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From The Storyteller
"We desire your feedback."
shoemaker.society@gmail.com

Hello All: The gifts the we are given at birth are amazing. Today's story is about one of them. Enjoy, Doug

Serious
“Fantasy Football is something I don’t understand.” Me, to one of our boys. He rolls his eyes and explains, “32 people put in $100, and get one of the 32 NFL teams. They select players from the NFL’s player roster for each position on their team. After the week’s games are over, they check their player’s statics and the fantasy team with the best stats wins the weekly pot. It’s a really ‘fun’ way to follow football.”  His explanation lets me know that those, who do this for “fun”, are serious about it because of the amount of effort necessary to participate in this “fun” thing.

Which caused me to think about all the things people do for “fun”. Some folks think it’s “fun” to hike for days in freezing weather, and they are very serious in their planning and about their equipment. There are serious video-gamers, golfers, NASCAR fans, clay pottery makers and quilters, and each of them is doing their thing for “fun”.     

Which brings me to the realization that when we’re doing something that requires serious effort, just thinking about it as “fun” can magically turn work into play. Example: Safari, our 36’ sailboat, required serious work, often in very uncomfortable conditions. Elaine and I played at this “fun” thing for 21 years.

Thinking about the effort required for Fantasy Football and sailboat repairs helped me identify a life gift each of us has been given. It is the gift of choice. Life will present us with things that will require serious effort, and we have been given the unique ability to decide whether to enjoy the tasks for what they are, or to suffer through them.  I try for enjoyment over suffering every time.

Moral: The ability to make choices is a gift. How we use that gift is up to us.  
 

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  • 2021 Stories
    • October 25, 2021, Joe
    • October 18, 2021, Reality
    • October 11, 2021, Dumb
    • October 4, 2021, Teachers
    • September 27, 2021, Book
    • September 20, 2021, Joy
    • September 13, 2021, Dreams
    • September 6, 2021, Clouds
    • August 30, 2021, Soil
    • August 23, 2021, Doing
    • August 16, 2021, Get It
    • August 9, 2021, Frogs
    • August 2, 2021, Photos
    • July 26, 2021, Password
    • July 19, 2021, Possibilities
    • July 12, 2021, Shopping
    • July 5, 2021, Sweat
    • June 28, 2021, Stakes
    • June 21, 2021, Tatoo
    • June 14, 2021, Dove
    • June 7, 2021, Nudges
    • May 31, 2021, Summer
    • May 24, 2021, Lunch
    • May 17, 2021, Legs
    • May 10, 2021, Skills
    • May 3, 2021, Change
    • April 26, 2021, Wish
    • April 19, 2021, Dog
    • April 12, 2021, Handle
    • April 5, 2021, Thinking
    • March 29, 2021, Alternative
    • March 22, 2021, Doors
    • March 15, 2021, Depends
    • March 8, 2021, Planning
    • 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
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  • Home
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  • 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
  • Contact
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