A Historic Moment

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A Historic Moment

January 20, 2009, was very historic day for the United States of America. For the first time since the birth of this nation an American citizen with racial ethnicity of 50% Caucasian, 43.75% Arabic and 6.25% Black African, was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Over 1.4 million Americans were packed together like sardines to watch President Barack Obama be sworn into public office.

Where was I during this momentous day in history? Watching a live internet feed in my office as it snowed for the first time in four years here in Raleigh, NC. I started to think of other moments that changed the course of history; in my living room in Tempe, AZ as the Twin Towers in New York City collapsed, in Target as I watched news of the Oklahoma City Bombings, in a ski lodge in Vail, CO as America began the Gulf War, in our old farmhouse with my mom watching the famous USA/Russia Olympic Hockey game, and in Kewanee, IL watching our living room TV as it showed black and white news footage of Elvis stepping off of a plane in Hawaii with a lei around his neck.

Remembering these moments in history got me thinking about some of the other happy memories from my life. I remember tromping through weeds twice as tall as me the day my dad and I went fishing, sitting in the back of the car going for an ice cream cone at the Tasty Freeze when the flavor of the night was lemon, or the thrill of shooting frogs with my cousins in a small farm pond in Missouri.

With my kids being so young, I started to wonder how they would remember the events of today. Probably, Nicolas and Isabelle will remember the snow today more than anything. I am hoping if we explain the historical significance of the day with Nicolas, and sit down with him tonight to watch the recording of the inauguration, he may remember it.

• What will your kids or other loved one’s remember as the Magic Moments over the course of their lifetime?
• What are you doing to create those Magic Moments with them?
• What will they remember when they are 40, 50, or 80 years old?
• Will those Magic Moments be filled with happy emotional times that you have created or one’s that have just happened?
• How can you work to purposefully live and share a life of Magic Moments for everyone you come in contact with?

Every moment could be a significant moment that someone will rememberas significant for the rest of their life. And, you hold within yourself the ability to make it be one! I am sure that my Dad didn’t plan on taking me fishing that day in order for me to have a Magical Moment that I would remember 30 years later. I don’t know if he even remembers how good that lemon ice cream tasted that night we drove to the Tasty Freeze. I do know that I have told my Uncle Don one million “Thank You’s” for the Missouri farm pond trips. However, I doubt he ever knew the tremendous impact they would have for me in my life when he invited me to go.

What makes these such Magical Moments? When someone steps up to serve, give and share a moment in their life to create something special with and for someone else. If you look back over your life I am sure that you have many Magical Moments. As you look forward to your future, what kind of Magic Moments could you create? Every moment of life has the potential for a Magic Moment. America will continue to have Magical Moments of history. Those Magic Moments are what make a country great. I encourage you to create some Magic Moments for yourself and others also! It will be what makes your life Great too!