Greetings Good Humans with Good Character!
“Welcome to Who’s Line is it Anyway Where Everything is Made Up and the Points Don’t Matter!” When I was in elementary and middle school, I loved watching “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” with my family after dinner. We’d all sit down around the TV, scroll through the TV guide, and tune into ABC Family to watch a few 30-minute episodes. #millennialchildhood #throwback
Now, as an eleven-year-old kid, I didn’t understand the one liners, adult jokes, and why Drew Carey got to sit behind that desk while the rest of the cast worked their tails off doing all that improv comedy; however, I did understand one aspect of the show. I understood that it made my dad laugh. Like LOL laugh. Now, if you know my dad, you know that when he laughs, he has this deep, belly laugh that is so loud it can shake windows. And if you don’t know my dad, well… you’re missing out on a domino effect laugh that can have any room busting a gut in now time! This pure, loud, belly laugh has shaped my character.
My dad has been a farmer and rancher his entire life. He started milking dairy cows when he was five years old. When he was in first grade, he was in a tractor accident where he was actually sucked underneath a tire in the sand. He loved horses and had one that lived in his front lawn where they would lay down and nap together. Before he was in 8th grade, he moved schools six or seven times. He was always the new kid. He struggled to make friends. When my grandparents finally got the farm established, he started high school in a small community called Woodlin. Here he was heavily involved in sports where he was a three-sport athlete (football, wrestling, and track). And as he was going to school and going to sports practice, he was still upholding his duties on the farm every morning and night. On the weekends, he didn’t go out with his friends. He stayed home and helped with the cattle and farm. He worked not only for his own parents, but he also worked for other farmers in the area in his free time. When he was able to drive, he saved up enough money to buy himself a car. My dad’s character was heavily developed during this time. He is one of the boldest characters I know, and I believe he was made into the man he is today because of his beginnings as a child and young adult.
But what is CHARACTER? People have had some different uses and definitions for the word, but what does it really mean to each of us? Some famous people have made some quotes about how character is made through experiences, choices, and actions. Others say that character is what a person says and acts like when no one is watching. Still others claim that character is how we react to bad situations or pressure in our lives. I believe that character is a combination of all those ideas: a person’s qualities that make them an individual who positively impacts the world around them. Now, my dad has taught me infinite lessons about character, but the one piece of character that he highlights most in my life is the ability to choose joy.
Although I just grazed the surface of my dad’s upbringing, I can tell you that he did not have it easy. He worked hard, with 100% effort all the time. He had tough times growing up. He tells this story about onions all the time, and I figured what better way to showcase my dad’s joyous character than through this story…
So my grandma and grandpa were not wealthy people. They got by with what they had, and so my grandma frequently repurposed groceries in the kitchen when she could. Well, she had A LOT of onions that week for the family to eat, and so she decided to treat her kids and husband to onion rings. She made the egg batter, seasoned the flour, and chopped up the onions. She started the battering process and then started to fry. When she was done, she saw that she still had some flour left over in the bowl, and so since flour was expensive, she decided to use that flour and make a homemade chocolate cake. She whipped it up, (like all grandma’s do, with ease!) and put it in the oven. When my dad and his siblings came into the house from doing chores, they all sat down and had a nice meal. They ate their meatloaf, onion rings, and peas. Then grandma brought out the decadent chocolate cake. And my dad took the first bite of this mouth-watering, perfect chocolate cake… except. It wasn’t exactly what he expected. Now. My dad does not like onions. He never has. He skipped on the onion rings that night and every night of his life since 1958. And this cake that was going to be such a great treat and dessert…. Well? Guess what it also tasted like? You guessed it. Onions.
My dad was of course disappointed about the cake. He couldn’t wait for that treat, but that treat ended up tasting like something that he truly hated. But that didn’t stop him from finding joy in the situation. He watched as my grandpa ate not only his piece, but also my dad’s! Grandpa loved onions, so he didn’t mind the chocolate cake that had a hint of onion. My dad remembers this memory so fondly today because it was a night where his siblings, mom, and dad all had a good laugh around an onion cake. This is where Wayne Marlin decided that part of character is choosing joy every day; even when your chocolate cake tastes like onions.
My dad is a good human with good character because his quality to constantly choose joy every day positively impacts his world. Daddy brings joy to every conversation, every interaction, and every person that he meets. His joy in telling stories, getting to know others, and sharing memories has made an impact in my life. It has made an impact on my siblings. It has made an impact on his coworkers. It has made an impact on his friends. Heck, it even made an impact on a complete stranger just last weekend.
This week, our challenge is to choose joy. How can you purposefully go out of your way to be joyful? How can you continuously develop your character by choosing joy?
We’d love to hear how you choose joy this week and in life! Comment below, and please share Good Humans with Good Character with your friends, coworkers, in-laws, and whoever else you think would like this little pep talk.
Let’s make a positive difference in the world by being Good Humans with Good Character!
Love!
Em
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