A BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE

And I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to serve and “give back” to society thru this wonderful organization.

I’m sure we all have times like those. Those weekends where there is no particular plan to hang out. Just relax. That's okay.

All that knowledge accumulated over the years. And yet, all of it is minuscule compared with the things in this world that I do not know.

What works for me might not work for somebody else. And what works for somebody else might not work for me.

I see so much effort and goodness. I see everyone contributing. And I can’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. A sense of ease.

This annoying family of four seated right next to us were talking super loudly, and I had a hard time trying to block out all the commotion.

Sometimes, going thru these episodes of "struggle" could be the best thing that has ever happened to you.

I’ve had other stuffed animals thrown my way, but they never came close to Dinomite.

Success had been defined so clearly by the standards of society. I accepted it, I followed it, and it served me well. Until it didn't.

Every single extra moment I have together with my family, my friends, my community, my country, my world, my universe - is an absolute gift.

Ladies and gentlemen, coming thru that door, weighing in at a healthy 140 lbs. and a serviceable 5 foot 7, Calvin "The Yes Man" CHUUUUUUUUU.

I took a look at my camera’s battery lights flickering, and quickly snapped a picture of the three minarets from the courtyard.

I looked like a dead fish floating in the sky. And some people down below looked away in shame. I heard someone mutter "oh he's useless".

And I faked a smile to everyone. Pretending to be happy on the outside - but feeling utter misery on the inside. I was left out.

He took a couple of dribbles to his right, and launched a shot over my outstretched arms that hit nothing but the bottom of the net.

He came straight up to my window. And his eyes were wide and glazed with anger. He was unaware of the saliva dripping down his mouth.

It was disheartening and discouraging, because I was struggling so mightily in something that used to come so naturally to me.