MyMangels.com

Music Man-gel

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:17:36 +0000

I had the distinct pleasure of attending a benefit for doctors without borders last night at the Sheldon Theatre. Having enjoyed music all my life, it came as a complete surprise that this night included possibly the most incredible line up of musicians I had ever experienced.
Sandwiched in between my desires to hear soprano Christine Brewer and jazz great Kim Massie, Peter Martin showed up and connected with every person in that hall including me.
This music man-gel brought a Steinway to life with unencumbered passion, and the audience could read his soul guided transmission. In fact, they couldn’t help but respond. Their insides had been ignited by a man who held nothing back in delivering a personal gift to each on them. Bewitching pauses and familiar tunes tucked within a boat load of Peter’s personalized musical love notes wove a palpable spell bent on herding all into an enchanted world of musical genius.
His connection to internal mastery unlocked listener’s unconscious longing to be awakened from the trance of mediocre expectations.
Is there any gift one person can give another greater than a reminder of what’s possible? To know how powerful our talents can be in changing thousands of minds at one time?

Thank you my dear music man-gel for the reminder.

Love Really is All Around

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:49:16 +0000

Parking lots are packed full of shoppers in haste to purchase those last few items on seemingly endless gift lists. For me, the holidays have been peaceful and filled with love. Not just love where you’d expect to find it.
Love poured out of the music our choir sang this week. Sometimes when you’re singing, you just know a connection to something bigger exists making your voice carry volumes in tone and the ability to relay messages that we are all adored. Standing inside the chorus gave me a chance to become immersed in that energy. It was divine.
A neighborhood Grandmother and I ran into one another at a local café. After telling her I hadn’t realized that her grown children and their families lived on our block, she launched in to a full fledged monologue about being able to have the grandkids walk to her house. She often could barely hear their gentle knocks at her door, but once through it, they went straight for her cookie jar followed up with trotting downstairs to rev up a toy train set that measures thirty feet square. Grandma’s eyes became teary telling how dear those kids were to her, and how incredibly grateful she was to have them so close. No doubt, they have become trained at an early age in the virtues of unconditional, potent “Grandma love”.
A cashier at the same eatery is in the midst of cancer treatment. Ninety percent of the regular patrons knew her by name. They wished her well, and one brought a gift spending several minutes going through ways the cashier could pamper herself during treatment. In this busiest of seasons, the patrons took time to love family they had acquired and chosen treating once strangers with devotion so pure it was palpable. Watching them in action brought a tear to my eye.
Reality shows rarely include a second of tenderness between characters. They leave kindness in the dust, favoring drama and back stabbing for effect. As the movie Love Actually puts it, “love really is all around us”.
You are probably busy, and overwhelmed. But, I invite you to take five minutes in a public place to sit and observe what goes on. See if love actually is all around! My bet is you too will be dabbing a tear from your eyes.

Happy Holidays, and thank you to all our Man-gels, and Woman-gels for making this writer’s life a walk of love.

Basketball Angel/Man-gel

admin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:49:57 +0000

This weekend is the John Wooden classic, named after one of my favorite sportsmen of all time. Coach Wooden put together a record 10 NCAA basketball titles. Seven of those ten were all in a row. His abilities as a coach may never be topped. Far and above coaching prowess, his most important contributions are being an icon of devotion to family and treating his players like sons.
As the mother of two young men, I can think of few better role models for them than Coach Wooden. At 99 years of age, he remains a beacon of faith and goodness. His measure of success was not about winning or losing, it was about whether each player knew they had given 110% effort. He pretty much avoided talking about winning at all. In fact, he would say that you are the only person who can know if you’ve done your best, or not. The first quote on his website reads, “success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable.” True greatness comes from measuring yourself not by what others evaluate as success. True greatness comes when you know that you have given every fiber of your being to what you participate and believe in.
Educational and sports accomplishment were equally important to coach. He considered it his job to make certain that his players were educated, well rounded human beings.
He believes the most important word in the English language to be love, and remains devoted to his wife Nelly though she died in 1985. His own health permitting, he visits her grave on the 21st of each month and writes a love letter which is placed on a pillow she used to sleep upon.
With all the scandal reported in athletics, John Wooden represents the best of sports and of human kind.
Today as I dove into a plate of hot wings with my sons watching basketball, I told them that they were two young “John Woodens” in the making. Whatever they do, wherever they go, it is my greatest hope that they live life as well, and fully as Coach Wooden.

