My Biggest Wakeup Call
My biggest wakeup call came recently and it was our 3 year old grandson, Kolton, who opened my eyes to it.
A beautiful sunny morning, we had walked over to his future school, where he enjoyed watching all the kids at play. The big kids even let him score a goal during a fun game of soccer. He was thrilled! Afterwards, we walked a few more blocks toward the local Tim Horton’s coffee shop, picking up some pinecones and dandelions for his mother along the way.
“What do you think about having a cookie, Kolton?” He was delighted at that prospect and asked if I was happy. I paused for a moment and said, “Actually, I’ll be happy just to sit down!”
When we got there, I ordered a coffee. The nice lady behind the counter showed great patience – as Kolton finally decided that the big gingerbread man cookie with bright blue icing would be a perfect choice.
As we sat at the table, he looked up from his cookie crunching to again ask, “Me happy. Grandpa happy?” Being a bit more tired than usual, I didn’t directly answer him. Instead (probably looking for inspiration) I asked, “Why are you happy, Kolton?”
Looking up at me with blue icing covering his face, his answer came haltingly, in the form of a question, “Because I can sit down?”
Later, back at home, I let the enormity of his words sink into my heart … ‘out of the mouth of babes’!
“And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.”
— Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin
I guess our little ones don’t need a reason to be happy… unless they borrow one from us adults. Yet, shouldn’t my being with him, and sharing his love, be reason enough for me to be happy? Excited? Proud?
Later that day – as if to drive this message home – we got the call that my Mother-in-law had been admitted to hospital suffering from a heart attack. And, although it was deemed “mild”, I’ll never forget the real fear in my wife’s eyes. It’s another reminder that Life just won’t be taken for granted.
“‘Cause I have wandered through this world,
And as each moment has unfurled,
I’ve been waiting to awaken from these dreams.
People go just where they will,
I never noticed them until I got this feeling
That it’s later than it seems.”
— Doctor My Eyes by Jackson Browne
My dad used to say that people don’t know when they’ve got it good, which makes it easy to start sleep-walking through life, oblivious to the needs of others. I mean, with only a few aches and pains, who am I to complain? If I’ve been so blessed in life – with every real reason to be happy – I have no real reason to be sad.
Yet, we have free will to choose our thoughts and probably it’s the most important work of our lives. In ‘Paradise Lost’, English poet John Milton wrote, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” So, if we’re unhappy now, how will we fare during a time of real need?
I learned from my grandson that it’s simple. This ‘not being in the present’ can lead us far from being our best.
There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known,
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown,
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be,
It’s easy.
— All You Need is Love by The Beatles
Examples of people trying their best are all around us. Like author and motivational speaker Spencer West, who despite losing his legs as a child, is now preparing to be the first person to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro – 20,000 steps for charity, in a wheelchair!
Maybe asking the right kind of questions will give us the right answers:
What kind of examples do our actions and attitudes create? Are we redefining what’s personally possible? If not now, when?
Doctor my eyes– cannot see the sky,
Is this the prize for having learned how not to cry?
As for me, I’ll always remember the day that little Kolton reminded me to ‘wake up and smell the coffee’!

www.fredparry.ca 2012
Real good info can be found on this web blog.
You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart. “What power has law where only money rules.” by Gaius Petronius.
I just want to mention I’m very new to weblog and actually enjoyed you’re blog site. Almost certainly I’m going to bookmark your blog . You certainly come with tremendous articles and reviews. Many thanks for sharing your web site.
I simply want to mention I am just all new to blogs and really liked you’re web site. Almost certainly I’m going to bookmark your blog . You certainly have excellent articles. Thanks a bunch for sharing your website page.
Very interesting topic, thanks for posting.
I like this post, enjoyed this one regards for posting .
Stunning page, could onlu dedicate a lot of time fine-tuning that, because There are not seen a really work of art actually, both equally from your technological and stuff you publish!
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again! “Every time we remember to say thank you, we experience nothing less than heaven on earth.” by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
Hello, Neat post. There’s a problem along with your website in internet explorer, would test this… IE nonetheless is the marketplace chief and a huge part of people will miss your great writing due to this problem.
I have read some good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to make such a magnificent informative website.
I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website 🙂
I am extremely inspired along with your writing abilities and also with the layout in your weblog. Is that this a paid subject matter or did you customize it your self? Either way stay up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a great blog like this one these days..
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the page layout of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two images. Maybe you could space it out better?
If you could email me with a few hints & tips on how you made your blog site look this awesome , I would be thankful.
You could certainly see your expertise in the paintings you write. The arena hopes for more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart.
Is it alright to place a portion of this in my site if I submit a reference point to this web page?
magnificent points altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What would you recommend about your post that you made some days ago? Any positive?
I am not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this info for my mission.
Incredibly stylish site! I’ve truly produced a few, however you run a real work of art! We are really impressed!
Hey there do you mind permitting me know which web hosting you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your site in 3 totally different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads much faster then many. Can anyone recommend a fantastic web web hosting service provider in a reasonable value? Many thanks, I appreciate it!
Thanks … see RSS feed or check back 3rd week of the month.
Cheers,
FP
New songs began enjoying when i opened this specific webpage, so frustrating!
Superior website page, the hyperlink Managed to get out of this individual we should tell you that byli? definitely not of you. Probably the greatest personal blogs That i’ve ever noticed. Take care!
Remarkable articles! You will allow reply with e-mail? I’ve a number of concerns about your web blog.
I enjoy you because of your own effort on this web site. My daughter really likes engaging in investigations and it’s easy to understand why. All of us notice all of the powerful means you provide useful ideas via this web blog and therefore foster response from the others on this issue plus our girl is undoubtedly discovering a great deal. Take advantage of the rest of the new year. Your carrying out a superb job.
Normally the 2 – 3 times per month (subscribing to the RSS feed will automatically advise).
Take care,
FP
quite helpful material, overall I imagine this is worthy of a book mark, thanks a lot
I have been browsing on-line more than three hours nowadays, but I never found any fascinating article like yours. It is beautiful worth enough for me. In my view, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you did, the web will likely be much more helpful than ever before.
I got what you mean , appreciate it for putting up.Woh I am lucky to find this website through google. “It is a very hard undertaking to seek to please everybody.” by Publilius Syrus.
Real fantastic information can be found on site . “I can think of nothing less pleasurable than a life devoted to pleasure.” by John D. Rockefeller.
Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, thankyou . “It requires more courage to suffer than to die.” by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Helpful information. Fortunate me I found your site by accident, and I’m shocked why this coincidence did not happened in advance! I bookmarked it.
I dugg some of you post as I cogitated they were invaluable extremely helpful
I reckon something genuinely special in this site.
[…]usually posts some incredibly exciting stuff like this. If you are new to this site[…]
I will right away grasp your rss feed as I can not find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me understand in order that I may subscribe. Thanks.
Whats up very nice website!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I’m glad to seek out a lot of helpful info right here in the publish, we want develop extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing.
Wow! This could be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Fantastic. I’m also a specialist in this topic so I can understand your effort.
Thanks … appreciate that.
FP
I do believe all the ideas you have introduced in your post. They are very convincing and will definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are too quick for starters. Could you please prolong them a little from next time? Thank you for the post.
I couldn’t refrain from commenting. Exceptionally well written!
*I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this information. Today bloggers publish only about gossips and internet and this is really annoying. A good website with exciting content, that is what I need. Thanks for keeping this site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.