Your Greatest Ambition

"Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." Helen Keller

It is always a delight when a text pops up on my phone from either of my newest texting buddies. Both bright and beautiful fourth graders, they are my grandniece and my granddaughter. When I was a kid, the adults who were a little awkward conversing with children would usually ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The other night my granddaughter texted, "Do you want to know my greatest ambition?" Well, obviously I did, and she told me about a new career idea she had. After a little back and forth on that she asked, "What is your greatest ambition?"

Isn't that a wonderful way to phrase the question? We all must somehow make a living, and it would be ideal to have our greatest ambition be something we loved to do, and the added bonus would be the pay check. Our greatest ambitions could also be hobbies, volunteering, travel, and I imagine the list would just go on and on.

Fourth graders totally understand that life is a grand adventure, that dreams come super-sized, and that even grandmothers have great ambitions.

Susan

Just One Person

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do." Helen Keller

Experts tell us that the difference between an abused child merely surviving or actually thriving can be the presence of just one loving adult. It doesn't even need to be a family member. It could be a teacher. Just one loving adult to show the child he is deserving and worthy of love. I was fortunate, because I had several such grown-ups in my life. I owe them a lot.

I doesn't take a mighty army. One person can make all the difference in the world. As I go through my daily life, I can be preoccupied and I can also be cranky. I know there are times I've blown people off. But I try to make a habit of being nice to everyone I meet, a smile here or a kind word there. It doesn't cost me a thing, and who knows how much it might mean to that other person?

Susan