Thank you coach for being an angel in our midst, a man-gel of highest caliber.

(www.coachwooden.com)

Junior Hockey Man-gel, Junior Angel

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:57:51 +0000

Thanksgiving this year was spent in and around the Hyatt Regency O’Hare while my youngest was participating in a hockey tournament. Yes, hockey took over our holiday and the blog again! The hotel’s service was fabulous, so here’s a plug for them, especially Maggie who bailed me out of a big fat business snag!
In between games, our group took the “L” downtown. This was no small feat considering we had about 50 parents, players, and younger siblings. From our destination station we walked for hours soaking up holiday spirit along Chicago’s Michigan Avenue.
As you have probably guessed, the smaller kids were almost impossible to keep track of. Fears of leaving or losing a munchkin sized member of our pack led several parents to request hockey team members’help keeping little ones in check.
Without hesitation, a 6’2” defenseman quickly obliged, gently taking the hands of two ten year old girls as if they were truly his sisters. He didn’t say a word, but his actions were so tender and loving a sigh could be heard from parents lucky enough to see what had happened. The girls complied happily sensing his open heartedness immediately. A big teddy bear guarded and protected them until safely returning home.
This junior hockey man-gel was quite a reminder not to sell teenaged morals or intentions short. Even tough hockey players can have a tender side easily missed if you aren’t willing to look! Here’s to a junior hockey man-gel who officially opened the holiday season as only a living, breathing angel could!

Brett Hull our first hockey Man-gel

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:02:54 +0000

I have to admit, I’m a huge hockey fan. Not just pro hockey. Both of my sons have played a game that is fast and elegant. You heard me. In between battering hits, the coordination required to skate forward, backward, every which way with blinding speed looks deceivingly simple. If you think it IS simple, strap on a pair of skates and watch what happens.
Having been a St. Louis resident when Brett Hull played for the Blues, I was intrigued when a fellow hockey parent mentioned how good his hall of fame acceptance speech was. Of course, this conversation occurred in the middle of a hockey team dinner I was hosting for my youngest son. Six pounds of pasta, seven loaves of garlic bread, about two hundred toasted ravioli, and one clean up later enough time opened up to read the transcript.
Brett was a favorite of mine anyway because he always spoke his mind. As that same mind evolved over the years, I came to respect him for expressing his journey so publicly. Few have the courage to be real even in private! The contents of Brett’s induction speech were the icing on the cake elevating him to man-gel status.
Speaking at his induction Brett lovingly mentions his mentors, wife, and children. What him apart is acknowledging every family who has worked extra hours and gotten up at the crack of dawn to get their kids rinkside. What this told me was that Brett gets the big picture. He was able to live out his dream because of a larger family-the entire hockey community from mini mites on up. Far from detached in realms of superstardom, Brett reminded us all that we are pieces of a puzzle that would not be completed without each of us playing our part. For some of us, that part is becoming an NHL Hall of Fame inductee…
Congrats Brett-our first NHL hockey man-gel!

