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aren’t the norm in life – you have one shot and it’s up to you to make it count. One of the lessons that I often spoke to my children as they were growing up was that every action has a consequence; albeit good or bad. I am a firm believer that whatever we do, whatever we ‘put out into the universe’ will come back to us. And when we truly realize this, we take much more care with our personal brand and our actions.
As we walked through the doors of the toy store, they were excited to spend their gift cards. Although I shouldn’t have been surprised by the quick decision making process, I was. (Come to think about it, they had practiced with Santa – so it makes sense) Action figures for a game console for the youngest, and a ‘Quadcopter’ for the oldest. He used my phone to call his Mother to let her know she should cancel the online order because he had found it for much less. Checking out, he had to use a good amount of his own money to make this purchase, but was so excited to have finally have the toy he wanted so badly.
Returning home the youngest played with his new figures on the floor instead of the console, fueled by pure imagination and the oldest read the directions for his Quadcopter. So excited to try it out, we went outside in the cold and he took it up a bit higher each time, navigating the obstacles in the yard. Being so cold, I told him to come inside, but was persuaded by the plea to fly one more time as I remembered myDarlin’s fascination with airplanes and helicopters. A bit slow getting off the ground, the Quadcopter with wind under its’ blades took off, unresponsive to the controls to bring it back toward us. And as he calmly tried to bring it back we watched it continue upwards to heights of at least 30 feet and two heavily wooded yards away.
I watched a look of disappointment come over his face, and we walked to the next yard and the next to take a look in the trees and on the ground. At one point, we both thought we could hear the faint sound of the blades turning as he moved the control on the remote, but it may have been wishful thinking on our part. As we walked back to the house, he turned to me and said, ‘I wish I wouldn’t have asked you to let me fly one more time’ and I hugged him, feeling sorry for his disappointment and loss. I was impressed that he handled the situation so gracefully, when many children would have been crying or throwing a fit. And it brought me back to a night in February of 2003, when myDarlin’Robert Kenui Pope who was talking to me on the phone for only the second time, locked his keys in his car. And when most would have had a verbal outburst, he handled the situation gracefully. Grace under pressure – not always a natural reaction, but definitely one that is desireable in adults and children.
With much thought, I decided to use this situation to teach a lesson that I suspect will have a lasting impact. And I walked through the doors of the toy store, walked the same aisles to the spot that held the ‘Quadcopter’ and carried it up to the register to make my purchase. And as I gave him the bag that so many children are familiar with, I explained that I was proud of him for the way he handled himself when faced with a loss he had no control over and asked him to take extra care of this one. He gave me a big hug and said, ‘Thank you Tutu, I will.’
Today, I am filled with gratitude for the honor of being part of the community responsible for instilling values and teaching life lessons to our grandchildren. Life doesn’t often give us a second chance, but when it does we must cherish every moment – for everyday is a gift and it’s up to you to untie the bow.
#KeepLookingUp #GraceUnderPressure #LifeLessons
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