Happy Birthday, Dad!

Yesterday would have been Dad's 80th Birthday.

Oh, you don't know Moe?

Moe was my dad who passed away almost 3 years ago.

If you go back to read the link, it was my very first experience blogging.

Pretty raw and emotional.

I hesitated to write about Dad yesterday, being MLK Day, and all.

But, it was his birthday, and we always celebrated it.

Happy Birthday, Dad - miss you. 

A lot.

Funny story:

When I was a 5th Grader at Montebello Intermediate School, 

I actually competed in the Annual Speech Contest and won. 

I said Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.  

Seriously!

Pretty funny, if you think about it.

Ten year old, chubby Japanese girl saying that speech.

I won.

Imagine that.

Makes me laugh when I think about it.

I hated public speaking, though. 

I wonder WHY I competed.

In fact, I had a lot of trophies and medals from competing in a lot of things.

Spelling Contests, Speech Contests, Handwriting Contests, Basketball Tournaments,

you name it, I competed in it. 

And I usually came out with some treasure.

I had to prove I was successful, I had to prove my worth.

The RESULT was more valuable than the PROCESS.

Dad passed 3 years ago.

I said a MLK speech 37ish years ago.

Have I changed? 

If change were miles, then I have gone around the world 2 or 3 times.

(at least- and really, really slowly)

In my "old age" I have learned that the PROCESS is more valuable than the RESULT.

"When you embrace, engage and enjoy in the PROCESS your results will be magnificent!"

(Janet Hertogh)

I believe that this holds true in parenting, relationships, anything creative, fitness, 

and life in general.

Kind of a scattered post- just my thoughts on this beautiful morning.

Feeling very blessed to have had my dad, still have my mom and crazy family.

How have you changed in the last 3 years, in the last 37? 

(if you are even that old!)

What are you feeling blessed for today?

Do everything you do today,
with LOVE!