Category Archives: Family

FollowCraig: “Cabbage Patch Doll”

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Cabbage Patch Dolls were a viral craze when my daughter was a little girl. The hand painted faces, cute smiles and birth certificates made them seem like real children. My daughter just had to have one for Christmas. I remember her mother driving to every toy store, department store and following every lead to find one. Even me “Dad” was looking. Searching for a funny looking little doll seemed crazy at the time but we looked and looked. Then our luck was blessed and her mother found it, I drove to get it and the doll was home in time. On Christmas morning when we saw the excitement and joy on our daughters face as she opened the gift wrap and there she was. It was love and joy at first sight! Today as I reflect back on that time with my son, daughter, wife and the Cabbage Patch girl all I really remember is “Family”. To my daughter Valerie, I Love You…..Dad

I’m still writing, you’re still reading, so please keep following……

Craig

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FollowCraig: Be Yourself (re-post)

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I’ve spent a lifetime trying to figure out how to just be myself. As a young man I was always told what I was to be when I grew up. You should be an architect, an accountant a lawyer and so many other things. I was taught to believe a certain faith and be of one political party. When my children were growing I didn’t ever tell them what to be, what religion or faith and nothing about politics. Let’s see who turned out best? I think the kids did. You see they found there careers, perhaps have found their own faith. So when I read the following written by; Ralph Ellison, “Battle Royal” I felt like me!

“All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted their answers too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was naïve. I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer. It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: that I am nobody but myself.”

I’m still writing, you’re still reading, so please keep following…….

Craig

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FollowCraig: Courtrooms

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Just this week while watching the “John Edwards trial” we witnessed how judges, juries and courtrooms each come together and determine an outcome. Now this may sound as a bit of a leap, but isn’t that how partnerships both business and personal should work? You see in a courtroom all parties bring the facts, truths, lies and perspectives to an open forum in order to determine what really happened. The judge and jury then decide how to resolve the issue. It finally came to me that is how partnerships should be? When a decision needs to be made, all facts, details and perspectives should be brought out in the open and then ask the “Partnership” to determine the best course take. It all seems so simple and actually it is. The only hard work involved is doing it!

I’m still writing, you’re still reading, so please keep following……

Craig

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Integrity

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Another must read from John Burton

jpburtongroup's avatarJohn Page Burton

Abraham Lincoln was a man who seemed to be very concerned with character and he was certainly a person who understood the importance of having a solid reputation. He once explained the difference between being of good character and having a good reputation. “Character is like a tree and reputation is like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it, the tree is the real thing.” Stated another way, your reputation is what people think of you and your character is who you really are.

We live in a very image driven world. It is easy to get caught up in maintaining the “right” image and subsequently losing sight of our character. Our reputation is a public relations function while our character is based on our morals and values. As leaders we must exhibit a strong persona but this persona must be grounded in integrity and action. Far…

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FollowCraig: Mad Men

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I sure have a character flaw when it comes to men and women in business. It makes me wonder if I’m the only one? Please don’t get me wrong as I love women and especially smart strong women. They have a lot to carry on their shoulders that’s for certain. And I admire so many because they do what I can’t. I just cannot seem to discuss business matters with most women, I get frustrated and take many of their comments as personal attacks even when they are not. My defensive side come up almost always when trying to work with most. I have had people say about me that I can’t stand dealing with women in power and I think those statements may hold some truth. I only wish to say to all the women out there who are reading this, it’s not personal. Men like me are very difficult for many of you to work with and some of us “mad men” types know it. So to all of you wonderful, smart and strong women I will until my dying day; continue to work on removing that flaw with God‘s help.

I’m still writing, you’re still reading, so please keep following…….

Craig

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FollowCraig: “Sand in the Pants”

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Secure, comfortable in your own skin, knowing who you are and where your going. These are traits so many of us struggle and strive for all our lives. Then there are some who just seem to already have it, a comfort level in themselves that is nothing short of amazing. The first person I ever knew who possessed this natural gift and has always remained seared in my memory is my son. Not now the adult man of 30 years but a young man in his teens. One day an english teacher gave his mother and I a short story he wrote. Now I can’t remember the whole story however I recall with clarity a sentence he had written. “Just woke from a nap on the beach and have a little sand in my cuffs, I’ll just shake it out and keep walking forward”. My son was 16 years old and already possessed a gift that some search a lifetime for. Isn’t it incredible what we learn from our children?

