Reminders of the abundance in our lives surround us, but sometimes we ignore them to focus on our troubles.
Thus it is with gratitude that I acknowledge the contribution to my mental wellness of my friends of many years, Don and Sue Cogman of Scottsdale, Arizona. Don and I have been friends since 1969, plus co-workers, boss-employee, company executive-consultant. The list is long. A long relationship I treasure.
Don and Sue, like the rest of us, raised their kids in a loving home where excellence was expected and failure perceived as a learning experience.
Don and Sue’s kids are all over-achievers in the best sense of the phrase. I don’t know the kids, but I have followed them through Don and Sue all their lives and taken pride in their accomplishments.
Earlier this week, I emailed Don to say hello and he replied with this:
“We just returned from New York where we attended HBO’s premier of the 4th Season of Game of Thrones — very exciting. It was held in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, the same place Bryan graduated from Juilliard. He wrote two of the episodes and is now a co-producer — it is becoming the most successful show in HBO’s history. It was a kick!!”
Wow! Talk about a young man doing well. Bryan was born in Oklahoma City and grew up in Maryland and Connecticut as Don and Sue followed Don’s impressive career. And now, Bryan is making his star in New York City.
Brian’s success reminds me of the successes all of our kids (and grandkids!) can claim and I rejoice in the knowledge that these kinds of young folks fill our lives and remind us of the pleasant abundance that surrounds us if we look for it.
Great story about our great friends. We all rejoice when one of our children meets with success.
Gean, this could have been written about any of yours, or mine…just reminds us to be thankful.