Hope

Dandy Lion Wishes

Jeanna G3 Comments

Blow away the seeds of a dandelion and wish that a dream come true returns to you. How many dandelions can you find, and how many wishes can you make? What would you wish for? To see someone again? To gain something new? To have more of something you already have? To get back something you lost? Would you make a wish for someone else?

As a child, every so often, my dad would quietly wake me up early on a Saturday morning and tell me to get dressed and meet him at the car. We’d take the old, green Oldsmobile to breakfast at the Dandy Lion diner, just me and him. I probably ordered pancakes. I don’t actually remember. I don’t remember the conversations either. And I don’t remember much about what the place looked like, or even what town it was in. What I do remember is being there with my dad. Just me and him.

Early this past Saturday morning, my daughter and I were able to drive down to scoop up my dad on his 84th birthday and take him to a local diner for breakfast.

My Dandy Lion wishes came true.

Life Lessons Courtesy of a Koosh Ball

Jeanna GLeave a comment

When I was in elementary school, I used to ride my bike down to the town pond to swim in the summers. One day, my friend Michelle and I were splashing around and throwing a pink and purple Koosh Ball back and forth. One throw didn’t get caught and the Koosh sank to the murky pond floor. We searched and searched, and eventually gave up hope.

Fast-forward to high school, and I’m in my lifeguard training course when the instructor tells us we get a special opportunity to learn to scuba dive. Where? The town pond. Can you guess what’s coming? That’s right! In the 5 minutes I was diving, I found my old pink and purple (and now paler and slightly green) Koosh.

I compare this story to my life. When I was little, I was playful and vibrant. But then I got lost. And then I was given an opportunity, a second chance, and I found myself again (just a slightly faded version).

There’s a lesson in this somewhere. The colorful, fun, youthful version of you is still inside of you somewhere. Don’t give up hope. You just may need to take a deep dive to allow yourself to resurface

Molding With Play-Doh

Jeanna G1 Comment

I run summer camps for kids, and we offer the campers Kindness Coins when they exhibit behaviors that are respectful or honest, or if they’re being a good sport, etc. At the end of the week, the kids can spend those coins at the camp store.

This past week, we transported 10 campers from a low-income neighborhood to join in our camp. When it was their time to buy their prizes, one of the boys held up a container of Play-Doh and asked what it was. I about fell over. I answered his question, but he was still confused as to what one does with it. I told him that he can mold it into different shapes and objects. I ended up giving him a few containers of it, because I just couldn’t stand knowing he had never played with Play-Doh before!

My blog posts are intended to help readers rediscover their childhoods, or to create new child-like experiences, but I’d like to add a new intention to the list: encourage my readers to help children live their best lives!

There are kids who have nothing to play with. Play helps us to learn and grow, and to have curiosities about and motivations for the future. And don’t forget how much joy they can bring into our lives! And yes, Christmas is a great time to donate, but kids like toys all the time! Some places to consider: foster homes, day cares, and womens’ shelters, or organizations like The Toy Foundation, Stuffed Animals For Emergencies, or Toys for Tots.

Please consider donating toys. While they are molding little creations from their imaginations, we can feel good about helping to mold our youth into happy little humans.