Rose Angel. Rose Man-gel

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:05:25 +0000

While shopping at Trader Joe’s yesterday, I picked up three big bunches of off white roses. Bumbling up to the check out, not bothering to take a cart, I nearly crushed several perfect blossoms. Thankfully, my checker was on top of things and grabbed them before causing further damage.
“Ouch”. “Ouch” lamented my checker. Interrupted from swiping my bank card it wasn’t clear just what was going on. With a backward glance, I caught a glimpse of him picking off thorns that had poked through clear cellophane wrapping with his bare hands.
“They don’t really hurt”, he commented continuing to bend off offending barbs. “I just don’t want them to poke you”.
Who would have guessed that such an incredibly sweet service was a perk available at the checkout counter? As days go, this one had begun questioning how grace showed up in action. Clearly, my question had been answered by a man now christened “Rose Man-gel” for his thoughtful intervention. My own best friends probably wouldn’t have bothered to do what a stranger had taken the time to do. That’s putting grace to work! Rose Man-gel saved my hands, and faith applying a salve of extraordinary service on an ordinary day.

minister man-gel, minister angel

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:47:19 +0000

Friday night and Saturday this weekend were joyously filled with listening to the words of Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith and song of his wife, Rickie Byars Beckwith along with the Gateway to Agape choir. The couple is a perfect tandem act alternatively doting and lightly ribbing one another telling of their shared journey of love and enlightenment from meditation to organic/vegan nutrition to unabashed adoration of grandchildren. They openly play together while inspiring their audience without missing a beat.
And of course because we are speaking of man-gels, Reverend Michael radiated respect for his mate’s performances seeming to take strength from her insightful composition.
Theirs is a true synergy: each whole within themselves, tag teaming with each other they create more vibrant energy together than either would alone. Just as they work, they rest in the bonds of love they have devoted untold hours of nurturing attention to.
So, thanks Reverend Michael for being man enough to choose a real woman and create alongside her without reservation. Men like our reverend are changing the world!

Angel husband, Man-gel husband

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:50:40 +0000

As I watch many of the marriages around me, it is so refreshing to see a man support his wife in her dreams. One particular man-we’ll call him the man-gel husband is not only financially supporting his entire household while his wife starts up a new company-he is doing the lion’s share of the cooking and cleaning too!
He is completely confident that she will be a success and has no problem putting that belief into action. That is where we separate the men from the boys. Talk is cheap, action makes all the difference! So here’s to a man-gel husband, an angel dressed as a man to remind us all of what love really means.

Ted Kennedy-an American man-gel

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:20:13 +0000

Today’s post is a tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy. His life was a testament to true man-gel characteristics. Unique as a Cape Cod sunset, his passions led him to weave a life’s tapestry rich with victories and loses, right decisions coupled with those that defy logic, rowdiness tinged with sorrow. “There is no safety in hiding”, Senator Kennedy commented after entertaining the idea of leaving public life after his brothers were murdered. Who but an angel in a human form could have continued to love, grow, and redefine himself after experiencing such trauma. Willing to remain open hearted and loving, he reminds us of what one individual can accomplish with optimism, courage, and self scrutiny.

I’m sorry man-gel

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:40:52 +0000

Just a few weeks ago I was prepping for a talk that was to be presented to an audience of hundreds. While getting this done, I got into a misunderstanding with a man-gel who had done some work for me. Needles to say, I wasn’t very warm and friendly about his side of the story. Just as I was re-thinking my behavior, BEFORE I had spoken to him about it, he called me to apologize.
Though there was reason for the apology, he had completely ignored the fact that my attitude stunk! He took complete responsibility for what had happened.

The conversation was such a gift on many levels.

First, I was already stressed. He didn’t point out THAT obvious fact, he just did what he thought was right. What a breath of fresh air!

Second, he became my definition of a perfect man! (perfect person, really). All of us make mistakes. There are few, however, who are willing to say they are sorry before an apology is forced upon them.
What he did gave us more than a fresh start. We now knew what was important to both of us. Trust and integrity come to mind.

For my part, I told him plainly what his actions meant to me. Hopefully, future business dealings we have will be ways for both of us to create something great!

Never underestimate the power of saying I’m sorry-especially if it comes as a welcome surprise