For the Love of the Game

Sometimes you have to be your own biggest fan. When there's no one else to help you up, dust you off, and tell you good game, you have to do it yourself. Or sometimes that's how it seems.

So here I am reminding myself of why I am here in the first place. Because sometimes the hardest part about having a goal, is remembering it.

Eat, drink, travel, write and get paid for it. Once I realized that everything in my life pointed to this very destiny, I knew, I just KNEW I was destined to do anything and everything that had to do with eating, drinking, traveling, and if I had time...writing.

So picture this...I'm in a small town in a small restaurant at a small table on a small island in Greece with a small group of people. One of them being my best friend but the others are a very odd, very eclectic mix of people who don't necessarily follow the same rules or believe the same beliefs or hell, I don't even think we all spoke the same language. But there we were. Sharing a meal. Drinking some local wine. And cheersing for today. Because at that moment, it didn't matter where we came from, what we believed in or what language we spoke. Because food (and wine) is a universal language. And it almost always translates.

And that's it. Sometimes that's all it takes to remind me that it's not about where you are or where your going but who's plate your eating off of! As I watch this restaurant work, with the love and the pride that goes into every dish and every pour, it's then that it all makes sense for me to be right here, right now, managing Love Lane Kitchen. While it's not always easy, it's always worth it. And I feel thankful. And I realize it's not about being dusted off or told good job, but to be here for the love of the game.

And then all of a sudden there they are, the people around me, who were there all along just waiting to tell me, "thanks." Whether it's a customer, or a staff member, or even, yes, believe it, my boss- Someone, somewhere had a "Thank You" when I was least expecting it.

That's when it becomes clear that's it all a matter of awareness, of attitude and most of all, of gratitude.