Nancy Politan

As I emptied my nightstand drawer Sunday afternoon, I unfolded a neatly stapled handwritten stack of papers that I hadn’t looked at in at least three years. I smile, as I remember the morning by business coach, Ed DeCosta asked me to write about my life – 5 years into the future.

I figure most people would have difficulty imagining their life a month into the future, but not me! I just finished reading Beach Money by Jordan Adler for the second time that year. His story intrigued me – especially Chapter 3 – It Rained on My Dreams That Day. I re-read that chapter what seemed like a hundred times, hanging on every word. So when I sat down that weekend in 2009 to write my story, I clearly saw where I would be in 2014! It was exciting to anticipate the journey with each new paragraph that rolled from my pen. Nine pages later…my story was written.

Granted, no one knows the future for certain. Each day becomes a decision and our life is full of choices. I once read the average adult in the U.S. today makes about 35,000 decisions each day, most of which are rather simple. What if we each took an active role in those choices? I’m not talking about outcomes, just choices. If you had a choice about where you worked, if you worked, where you lived, how you spent your day, etc., would you participate in your story? Given that choice – my vote would absolutely be YES!

I titled my assignment – My Beach Money Story – 2014 and for many months after it was written, I read it every week. Like Jordan, it lay on my nightstand and each night I would read one or two pages of my story.  At an uncertain point, it got tucked away in the top drawer of my nightstand, and resurfaced at least once the following year. I re-read my story and knew someday…I would be living that story.

Fast forward to October 18, 2015 where this story begins. As I begin to read my beach money story, I smile. It’s as if the first two pages were written in the last few months…how can that be?  The story reads exactly as it is today…wow!  I am living my beach money story!  Napoleon Hill said it best – “whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe…it can achieve”.

I know many of my friends have read or heard about dream boards and vision statements. I know many have good intentions of putting one or the other (or maybe both) together, but never really followed through.  After seeing first hand, the power of a five year vision statement come to fruition, there is no way I can sit back and not share what just happened.  A vision put to paper 5 years ago – and something I haven’t revisited in three years, suddenly has become my reality. Write it out…where would you like to be in 5 years; what would you like to be doing differently; who are the people you want to be near;  when will you take that dream vacation; who, what, where, and when…but remember to leave off the how.  Amazingly enough…the how will happen.  I challenge you to take the time to do this before the end of 2015 – what a gift to yourself…and what a way to begin 2020!

Last Christmas I received a one sentence journal called “The Happiness Project” from a very special friend.  Every night, I wrote one or two sentences of gratitude or accomplishment from my day.  It is a five-year record of my life.  I have to admit, when I cracked it open last year – I wondered if I would even care what had been written in previous years. Until I opened the book today and read my first two sentences from 2014, I really didn’t comprehend the impact this little five-year journal held. Today I received a gift…from last year’s entry. 

January 1, 2014 – I spent today helping a man with a ruptured aneurysm recover, and a critically ill woman receive a diagnosis. Took up the majority of my day, but right now…that’s my life. 

Those closest to me know my journey and inspiration this past year.  So many adjectives and emotions to describe the good, the not-so-good – the highs and the lows. It was a year filled with juggling schedules, trading or giving away call, taking paid time off to attend an event or appointment, and using my lunch or a break in my schedule to slip outside and make or return a phone call.  You see, I set a goal – an important goal…and I would NOT stop before reaching it.  My co-workers were supportive in helping me with scheduling conflicts, as often as they were able.  I’m sure a couple of them thought I was crazy a time or two, and maybe I was!

Regardless, I am thankful for each of you – more than you’ll ever know!

As I sit down this evening to write my “Year Two” entry for January 1, 2015 – I can’t help but feel a little emotional about what I write:

A year of new beginnings…tomorrow I close the door and walk away from 35 years in the medical field.  It has served me well – but the time has come to change lives in a different capacity. 

