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      • July 23, 2018, 440
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      • Aug 14, 2017, Stars
      • Aug 7, 2017, Dog Feathers
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      • July 24, 2017, Tooth Paste
      • July 17, 2017, Honey
      • July 10, 2017, Bookmarks
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      • June 26, 2017, One Handed
      • June 19, 2017, Curve Ball
      • June 12, 2017, Puzzles
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      • May 29, 2017, The Umbrella
      • May 22, 2017, World Record
      • May 15, 2017, Firefly
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      • April 17, 2017, Six
      • April 10, 2017, Missed Call
      • April 3, 2017 Hoses
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      • Oct 26, 2016, I Don't Play Golf
      • Nov 2, 2016, The Piano Player
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From The Storyteller
"We desire your feedback."
shoemaker.society@gmail.com

December 25, 2017, Gift

The word “smart” has followed me all of my life. Some of the ways it has been used came out of an experience - “That was not smart.” Other times it was used to reference to my attitude - “Smart aleck.” Still on other occasions it was used in a question - “Wouldn’t it be smart to…?” As I was growing up, the one use that confused me the most was - “I bet that smarts.” I usually heard this when pain was involved and this just didn’t go with my youthful understand of “smart”.

My journey with the word “smart” rarely included someone personally identifying me as being “smart.” In my family I was always the one who had “potential.” This word was invariably used by my teachers. On many occasions my parents were told “Doug isn’t living up to his potential.”  At the time I had no idea of what that meant. I still don’t know what that means.

Which leads me to how wonderfully “smart” my parents must have been.
The term “living up to my potential” was never used at home. The phrase I heard most often was “stay with it.” My sisters’ report cards were “A honor roll”, yet my C+ report cards were never compared to theirs. Just one high school example – I am an Eagle Scout because of “stay with it.” One adult example – My law school success in spite of ADHD and dyslexia happened because of “stay with it.”

My parents gave me the gift of “stay with it.” They were gone before I was “smart” enough to understand the importance of this gift and say thanks. They gave me the gift - I’m sure they know how I feel.

Moral – Sometimes a simple thank you is enough.



