Granny’s In Your Face!

A 64 year old grandmother from Texas has inspired me!  I don’t know her name or her occupation or anything about her life except for one thing.  She attempted and completed the Big Texan Steak Ranch 72oz Challenge!  Let me explain how impressive this is.  In under an hour, this elderly powerhouse put down:

                A Baked Potato

                A Shrimp Cocktail

                A Salad

                AND a 72oz Steak

According to the Travel Channel, this competition began in 1960 when the restaurant first opened.  Since then over 48,000 people have attempted the challenge and only around 8000 have completed it.  Some of the biggest, burliest, Texan men to ever rustle a steer have tackled this feat, only to have it end with them running for the bathroom or throwing in the towel while the leftover steak on their plate openly mocks them with a big, beefy grin.  (Sorry, that was kind of gross.) 

But not this petite grandma.

She would not taste the bitter draught of defeat.  In fact, the owner said she finished off the meal, daintily wiped her mouth, put a little lipstick on, and left with a smile on her face.                   

Why does this inspire me so much?  Simple.  Clearly this was a woman who hadn’t forgotten how to dream, how to be fun, and how to meet challenges head on. 

I catch grief sometimes from some of my “older” friends because I’m a teacher and most of my time is spent around high school and college kids.  But to be honest, I love them, and I love being around them!  THEY haven’t forgotten how to dream!  Their lives are filled with excitement about the future!  They look ahead and make plans and tackle challenges with enthusiasm!

A lot of people my own age have comfortably settled into their lives.  They isolate themselves, lock into their own worlds, and rest on the successes they’ve had.  Or they spend a large portion of their lives regretting the successes that escaped them.  I don’t condemn them for this, but to me, the worse part about all of it is…they become incredibly boring.  They lose their passion!  They become terribly predictable and spiritually lethargic.      

So, to all my friends, my high school and college friends as well as my “more mature” friends, I say…don’t ever lose your passion and drive for life!  Most of you younger guys have it now because it comes naturally to you when you’re young.  Hold on to it!  And remember, the fact that you wake up in the morning and are able to take a breath shows that God is not done with you.  He has plans for you and a future for you.  Go for it!  Do the things you want to do but are scared of!  Dream about your future whether you’re 16 or 80!    

Don’t throw in the towel!  Don’t give up!  The 64 year old grandma from Amarillo didn’t!  She woke up that day and decided, “I can do this.”  She got dressed, got in the car and showed up!  Do you think her waiter believed she could do it?  Probably not.  Did she let that stop her?  No way! 

And now, Granny’s in your face.  She’s challenging you to not be afraid!  To live life, to dream, to not be boring or content, to wake up and say, “What can I do today?” and just as importantly, “What am I going to do tomorrow?”    

Not Quite Good Enough

One of the things I enjoy doing the most is working with a group of creative people to achieve a common goal.  Sounds vague, I know.  But when you’re working on an artistic project with a group of imaginative people all aiming at an agreed upon target, it is one of the most rewarding things I know of.  Well, besides diving headlong into an extra-large Deluxe Uno Pizza from Marco’s that is (SHOUT OUT!).

I have found that artists, in any field and at any level of proficiency, have a natural inclination to doubt their work.  Many times we strive away, working on whatever creative project we love, all the while keeping that project hidden from the rest of the world because we’re not quite sure how well it stacks up against the work of others. 

WHY?

While there can be any number of reasons for the mindset, one that rings true for most artists I’ve known is the notion of not being quite good enough.  As some of you reading this can attest, a creative person is their own worst critic.  And the more skillful an artist becomes at his craft, the more critical of himself he becomes.  What can happen as a result is having many excellent ideas and projects that have been “worked to death” by artists attempting to get them “perfect” before sharing them.      

This past summer, the Writers’ Guild from Northlake Christian School and I completed work on a full length two act play entitled, “Freddy Finkle’s Fabulous Frankfurters.”  (More on that to come) This is the third play the guild has written for Northlake and likely the most challenging.  But one thing this group of students does better than any other creative group I’ve ever been a part of, is work together.  There are no egos, no hurt feelings because someone doesn’t like an idea, and hopefully no God gifted individuals who feel inadequate in sharing their talent. 

So, allow me to stand atop the mountain of unfinished projects, and unfulfilled artistic drives and cry out in my best Braveheart Impression, “FREEDOM!!!!!”  Creative people, STOP being ashamed of your work!  Stop being scared to use what God gave you and share that gift with the world!  Who cares if people don’t like it?  What matters is that YOU like it, and that your ultimate goal in everything you do is to bring honor and glory to the One who created you. 

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (ESV)    

You Might Be A Drama Queen If...

Why does it seem like everyone who IS a Drama Queen doesn’t believe it?  But, before we continue, allow me to clarify.  I’m not talking about your wannabe Drama Queens; those who own multiple articles of pink clothing complete with sequins that spell “Brat,” “Diva,” or “If the Tiara Fits…”  I’m talking about true, everyone is against her, should win an Oscar for any one of her daily emotional outburst, could likely end up on the Maury Show, brand of Drama Queens.

We all know one.  And we all avoid her.  (Sorry I keep saying her.  It’s merely for brevity’s sake ;)  No…really.) 

And have you ever realized that you can’t TELL a Drama Queen that they’re being a Drama Queen?  They simply don’t hear it.  I am convinced that there is some unknown gene only present in spoiled little diva’s minds that make them incapable of hearing those words.  So, don’t waste your breath.  Because if you accidentally push too hard in trying to convince a Drama Queen that they are being overly dramatic, you will, in effect, end up being PART of one of their daily dramatic tirades!  And it will be your fault.  Because any one of the 750 plus negative events that may happen in her life on a daily basis are ALWAYS someone else’s fault.     

So, what do you do when a true Drama Queen at Walmart cuts you off with her buggy three times, blocking the entire aisle while arguing with someone on the phone about how screwed up her life is and how it’s all her soon to be ex-boyfriend Ronnie’s fault that her life sucks and she has no friends and her dog ran away and her car won’t start because Ronnie’s the one who usually fills up the car but he’s so selfish he can’t even text her five times a day because he’s working?  Write a blog I suppose.

And for all of you genuine, authenticated, “this blog makes me angry” type Drama Queens out there…You’re absolutely right about everything, and the world IS out to get you.