Daily Writing prompt.

My children had a very positive impact on me. I had to put a fair amount of selfishness in the rearview mirror and replace it with sacrifice, but the return of love, joy, and happiness is beyond calculation unless you want to measure my smile when I’m with them.

Life till that point had been me and a few years with my better half. Still a pretty free time and one focused on us.

I was going to say life changed the day my daughter was born but that day was 3 days. Oh, I didn’t have the tough part, I wasn’t the one in labor for 3 days. It was a sign of the energy needed for the future though. And of course, she was born on the day Maryland men’s basketball team was playing in the March Madness NCAA tournament. Which was another signal that life as I knew it before was gone. The first of many changes to come.

But from the moment I saw her lying on her mother’s chest in the recovery room, I changed. And again when my son was born.

The overall positive effect it had and has today is that it reminded me every day, life is about others. It’s okay to focus on oneself for health and challenges. But if you want to enjoy life, find some people to love dearly and help them live happily and succeed.

And when they succeed you get more rug rats to enjoy as grandparents.

A happy trio. Photo by Mike Hartley

Other replies to this prompt – https://wordpress.com/tag/dailyprompt-1936