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  • 2021 Stories
    • March 1, 2021, Bird
    • Feb. 22, 2021, Believe
    • Feb. 15, 2021, Traditions
    • Feb. 8, 2021, Shopping
    • Feb. 1, 2021, NailFile
    • Jan. 25, 2021, Acorn
    • Jan. 18, 2021, Family
    • Jan. 11, 2021, Tuition
    • Jan. 4, 2021, Wisdom
  • 2020 Stories
    • Dec. 28 2020, Stamps
    • Dec. 21 2020, Babysitting
    • Dec. 14, 2020, True
    • Dec. 7, 2020, Music
    • Nov. 30, 2020, Pluggers
    • Nov. 23, 2020, Cherry
    • Nov. 16, 2020, Magic
    • Nov. 9, 2020, Seasons
    • Nov. 2, 2020, Food
    • Oct. 26, 2020, Nickel
    • Oct. 19, 2020, Bloom
    • Oct. 12, 2020, Surprise
    • Oct.5, 2020, Valley
    • Sept. 28, 2020, Perfect
    • Sept. 21, 2020, Kissing
    • Sept. 14, 2020, Q-tip
    • Sept. 8, 2020, Fish
    • Aug 31, 2020, Chores
    • Aug 24, 2020, Dust
    • Aug 17, 2020, Trees
    • Aug 10, 2020, Yearbook
    • Aug 3, 2020, Wood
    • July 27, 2020, Phones
    • July 20, 2020, Dinosaurs
    • July 13, 2020, Salt
    • July 6, 2020, Desire
    • June 29, 2020, Puzzle
    • June 22, 2020, Chocolate
    • June 15, 2020, Never
    • June 8, 2020, Gift
    • June 1, 2020, Ideas
    • May 25, 2020, Sleepless
    • May 18, 2020, Clueless
    • May 11, 2020, Everything
    • May 4, 2020, T-shirt
    • April 27, 2020, Better
    • April 20, 2020, Extension
    • April 13, 2020, Flags
    • April 6, 2020, Stairs
    • Mar. 30, 2020, Spring
    • Mar. 23, 2020, Cowboy
    • Mar. 16, 2020, Moving
    • Mar. 9, 2020, Serious
    • Mar. 2, 2020, Rim
    • Feb. 24, 2020, Starting
    • Feb. 17, 2020, Lisa
    • Feb. 10, 2020, Ideas
    • Feb. 3, 2020, Cats
    • Jan. 27, 2020, Fire
    • Jan. 20, 2020, Waiting
    • Jan. 13, 2020, Stuff
    • Jan. 6, 2020, Music
  • Home
  • Mission
  • Archived Stories
    • 2019 >
      • Dec. 30, 2019, Older
      • Dec. 23, 2019, Pencil
      • Dec. 16, 2019, Laundry
      • Dec. 9, 2019, Train
      • Dec. 2, 2019, Wood
      • Nov 25, 2019, Yearbook
      • Nov. 18, 2019, Lemonade
      • Nov. 11, 2019, Sunrise
      • Nov. 4, 2019, Bread
      • Oct. 28, 2019, Fool
      • Oct. 21, 2019, Real
      • Oct. 14, 2019, Improving
      • Oct. 7, 2019, Purse
      • Sept. 30, 2019, Attic
      • Sept. 23, 2019, Heaven
      • Sept. 16, 2019, Done
      • Sept. 9, 2019, Innovation
      • Sept. 2, 2019, Knowing
      • Aug. 26, 2019, Dance
      • Aug. 19, 2019, Work
      • Aug. 12, 2019, Hugs
      • Aug. 5, 2019, Vacation
      • July 29, 2019, Morning
      • July 22, 2019, Battery
      • July 15, 2019, Appointment
      • July 8, 2019, Decide
      • July 1, 2019, Dream
      • June 22, 2019, Music
      • June 17, 2019, Nudges
      • June 10, 2019, Folks
      • June 3, 2019, Spring
      • May 27, 2019, Sundial
      • May 20, 2019, Food
      • May 13, 2019, Why?
      • May 6, 2019, Train
      • April 29, 2019, Think
      • April 22, 2019, Hip
      • April 15, 2019, UFO
      • April 8, 2019, Cats
      • April 1, 2019, Band Aide
      • Mar. 25, 2019, Kissing
      • Mar. 18, 2019, Talented
      • Mar. 11, 2019, Rules
      • Mar. 4, 2019, Clay
      • Feb. 25, 2019, Odd
      • Feb. 18, 2019, Just Saying
      • Feb. 11, 2019, Choir
      • Feb. 4, 2019, Sweet Tea
      • Jan. 28, 2019, Waiting
      • Jan. 21, 2019, Golf Shoes
      • Jan. 14, 2019, New
      • Jan. 7, 2019, Twenty six Years
    • 2018 >
      • Dec. 31, 2018, Happy New Year
      • Dec. 24 , 2018, Christmas
      • Dec. 17 , 2018, Line
      • Dec. 10 , 2018, Geek
      • Dec. 3 , 2018, Rocks
      • Nov 26 , 2018, 80
      • Nov 19 , 2018, NPR
