I have hit the exhaustion point.
With the negativity surrounding this fall season, I find it easy to get bogged down and see the world through a dirty window rather than the clearness I typically experience. The never-ending Donald Trump nonsense, the naysayers who continuously berate area school systems, the currently beleaguered Cleveland Browns, . . . , I have hit the point where I am declaring "enough" . . . it's time to focus on positives that put smiles on my face rather than succumbing to the anger, disappointment, frustration, and hatred that I see encompassing so many of us.
To accomplish that, I am highlighting people of character--strong character, that is. My life has been influenced quite often by people who represent what I consider to be goodness. Seldom, however, do I spend much time thanking them face-to-face, but today I am zeroing in on a few who have made my world a much happier place merely by their role modeling without their even knowing it!
Dr. Paul McFadden has morphed into a dear friend, one I greatly admire for many reasons. Chief among those reasons is that I have never heard him speak negatively about anyone, regardless of whether we agree or disagree. A man of faith and impeccable wholesomeness, Paul devoted his professional life to being a medical doctor, one who treasured the interactions with his patients, who would repeatedly interrupt his personal life to address the medical needs of those who contacted him, and who to this day is never judgmental about others. You see, Paul is an old-school guy, one who values honesty and integrity. A product of an old-school Newcomerstown family, he and his siblings grew up having to work fulfilling the obligations that went with a working class family. Doing chores was second nature to him because that is what his parents expected; that work ethic shaped his life and his career allowing him to be a well-respected doctor but, more importantly, a well-respected man. When I see Paul these days, he makes me smile because I know he is going to tell me something funny or he is going to make an observation I had missed. Bottom line is simple: He has been such a role model not only because of the family he and his wife Linda have nurtured but because he is a humble man who proudly represents positivity and class. I know of no greater compliment to offer this fine man.
Mr. Jim Heller is a retired teacher and coach who served in many schools, most notably in Dover. A man's man in many ways, Jim makes sure when he encounters people that the focus is on the other individual, not him. As a man with a quick wit, he is unique, but his knowledge and interests are vast perhaps stemming from his lifelong passion for reading. The contributions he has made and continues to make only further cement my respect for him. In addition to his teaching, he was a long-time track coach and athletic director leaving his mark in many ways, but these days he is intent on honoring those people who have made a significant impact on the Dover High School athletic scene by--in conjunction with others--advancing the school's Hall of Fame. His role--exactly the way that he wants it--is truly "behind the scenes," but without his passion for preserving the past athletic accomplishments of our community, this Hall of Fame dies a slow death. Truly a man of faith, he and his wife Diane are such important figures who have always reflected positivity and can-do attitudes, as shown by Jim's devotion to being physically fit at age 80! When I visit with them, smiles prevail because they understand that the happiness in life needs to be shared. To me, both Jim and his wife have been role models for such a long time--positivity is contagious, and so is character. In short, they are in my Hall of Fame simply because of who they are and how they have lived their lives. What could be a more important legacy than that?
Mr. Jay Huston is as quiet and humble man as anyone would ever meet, but to me he is a testament as to how to overcome adversity and live a happy, joyous life centering on placing family first and himself last. To those who know Jay, they clearly understand my description, but for those who do not, Jay remains a mystery, so I must explain his story. Growing up in Port Washington in a family of four boys and caring, loving blue-collar parents, he was a typical small town kid: excelled in four sports as well as academics, involved in school activities, and married his hometown girlfriend, my sister, who shared the same criteria as Jay. Upon high school graduation, he enrolled at Marietta College where he graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering, launching a successful career in that field. As he was ascending the petroleum ladder, however, his life took an abrupt turn: His wife, Carol, was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer, and from that point his life was never his again. Fighting a fourteen-month battle, Carol passed, and Jay, who had pretty much forfeited his career to take care of her, faced life with two small children in a market where the oil and gas industry was facing a downturn. Working several jobs that he knew he was not tailored for, he trudged forward until meeting a woman who ultimately would become his second wife . . . and what a jewel she is to this day. They eventually had another child, making their family complete, but Jay never again dove into the petroleum industry, instead focusing on a career in the steel mills. That's his story, but here is the real story of what makes Jay such an outstanding man, a role model I will love forever. The man never complained--he accepted his "lot in life," always moving forward, often working seventy-hour weeks to keep his family going. Surrounded by a loving family, his only "me time" was when he was able to go to the Tuscarawas River and fish with his best friend and cousin, Mike McCune. Unfortunately, Mike later died in a job-related accident, essentially depriving Jay of a treasured relationship. I am not writing this to say "Ah, poor Jay"--nothing like that whatsoever. No, this tribute is about his character, his perseverance, and his acceptance of what life deals him. Yes, he has experienced heartbreak, but in his mind, those negatives have only served to make him stronger. To this day, his most valued treasure is his family--children, in-laws, and grandkids. I say it again: I have never heard the man complain. He is a beacon of optimism, a guy whose charming smile makes me realize that when strong character dominates, life is truly grand. For me, his role modeling is contagious--I think the world of him because I know he is genuine, honest, and so grounded . . . my kind of man.
How else can I say it? People of character are often overlooked because they may blend in with everyday society rather than toot their own horns. Among us all are those who have made impacts, who have influenced us in ways we never realize until we begin to reflect. The individuals mentioned above fit the profile I admire in others; on days when I may find myself thinking a little too much about my needs and wants, I bring myself down to earth by thinking of my friends whom I consider to be much better than I. Their friendship is valued, but, most certainly, my hope is that we pause, get off the negativity that surrounds us, and truly appreciate what we have right here, right now, in our lives. Maybe that can put a smile on your faces as well as mine, reinforcing the old adage that sunshine is the best disinfectant!