I’m still writing, you’re still reading, so please keep following…..

Craig

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FollowCraig: “One Message”

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I’d like a venti double mocha latte half-caf, the lady in line orders. It’s funny that we can go to any Starbucks in the world in any language and the menu is the same. The message is the same. I’m Christian and today is the celebration of “Pentecost“, many languages but the message is the same. The 12 steps of recovery is one message but many languages. Great lessons and profound messages are just that, they are one meant for all. No matter the language, the ethnic history, the color of skin but for everyone. We are all God‘s children and he has the same messages for all of us. Just like Starbucks, no matter the language we each know the proclamations. We all hear; One Message!

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Craig

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FollowCraig: “Wounds & Doorways”

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Writing a BLOG is surely a way of opening up both wounds and doorways. Friends, family and foes begin to find you and all about you. I’m finding old friends are so thrilled to see you again. Someone sends a note; is that you Craig, remember me Craig? It’s a wonderful feeling to hear from old friends. The following family; Many seem to follow along quietly and learn about you, perhaps even judge, others read along and begin to understand you and some actually learn to care for you. Sometimes some even learn how much I love and care for them. Then the foes; It does not matter what your past we all have one and our foes will find us. I have even found many of those foes to be me. Yes writing a BLOG about one’s life journey is perhaps risky. All you’re thoughts, your history, your life’s actions and more are played out for the world to read. Not like the Thurman Show, but none the less an open doorway for those who wish to look through. I hope and pray that the stories I tell of my ordinary journey will help someone else choose their own life paths more wisely than I, or even once in a while be inspired by my faith and great joy of being alive.

It’s Memorial Weekend and I pray you spend time with loved one’s and remember those who gave so much. Thanks for following…..

Craig

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FollowCraig: “My Life, My Wife”

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It’s 11:00 am and I’m just in time. As a Limousine driver being late is just not an option. So here I was picking up a fare to take to an airport, just a regular day. Then she came out of her house, right on time with an incredible smile. She was just so nice. As she sat in the rear I could see her in my mirror as we spoke. Some small talk at first, then we began to get to know each other some. I really liked her an even though I did not want to get involved with someone, wouldn’t be nice to meet someone like this. After getting to know each other a little I handed her my business card with my cellphone number. I suggested she ask for me the next business trip she scheduled and then said goodbye. What a doll I thought while driving away. A week later my phone rang and it was her. I was so surprised and so very happy. She sort of asked me out. Without hesitation I decided not to blow this! This woman with such a beautiful smile and eyes was going out with me. Often I’ve said in this blog I am a blessed man. We are married today and I would not trade our life together for anything in the world. no one else in the world is like my wife and I love her like nothing else in the world. I will fight for her and us no matter what!. She is my wife and my life.        I love you Baby..

I’m still writing, you’re still reading, so please keep following…..

Craig

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FollowCraig: “Bad butter; Good butter”

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My grandmother would have all her grandchildren and such sit at our own table away from the adults. Our dinner would be the same; however for our bread and toast we had to use margarine (Oleo) rather than butter. She called it bad butter. One of my aunts would share photos of friends and family with little cutouts of the people she no longer liked removed. Another grandmother would wait until everyone opened up their Christmas presents so all of us could watch her open and comment on hers. She would then tell us which item will be re-gifted to whom and why. And of course the children were to be seen but heard. I so wanted to be a grown up! They were in charge that’s for certain. As time has passed and I reflect on my own children and grandchildren, I now see so much of my character traits in them My son just the other night said “Dad, I’m so glad your writing a blog. I am finally understanding why I feel and do the things I do”. We learn our habits very young and we end up teaching our children the habits and flaws we carry. I suppose that’s true of most families. But it does make me wonder what if those photo memories were full, the Christmas gifts received and shared were of gratitude, the children could be heard and that we only had “Good Butter?”

I’m still writing, You’re still reading, so please keep following….

Craig

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