Choosing To Live a Life of Significance

Sep 30, 2014 by Jim and Jerolyn Bogear

 

In the March edition of Spirit magazine from Southwest Airlines, there was an article about how people were going back to the old ways in firing up the American Dream spirit. The article opened with, “The changing economy is spurring a radical new approach to living, and earning a living. And for a growing number of creative entrepreneurs, that approach seems to be working.”

They were giving up corporate, chasing after the power and prestige, and opening up their own little “mom and pop” kind of shops once again. Most are growing or making their own products. They are loving it and having a fulfilling life. This was a very good article but this opening sentence, along with the title, “The New American Dream,” got me to thinking again about some of those age-old questions for all of us….

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Learning With Addi

Sep 22, 2014 by Jim and Jerolyn Bogear

 

With a business trip to San Diego, I was able to sneak in a few hours of G-Pops and Addi time. Addi is our only grandchild, and she is 8 months old. I was able to “rescue” her from daycare for a few hours, while her mom and dad worked.

While I was holding her at her house and warming a bottle by running warm water over the bottle to take the cold chill off, something she did surprised and reminded me.

As we were waiting for the tap water to warm, she leaned out from my arms a bit and looked intently at the water running down the drain. You, like I, would say, “That’s it, nothing profound there, but thanks for sharing a grandpa moment.”

But I ask, is it that simple and non-profound?

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The Family Plan

Sep 17, 2014 by Jim and Jerolyn Bogear

 

 

When was the last time you took your family on a trip, and you had no idea where you were going? Crazy right? You don’t just pack up suitcases of clothes, hop in the car, and start driving. Of course not.

You dream of where you want to go. You research what is available at that location. You create a budget and save up your money to cover the expenses. You get out a map or your GPS and plot the route you are going to take. You have a plan for what you are going to do each day. Even if you have a ‘do nothing’ day, you still plan for it. It’s all very organized and gets you to your goal – a great family vacation.

So why don’t we apply this same focused planning technique to raising a family?

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Tone It Down!

Sep 10, 2014 by Jim and Jerolyn Bogear

 

I (Jerolyn) was waiting in line at the pharmacy the other day, and a woman walked in with 4 children and a teenager. They caught my attention because they were all very loud. At one calm point in the waiting time in this long line, the women looks down at the feet of one of the young girls (She looked to be about 6 or 7 years old) and suddenly and sharply snaps, “Tie your shoe!!” Scared me so much I almost bent down to tie my shoes, and I was wearing sandals.

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A Fire in the Belly

Sep 1, 2014 by Jim and Jerolyn Bogear

 

For the last few months I have been wrestling with a question. You see, I have 2 friends who have faced adversity in opposite ways.

One came out of a difficult childhood living in a poor country. She got herself and her daughter to the US. She has got a wonderful job with a lot of responsibility, bought a home and this fall is starting to work on her college degree. She made a life for herself.

My other friend, however, who also came from a difficult upbringing made very different choices. He is currently in jail facing a possible second prison sentence.

My question is, “Why do some people have a fire in their belly that pulls them up out of difficult circumstances and some people don’t?”

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