What did you have in mind?

I got a call the other day right smack in the middle of the day. It was a number I didn't recognize and when that happens I always try to answer the phone no matter what I'm doing simply because it's more efficient (rather than them leaving a voice mail then I have to call back, etc.) It was a day where my mind was racing, ideas were popping in my head, and I was running at full speed!! So my phone rings, I don't recognize the number, and I decide to pick it up.

The caller is a gentleman who wants to inquire about the HCM Foundation College Scholarship Program. He tells me that his daughter fulfills the requirements to apply and he was calling to get more details. So right away - things slow down for me. My mind stops going full speed and is now solely focused and interested in this family's story.

I am not going to go in depth with the details to their story so I can keep it private and maintain the integrity of the scholarship program, which is run by a committee. But I will go on to write that this gentleman's daughter has a VERY similar story to myself and hearing him describe it to me REALLY made me slow down even more. As he tells me their story he is also reflecting back on his life and expresses to me some of the difficult times they had.

As the conversation is coming to an end I say to him that I am very grateful our paths have crossed and I encourage his daughter to apply for the HCM Scholarship. Then I also go into telling him just a brief rendition of my story and what the scholarship committee is really looking for when we sit down and review/score the applications. I think he was a bit taken back by my story because it is so similar to his daughter. I believe it was a very cool moment for both him and me - two people who have never met in person, talking on the phone, engaging about the similar hardships of our past, blessed moments in the present, and endless opportunities for the future.

So now for the rest of that day and most likely for the rest of the week I will be thinking about this conversation. What this conversation did for me was take me back - it took me back to what I had in mind as I was driving in my car 2 years ago and said to myself, "I'm going to create something that will help families and their children who are just like me - who went through similar things and have similar capabilities for the future."

You know these last few months a lot of my energy has been put into organizing future fundraisers and doing a lot of the administrative side to HCM Foundation. Not that I have forgotten my original mindset when I created it, but it are scenarios like this conversation that are so vital to staying true to yourself and your original intent.

It made me feel good to talk with this gentleman. And our conversation - yea, it certainly makes me go back. Makes me think about my Mom, my brother, me - the loss of an important family member. Hearing stories like this one is what keeps me motivated to keep things moving. The ability for me and the HCM network to give families like this help and hope. The hope means more to me. Hope is always stronger.

So as I continue to push on this week and things are racing a gazillion miles a minute - as I lay in bed at night trying to get some z's, I will think of these stories and continue to be amazed by the incredible people who cross my path each day.

Always remember where you came from and "what you had in mind!" It will make your hope stronger!