Bittersweet…as I absolutely love the path I chose to follow after graduation-many years ago. I have met some amazing life-long friends on my journey, to date.  I have so many stories and experiences – I could write a book…and probably will..  I am so BLESSED…and THANKFUL!  I love you all, and wish each of you – YOUR BEST YEAR EVER…in 2015!

Tomorrow evening I will travel the mountains of West Virginia to North Bend State Park to ride in my 2nd Century bike ride for Timmy’s Fund.  If you are not familiar with this non-profit organization you can check it out at http://www.timmysfund.org.   I can’t say enough about their mission to help families who have been emotionally and financially devastated by childhood cancer.  The support for these families is phenomenal through Timmy’s Fund, and here’s why.  Seven short years ago, the Quigley’s lost their son within 7 months of discovering he had a Medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.   At a time when they could have turned bitter because of their loss, they turned their grief and devastation into something positive.  They established Timmy’s Fund to give back to the mass amounts of people who supported them emotionally, spiritually, and financially during Timmy’s illness.

I was introduced to this awesome organization two years ago when I took my granddaughters to a “balloon release” fund raiser in Grafton.  As kids would, they had a blast that afternoon.  But that Saturday, I saw the heart of this group and something inside me was moved.  A short time later, I received a letter promoting their 1st Century Bike Ride in October.  I sent Joe and Tara a card and told them I would consider riding in the event that fall.  As time grew closer to the date, I felt an obligation to do the ride.  After all, how hard could 100 miles be on a bicycle?

Well, I received the answer to my question on October 10th and 11th….a little difficult when you haven’t trained for it.  But I did it!!  And if I remember correctly, my sponsors contributed $700 to support Timmy’s Fund in this event.

Throughout the year, I became more involved with Timmy’s Fund by supporting some individual families.  One special 4-yr old boy in particular held a special place in my heart; his name was Jaxon.  He was a very brave little guy in my eyes, and touched the hearts of so many.

Sadly…11 days ago, Jaxon lost his battle with a Neuroblastoma – and it absolutely broke my heart.  I would ask that you keep his family in your prayers during this difficult time.  In fact, keep all the families who struggle with childhood cancer in your prayers – their journey is sometimes over-whelming.  So this year when I hit the trail at North Bend…I will be riding for Jaxon.

In Loving Memory of

Jaxon Bryce Webber

December 2, 2007 – August 14, 2011

On the bookshelf in my office sits a 1968 light tan leather portable AM radio. It means the world to me.

Growing up, I can remember coming home to Bob Prince and Lanny Frattare broadcasting play-by-play commentary of the Bucco’s (Pittsburgh Pirates) game from this radio.  Many a night, my dad and I would sit on the back porch swing and listen until the final out in the bottom of the ninth.  Many times it would go several more innings, until that tie breaking run crossed home plate.  Those were the days!  I’m really not kidding…those were some of the best days growing up.

When my dad passed away in November of 1996, my three brothers, sister, and myself had the task of cleaning out dad’s house – the house I grew up in my first 17 years.  With five of us, you can imagine some of the challenges of dividing things up.  I can only speak personally when I say, there were only a couple things I really wanted.  The original Lionel train set my dad would set up each year around our Christmas tree.  I can remember how we would fight over who would drop the smoke pellet pills in the engine, or who would blow the whistle on the transformer as the train raced around the track.  The other…was dad’s radio.  It sits on my bookshelf, in my office – and is a constant reminder of some wonderful memories.

When I think back on the special memories of my dad…the ones that are forever embedded in my heart – the old brown radio definitely made the Top 10 list!  There was something about it; the place where it sat on the window ledge or the table next to my dad’s chair, and the fact that we sat side by side on that 5 foot swing together…slowly drifting back and forth.  Back then I thought it was about the game, but it wasn’t.  It was about the time we spent together – each night before ending our day.  It was the best!

And on a day like today, when we take time to remember out Fathers, well dad….I’ll sit on my back porch and catch a few innings of the Buccos/Indians game this afternoon.

Happy Fathers Day, Dad!