Unexpected Generosity. It Can Be A Form Of Magic.

Do bad habits define a person?

I have to confess.  I am and always be prejudice of smokers. My father before I was born smoked unfiltered Lucky Strikes.  He was a pool hustler as a young teen and like many other men of his generation they didn't know. I lost him at when I was 17 and that resulted into a standard that anyone I dated didn't smoke. I could have dated some beautiful women but because they liked to smoke I didn't pursue what many friends told me were open door opportunities.

 

About a month ago I got a bag at work from a company called Lulu Lemon. The bag was covered in Inspirational quotes. One of them said that in 20 years we will look at Coke and Pepsi as we do cigarette companies today.  As the obesity and diabetic numbers increase we see the amount  of chemicals we digest has a grave effect on our bodies.  I wonder as I age and deal with the effects of type 2 diabetes will my daughter look at people who drink sugary drinks the way I looked at girls who smoked.

Well to my point of my story and lesson. Last week my daughter celebrated her 4th Birthday. We had a family dinner at T.G.I.Fridays and as we walked out 3 women were smoking.  My natural instinct was to get my daughter away from the smoke.  The women looked at my daughter and smiled. They asked her how old she was, and then out of the blue they put out their cigarettes and each of them took out $5.00 cash and games it to my daughter.

I teared up, felt guilty and was choking up. These women who I judged by their choice of being smokers showed me they were generous, kind and giving.  I took the time to shake their hands and say thank you. My daughter was too shy to do anything then but give a small smile. 

TA4MC Do not judge someone by their personal habits. Judge them by how they treat others. Do you best to support them when they realize a change in their habits is needed.

What to expect now

Todays Advice For My Child "TA4MC" for short is a daily blog that focuses on lessons that I learn every day by challenges I deal with daily. The advice usually comes from an event that takes place during the day. My advice is intended as if I may not be around to deliver it personally. It is inspired by the movie My Life  with Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman. I am in no way Terminally Ill but I do suffer with Myasthemia Gravis and Type 2 Diabetes.

My advice comes from the perspective of wanting happiness for my daughter. This may be observed in non-traditional formats. I have no set lever of success or standards for my daughter to achieve other than to be happy. 

One of the reasons I share this because as an elementary school teacher in Las Vegas Nevada, I saw the affects of not having parents around for kids for what ever reason. A few students referred to me as Dad. I may no longer be there teacher, but I can still teach or share and create awareness, ideas and advice. 

If at any time I choose to use this site, blog or any form of social media for monetary gain, I will be transparent in these actions. As one of the lesson I wish to teach is entrepreneurship and freedom from the rat race world many of us find us so unhappy to be in. 

For the last two years I have posted regularly  on my personal Facebook page I now plan to go public with this fan page and blog. I want readers to be engaged, and discuss the advice for good, bad or indifferent. 

Thank you for following me on my personal journey to be around for my Daughter Olivia, my cousin's Children and my Students from Manch Elementary School  even when I can't be.