The new year has come and gone. Those resolutions should be in full swing by now right? You’re off to the gym 3-4 times a week, sweating, driving at that almighty goal. The one thing I have learned about goals, is realistic. I can easily look back at a year ago and see what goals I had - well actually I can’t. But I can look at what has changed in the past year.
Simple things, I gained back part of the 46lbs I did lose in 2004-2005. I went to Poland, met Havalight, met the Mayor again, my niece was voted one of the cutest babies in the world by CNN and my mother moved to my new house in Mexico with her 2 dogs Jack and Jill. Oh and um: THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS WON THE SUPER BOWL.
If knew then what I know now, would I have done things differently? No. I live in New York, my sister in Atlanta, my mother goes between Maryland and Mexico and lastly my father the hold out in the ‘burgh among the ruins of steel mills in Pittsburgh. We didn’t want the Super Bowl for the fame and glory. We wanted to win the Super Bowl because the players on that team are an extension of those that live in Pittsburgh. It is after all a game, if the Steelers lost my life would go on just the same, but it adds a small piece of joy to know that the people I love the most, that city has a smile on their face for the next year. And that the men who throw a funny shaped ball around are driven by their happiness.
I’ve watched my niece. She has gone from this mold of nothing to a walking and babbling brook of creativity. So much so she was recently featured on the Anderson Cooper show as the representation of cuteness for a baby. When I have the chance to visit Atlanta and see her I have these constant thoughts of her future. As I wonder what people thought when I was that size - what will he be? What will Eliie be? What will the next year or ten bring to this child, the world - only one way to find out. I think of taking her to Poland someday, to show her the pain and lesson humanity has learned. People constantly ask me, why you spend so much time doing “stuff” for the Jewish world. My pain is my passion. There is a need to ensure not just Jewish continuity, but push that golden rule of humanity: do on to other as you would have done on to you. What else do you need to know?
I found it almost poetic that the MVP of the Super Bowl was Hines Ward. This is a man that can be SLAMMED to ground by someone twice his size, get up, smile and go right back for the next play. When I say that the Pittsburgh Steelers are an extension of those that live, work and play there, it’s true. So how can this constant half glass full person be a PITTSBURGH STEELER? Well, the city has risen from the steel mill grind. It is a ton full of hope, clean air, medical companies and a growing young community. It is a city that is smiling again.
Never turn a cheek, never think the impossible is not possible, always wonder what if and go for that alternative method. You’ll know it is right, because you’ll be scared. You will be so afraid to take that leap because you’ll know that the only consequence is the ultimate failure - and you would have no where to go from there but up. My mother saw this in moving to Mexico with her dog Jack. I see this when my niece tries to get up and walk. And I damn well saw it in a group of football players who were the complete long shot to win the BIG game - they were scared and knew the only thing to lose was the sensation of not pushing it to the next level.
I’ve started to put this “blog” together because I want to continue to go into these concepts for myself as I build a new regime, a new company and a new way of thinking among my peers, my friends and colleagues. Give me thoughts, give me ideas, add to the mess, put in the mix - nothing can stop progress.
Me and my Ellie bellie
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