      • Nov 12 , 2018, Beards
      • Nov 5 , 2018, Coffee
      • Oct. 29, 2018, Paper Towels
      • Oct. 22, 2018, Camp
      • Oct. 15, 2018, Evolution
      • Oct. 8, 2018, Hummmm
      • Oct. 1, 2018, Fence
      • Sept. 24, 2018, Fence
      • Sept. 17, 2018, Birthday
      • Sept. 10 , 2018, Chicken
      • Sept. 3 , 2018, Invisible
      • Aug 27 , 2018, Third Place
      • Aug 20 , 2018, Name Tags
      • Aug 13 , 2018, Distance
      • Aug 6 , 2018, Allergies
      • July 30, 2018, Unexpected Words
      • July 23, 2018, 440
      • July 16, 2018, Dreams
      • July 9, 2018, Advice
      • July 2, 2018, Hands
      • June 25, 2018, Learning Curve
      • June 18, 2018, YMCA
      • June 11, 2018, Trash
      • June 4, 2018, Booth
      • May 28, 2018, Baby Lawyer
      • May 21, 2018, Big Date
      • May 14, 2018, Monopoly
      • May 7, 2018, Spelling
      • April 30, 2018, Mickey Mouse Club
      • April 23, 2018, Favorites
      • April 16, 2018, Perfect
      • April 9, 2018, Quantum Thoughts
      • April 2, 2018, Surprised
      • March 26, 2018, Choices
      • March 19, 2018, Problems
      • March 12, 2018, Murphy's Law
      • March 5, 2018, Skunks
      • Feb. 26, 2018, Wind Chill
      • Feb. 19, 2018, Crackers
      • Feb. 12, 2018, Fear
      • Feb. 5, 2018, Winter
      • Jan. 29, 2018, Work
      • Jan. 22, 2018, Highway 24
      • Jan. 15, 2018, Chair
      • Jan. 8, 2018, Grace
      • Jan. 1, 2018, House
    • 2017 >
      • Dec. 25, 2017, Gift
      • Dec. 18, 2017, Envelopes
      • Dec. 11, 2017, Wisdom
      • Dec. 4, 2017, Coffee
      • Nov. 27, 2017, Value
      • Nov. 20, 2017, Camp
      • Nov. 13, 2017, Legos
      • Nov. 6, 2017, Amazon
      • Oct. 30, 2017, Adult
      • Oct. 23, 2017, Footsteps
      • Oct. 16, 2017, Cross
      • Oct. 9, 2017, Pain
      • Oct. 2, 2017, Daisy
      • Sept. 25, 2017, Yellow Light
      • Sept. 18, 2017, Soccer
      • Sept. 11, 2017, The Tool Kit
      • Sept. 4, 2017, Red's
      • Aug 28, 2017, Nails
      • Aug 21, 2017, Tornado
      • Aug 14, 2017, Stars
      • Aug 7, 2017, Dog Feathers
      • July 31, 2017, Clocks
      • July 24, 2017, Tooth Paste
      • July 17, 2017, Honey
      • July 10, 2017, Bookmarks
      • July 3, 2017, Tools
      • June 26, 2017, One Handed
      • June 19, 2017, Curve Ball
      • June 12, 2017, Puzzles
      • June 5, 2017, Guest
      • May 29, 2017, The Umbrella
      • May 22, 2017, World Record
      • May 15, 2017, Firefly
      • May 1, 2017, Green Eyes
      • April 24, 2017, Gel Pens
      • April 17, 2017, Six
      • April 10, 2017, Missed Call
      • April 3, 2017 Hoses
      • March 27, 2017, Hope
      • Mar 20, 2017, Smiles
      • Mar 13, 2017, Onion
      • Mar 6, 2017, Creative Problem Solving
      • Feb 27, 2017, The Shopping Cart
      • Feb 20, 2017, The Tree
      • Feb 13, 2017, My Mistake
      • Feb 6, 2017, The Compliment
      • Jan 30, 2017, Friday
      • Jan 23, 2017, Wrestling Rattlesnakes
      • Jan 17, 2017, Dog Wisdom
      • Jan 10, 2017, Shock Theater
      • Jan 3, 2017, The Butterfly and the Bee
    • 2016 >
      • Sept 13, 2016, Mrs. Summers Won't Like That
      • Sept 20, 2016, A Teacher's Tale
      • Oct 4, 2016, Top 60%
      • Oct 11, 2016, Life in a Small Town
      • Oct 26, 2016, I Don't Play Golf
      • Nov 2, 2016, The Piano Player
      • Nov 28, 2016, Whataburger Jesus
      • Dec 5, 2016, Maraschino Cherries
      • Dec 12, 2016, The Box
      • Dec 19, 2016, Moving to Texas
      • Dec 26, 2016, Invisble People
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