Fresh Paint

What would you choose, if you could? To be sick or healthy? Dying or growing? Moving forward or backward? Energetic or tired?

When I wake up in the morning, what are the first thoughts that cross my mind? Of the day's responsibilities or hopes? Of yesterday's failures, or today's promise? Of things lost or possessed?

Black Friday's traditionally the opposite of mainstream America for me, a day of deep sleep and leisurely awakening. And whether it's there or in life's other idle moments my mind's a clean canvas. What do I paint it with?

I have two palettes to draw my paint from. You remember what a used palette looks like... some brown or black mixed in with the yellows and greens. There's some pure color to draw from it, but why not reach instead for the fresh palette with its bright and flawless colors?

As a rolled about I recalled an exchange with a co-worker this week that could have gone better and let it start to darken the early morning fog in my head. Why would I relive this? A spacious sunny holiday stretched ahead. All I had to do is crawl out from under the soft comforter to use a fully healthy body, able mind, abundant resources and freedom to create an exciting future. I'll lift some weights, enjoy a relaxing shower, watch Alabama beat Auburn, watch a good movie with Dena, think ahead to basketball practice for next week. And of course spend some quality time with Hidden Bloggers!

Thanks For Tanks

Today I sat in Mom's kitchen eating the works - stuffing, turkey, potatoes, salad, rolls... as delicious as anything I remembered from childhood. Then Dena's tollhouse pie for dessert, where one slice feels like you just ate a bag of melted chocolate chip cookies. Perfectly full and ready for a nap in front of the T.V. in the living room, awaking with gentle stretching to a football game. Covered in a Snuggie.

I am sure thankful that my safety is completely secure, so unlike other nations across the world. People sacrificing time with their families and huddling in cold and dangerous places thousands of miles from home are helping to make this moment possible for me.

Thank God for these people, and that I live in America!

Ironman With The Wobbly Knees

What is the scientific principle that makes it easier to walk for three hours on a treadmill while watching football than to stand for two hours watching people play basketball?

Tonight was a fun debut as volunteer assistant coach of the Normal Community High School Ironmen freshman basketball squad. Most all I could do was watch and learn... names, for example. I think I got a lot of those down. The team has a player who's 6'5". By comparison, the tallest player on my varsity team as a senior was 6'4".

Coach Goldman is beautiful to watch in action. He has this way of telling it like it is, pointing out flaws in a constructive way. He even managed to be respectful when criticizing a lack of hustle. He's funny too, and not at the expense of others.

We used some drills that were fun and focused. The practice started with an inspirational message, and ended with fist bumps all around. It was a great use of time! With a game against crosstown rival Bloomington High on the horizon, every second counts.

Silence Is Olden

So today I was sitting in a class which was teaching a bunch of call center employees how to sell life insurance. I was sort of a special guest who got a seat by asking the management if I could sit in and observe their class structure, for learnings to apply to my own department. I've worked in life insurance for 15 years, but not a day in a call center. Through the years, I've found it surprisingly effective to build a relationship in a new group by shutting up, and listening enthusiastically. I recall scientific studies that demonstrated how affection between people developed simply by looking into each other's eyes for a period of time. Likewise, in a group of strangers, I'll frequently make a point of smiling as much as I can, nodding in affirmation with eye contact as others speak, and laughing heartily along with the group. It's all genuine, and perhaps as pure as can be - I feel positively about them, and have little of intelligence to say, so why confuse the nonverbal message with some lame attempt to impress them with my "skill"? Speak when spoken to, I say... a welcome guest is an invited guest. First, after about an hour, the lady next to me struck up a pleasant conversation. Later, someone asked a question about tax, which the instructor then deferred to me since he knew my experience with it.

I'm thinking that's why God did away with the "voice-in-the-burning-bush" routine. If silent relationships are golden, then his are the richest in the universe!

Word Of The Day

While attending a class today at work, I saw a word that starts with the letter t and contains the letter u four times. Anyone? Hint: It's a four-syllable adjective.

Voice Acting Demos

Here they are... my personal voice acting resume. There's both a commercial and a narration demo.

http://www.vfademos.com/jmcdonald/

Brian Johnson

This week my good friend Brian Johnson passed away suddenly from an apparent heart attack one morning at his home.

Not much older than myself, Brian was powerful force of life. I had the pleasure of seeing the heartfelt side of his passion as a classmate of Leadership McLean County 2004. His full-bodied tenor laugh came out early and often, embedded in conversations that he so skillfully launched and peppered with questions to draw you comfortably in. How's the family? How's the career? How's our friend doing? There were few strangers in his company, and even the shyest felt like part of the gang. A gleeful, almost table-slapping storyteller, he was voted to the honor of class speaker at graduation. Afterward he had the highest attendance at our class reunion breakfasts. He was a loyal friend.

I also saw Brian's serious face in his chairmanship of the LMC interview and selection process during my time as class facilitator, and I hear that he was the same way in his managerial duties at the office. He asked tough questions, the kind that forced people to get out from behind a vague professional cover and express their true selves. This was just a manifestation of the person he was himself - a straight shooter whose emotions were honest.

Brian's time here was too short given all that he had to offer. Whatever divine purpose his passing may have served must truly be great, for he departs with a large extended family behind him.