American Faces #47

American Faces #47

When I think about my son Isaac, I think of enthusiasm, I think of passionate-drive, I think of compassion for others, and I think of a love of adventure in the outdoors. Isaac is a hard working, ardent-about-life kind of guy. As he looks toward his future, he hopes to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2650 mile trek from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, and then he hopes to have a family and a career in law enforcement. When I asked him why he was interested in law enforcement, he said, “To serve and protect and also because my Papa Nielsen served as a patrolman and detective in Plymouth, MN.”

I watched Isaac serve his Papa Nielsen in the hours before his death. Isaac stayed by his papa’s side holding his hand as he breathed his last breath. He served his Papa well, and that is the way Isaac wants to serve others. Isaac’s heart to serve comes from his dedication to the freedoms we have been given and his desire to protect those around him.

When I asked Isaac what he wanted to share with others he said, “ Do what you need to do to live without regret.”

American Faces #46

American Faces No. 46

With the current state of things, the subjects of my next two American Faces will be my youngest daughter and my only son.

I suppose you could say this American Faces is sixteen years in the making. My daughter Bethany is a talented vocalist and an incredibly natural musician. She has felt music deep in her soul since she was a baby. Music is truly her happy place. As she said, “It gives me a sense of freedom from the thoughts that are in my brain.” She added, “Music is a way that I can freely express myself." That expression is heard in the sunny stairwell of our home, through the heat ducts of our old farmhouse, or just about any place that doesn’t have sound restrictions. It’s like having a free concert nearly everyday.

It seemed relevant for today to ask her about her dreams. Bethany shared, she wants to have many adventures, travel, try new things, and own a coffee shop. She told me her coffee shop would have an open mic all the time. How apropos that seems, for this young woman who cannot help but sing even in the hardest of times.

As our time in the studio ended, I asked her to say something to the next who walks on a similar path. She shared this, “Fields of wildflowers always come back and bloom. No matter what they go through they keep coming back. No matter what you go through it’s shaping you into someone stronger."

American Faces #45 -

American Faces No. 45

I met my subject for this American Faces installment back in 2001.  Sarah Hanley is a wonderfully talented graphic designer who, when I first met her, was certain her career would track towards a large, cutting edge advertising agency.  But the road of life often has twists and turns and changes in directions we cannot see when we first set out on our adult journey.  Sarah’s road had stops along the way at a small food-focused ad agency, a large hospital marketing department, and other freelance gigs.  Her road of life has also had a husband and two children join her in her journey.  Family has a way of changing the direction we first set out on.  Sarah now is a published author, something she had no “ah-hah” moment for when she was in school dreaming about Ad Agency life.  However, this additional creative skill was there, and has blossomed into a wonderful world of artistic expression.

Sarah shared with me that doing what you love doesn’t always look like what you built it up to be.  She started as a graphic designer and now adds to that talented resume the title author.

To those that read this. Keep dreaming!  This world needs the future version of you.

Now is a great time to read a book or two (or seventeen).

Check out her book on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Matka-Sarah-Hanley-ebook/dp/B07FRHKGYN