Hey kids it’s Dad, and for today’s TommyLog I’m joined by Emma and Drew. Today we talk about politics. Not politics like you see in the news, debates or on social media, but politics through the eyes of children. Children don’t get emotional about these types of topics. Politics simply brings out the worst in people.
Children call things like they see them. We need to all be much more like a child when it comes to these types of things.
Hey Kids it’s dad, and for today’s TommyLog I want to continue my discussion about the Social media Influencer and Travel SUMmit #SITSum that I attended last week hosted by the Atlanta convention and visitors Bureau. I met so many amazing people. Life-changing people. People who made me smile and laugh. We learned a lot about of Atlanta. But that was really second nature.
Lifelong friendships were formed!! How does that happen in a long weekend? I haven’t got the slightest idea. But you put people together that are business minded, that are fun, that are willing to make risks. This is where the magic happens! It’s kind of like ingredients in your grandma’s chocolate chip cookies. Bring them all together and you get amazing things – – leave out something. And it’s a flop.
Thank you to all my brand-new friends. You have made an impression that will last forever. You are awesome.
Kids it’s all about the people. Never forget that.
Hey Kids it’s dad, and for today’s TommyLog I want to talk to you about a super powerful event that I just attended. I have been able to participate in a social influencers travel summit put on by the Atlanta Convention and visitors Bureau here in Atlanta Georgia. This is the second year I’ve been able to participate and I am just so blessed. The people I have met here are truly life-changing.
This morning I was tired after a busy busy week but I decided to go and hear the keynote speaker. The keynote speaker that was brought in was named Derreck Kayongo. He is a former Ugandan refugee turned CEO of the Center for Civil and Human Rights. He started a company called the global soap initiative. Where they took single use soaps from Hotels and repurposed those soaps to be sent over to Africa to towns that don’t have good hygiene. Over in Africa soap is a luxury and many deaths can be attributed to poor hygiene.
Derek is a connector. What caught me off guard was a song that he saying at the end of his speech called Moyodi. Here’s a video I found that shows the song —- https://youtu.be/S9ojgq1URlI
Just a simple yet powerful song. As you know I’m not much of a sap (enter eye roll here) but for some reason this really did it for me. Maybe it’s been the outpouring of love for the Clifford family since I lost my job. Maybe it’s the new friends that I met here in Atlanta. I’m not sure but it really got me. Totally had me in tears.
Kids – – it’s all about the connections. It’s all about leaving a situation better than it was when you got there. It’s all about doing things for other people. It’s all about putting somebody else first. I promise you when you put other people first, that does not mean you will be last!
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Hey Kids it’s dad and for today’s TommyLog I want to tell you the rest of the story. A few days ago I posted “the note” video and there’s more to be said on the subject. So to catch people up here’s a link to my previous video.
http://tommylog.com/tommylog-the-note/
So after I posted the video I really felt that I need to go introduce myself to the guy and just tell him what I had received. So I did just that. Got myself dressed and put on my “big boy shorts” and I went over and I knocked on the door. My good next-door neighbor friend Oscar answered the door and we talked for a few minutes. Oscar had just had cataract surgery so the discussion was very easy. After a few minutes of us chewing the fat, I asked if this person was there. He said yes and I asked if I could speak to him. I waited outside with “the note.”
I was a little bit nervous and said a prayer in my heart to make sure that this situation would end in a positive manner. After what seemed like a long time but was probably 30 or 40 seconds, the gentleman emerge and came outside. I introduced myself and shook his hand. I showed him the note and read to them what was said. I asked about how things are going and if he had a job. He indeed did and it was a good one. We talked at length about his job and what he did there. It was a nice exchange.
I told him about the two precious things that live next-door and how important they were in my life. I told him don’t make me choose between being neighborly and my kids. Because he will come out on the bad end of the deal every time. I had no malice in my tone nor was I upset. But I was firm and he knew it. I told him I respect him for serving his time and he deserved a second chance to turn his life around. it seemed as if he was doing just that.
We ended the conversation cordially and I went home. I felt satisfied. There are plenty of ways that this could’ve turned out and I know everyone would’ve handled it differently. This is how I chose to handle it.
What would you have done? Would you have even gone over to introduce yourself? The comments on this has been amazing and I appreciate so much the dialogue.