We were blessed to spend a few days down at beautiful Long Beach Island on the coast of New Jersey in the spring. It was still the off-season, and not very crowded with gentle sunshine and cool winds. It was a nice time just to spend with family without the overcrowding of the summertime beaches.
I took long walks with my wife, read multiple books, and also got to go for a run with my 14-year-old Tessa. She’s a spitfire and a wonderful young person. My wife and I are truly blessed to have her in our lives! We went for a 2-mile run one morning. After reflecting on my great time with her, she provided these gifts for me that I can use in my own life. Thank you, Tessa, for joining me.
Number one: Plan it. We discussed the day before that we should run together. When it’s on the calendar, you are more likely to do it. I really wanted to run with her, and we made a soft agreement on a time, and we did it. If you want to do something, put it on your calendar.
Number two: Adjust to your circumstances. It was quite windy the morning we went running. The wind was blowing from south to north. Instead of fighting the wind, the whole time during the run, Tessa and I ran on the back street, protecting ourselves from the wind. We then took it to the beach and ran with the wind at our backs. It was perfect. Running with the wind on our backs pushed us forward and made it just extremely nice.
Number three: Spend quality time with loved ones doing things they want to do. Tessa plays soccer and wants to be healthy and in shape. She enjoys running, so doing an enjoyable activity with her that she likes is a win-win.
Number four: Make do with what you have. She mistakenly had left her running sneakers at home. Mom is a half a size to a size bigger, but that didn’t bother Tessa. She threw Mom’s sneakers on and made do with what she had. She didn’t complain, she just adjusted.
Number five: Let the conversation happen. Sometimes I’m too loud, talk too long, and often too much. My wife reminds me of that often! So I focused on just letting the conversation happen. I asked a few curious questions, but then just let the conversation be. We had long stretches where there was no talking, but we had a great conversation. We talked about some of her hopes and dreams and things she’s interested in. It was perfect.
As you move forward in your journey this summer, whether it’s lake life, at the beach, traveling on a road trip, or just the routine experiences of our daily lives, enjoy the journey. I am grateful for these five gifts from my superstar Tessa. Keep surviving and thriving, friends. #SurviveThrive
