Everything happens for a reason.  I believe all outcomes are predetermined.  Just real-life events slowly evolving to fruition, patiently waiting for us to catch up to a unique moment in time that officially becomes the “present”.

Today, I made an excursion to my hometown grocery store to pick up a few things for mom and dad.  Dad wanted to make some chili tomorrow because there’s a cold front on the way.  I love his chili, so this trip would actually benefit me as well.  Walking across the parking lot towards the entrance of the store, I heard someone shout “Mike!, Mike!”.  I look up and start to smile.  Walking directly towards me is my older brother Tony.  He says, “man, I’m on the phone with Cooter (aka my younger brother, Brian)”.

We stop, hug, step back next to the shopping carts, then hover around his phone. After brief acknowledgement of another amazing reunion, we lock down some logistics for our upcoming family reunion and then shift into our now normal triage mode. Within two minutes, we quickly and harmoniously create next week’s medical appointment and dialysis coverage for dad.  No debates, no I’ll get back to you, no pause for calendar reviews, just firm and loving commitments.   All decisions confirmed and sealed with a one word response to two simple words, “Everybody good?, Yep!,” “Ok, I’ll let mom and dad know that we got everything covered”.  DONE.

We have witnessed by parental example that when you approach things from a position of genuine love, complexity and consternation are organically simplified and potentially eliminated.   We ended our genetic grocery store convergence, the same way we always depart, with three seemingly spontaneous and synchronized “Love You”.

About the Author Michael K. Francis

Michael is a C-Suite Business and Human Resources Executive with more than 30 years of professional experience in the public sector with four Fortune 500 companies, and as a Management Consultant. In 2020, he founded BEAM Executive Advisors, LLC to provide consultative services to clients based on collaborative relationships, trust, and integrity.

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