Recently a young, female acquaintance was home for the holiday from college.  She is brilliant, in my mind, soaking in some very difficult classes and learning to speak Japanese... she seems born to educational greatness.  Then I noticed that she was home for quite a long time and I was curious about why she wasn't going back to school.  She explained that considering the current economic downturn she thought it best to concentrate briefly on learning a skill that would see her through difficult times as a back up plan, and might earn her some money while she continued her education.  She was taking a semester off of college to learn massage therapy.  What a very cool and serene perspective. 

In essence she was finding a couple of baskets in which to place eggs.  Like I said, brilliant!  I wish I knew then what I know now, and had the foresite to plan for the unexpected.  It is a lesson in two parts.  First, good fortune favors those who properly prepare.  Second, it is not too early to start.

Little Things Mean A Lot

My family moved to a suburb of Detroit recently.  In fact it is the burb that stands between some very run down areas of Detroit and the five Grosse Pointe Communities, which stand in stark contrast to the city proper.  What I have noticed since moving in is that the teenagers seem to take avid interest in the welfare and welbeing of the community.  I can't say thais is a result of good summer programs, good parenting, good education or just luck, but it is very easy to treat these teens like the young adults they are. 
One young man I know has been involved with scouting since he was very young and his father participated with him in that activity.  He makes it to church regularly, even toting his Bible with him, which seems somewhat of a novelty even for church folks.  All of this made him a person to be aware of.  He was a very apparent character.
But I was still suprised to see him volunteering at the elementary school fund raiser we attended for my six year old.  I was even a little suprised to see that he was the same character when he was with his high school friends.  I guess I shouldn't be suprised.  He can't possibly realize the impression he made on me that day, nor on my daughter who was delighted to see some one there that she knew.
I cannot remember the exact quote, but some one defined character as "who you are when no one else is watching."  How true?  Wouldn't it be a marvel if we could all just be ourselves, and in doing so, be impressed with each other.
Little things can mean a lot and you never can tell how far reaching the effects of some small kindness may go.