“I’m Just Sayin’”
by Alan P. Scaglione
2012—What a year it’s been!
I can personally say it has shown me
the Highest Highs and… the Lowest Lows!I have never experienced a single year that was just so full of surprises!
Good AND Bad!
I have to reflect on all of it!
And ask myself—what did I learn from my experiences in 2012?
First… let me just mention some of both-- highs AND lows!
Let’s start with my favorite—the highs!
I finished my first novel “One Unexpected Event”.
I raised $4500 on KickStarter.com in 23 days to get it published.
I didn’t miss a single day of work due to sickness—the first year since my heart attack that I can say that!
I got a part time job—as a reporter interviewing other authors—they pay me each month—and the check cashes!
I wrote my second book—“SummerHouse: A Murder In Savannah!” - a whodunit mystery!
I started my company-- APS Global Enterprises!
I received my first royalty check!
I helped launch a website for my publisher XulonPressblog.com - featuring my 18 author interviews.
I was able to use my royalty check and bless some people.
I was able to pay back all of my contributors to my KickStarter project.
I started my own “Reflections” website to feature my “I’m Just Sayin’!” and “Points2Ponder” weekly columns.
I partnered with my godsons Shane and Chris to start a poetry website called RAKRevolution featuring our God inspired poetry.
I established my own website alanscaglione.com that displays my novels, my columns and directs people to my brother Joe’s music!
I celebrated 35 years of life that could have been ended at 17—had my best friend “Sandy Sawyer” not saved my life! What IF???
But there are the lows-
All of these are under one category—Family!I spent periods of 2012 estranged from all three of my kids—2 have been repaired, 1 only God can fix—but I know, He can!
And… the surprise death of my brother Joe, who passed away May 12th, at age 61, after going into the hospital April 6th for fatigue—that ended up taking his life!
The biggest surprise was—how much I missed and mourned my brother’s passing!
I knew he was in Heaven, reunited with his daughter Nikki; and for that, I was so happy for him.
But I realized too late that he really was the other guy on my see-saw! He balanced me—
He kept me in check, but he also praised and appreciated the gifts we shared.
There are two things that make me tick: My relationship with Christ and my words, whether poetry, songs, short stories, columns, interviews or novels—it’s all words!
And Joe—we shared both!
We could talk about something the Lord did in our lives or allowed us to experience or how He used us to help someone in need.
We also shared songs (mostly him calling me to share a new song) and he encouraged me to make my short story into “One Unexpected Event”—the novel!
He was a writer—actually published in Tampa Tribune and at University of South Florida, where he and I graduated!
And we shared the writer’s heart—we see our world differently; we ask different questions; we require different things from life!
Losing him caused me to mourn: the loss of what I had that I did not fully appreciate and… mourn the loss of what could have been!
I will miss him until I see him again—waiting for me, on the other side!
So…. I ask, what did I learn?
And it comes down to this—Accept the things I cannot change—and give them to the only one who can—God is the changer of hearts, changer of lives, changer of destinies!
That’s my 2013 goal—to accept and to hand over!
And to Reflect on how Good God is!
The Word says “Oh Taste and See—That The Lord is Mmm. Mmm. Good!” (Psalm 34:8)
I know… I added the “Mmm Mmm” but…
God has been so good to me—more than I will ever deserve!!!
What about you?
What are the highs and the lows of
your 2012?What did you learn?
Remember—it’s a lesson as long as you learned something; if you didn’t learn, it’s just a mistake!
Accept the things you cannot change…and hand over those things to the only One who can!
And… this is the last “I’m Just Sayin!” column…
Starting in 2012—it’s all about Reflections -- of Life, Love, Family, Friends…and how God is in the middle of it all!
Put God first—
And there will be nothing routine about 2013!
For the LAST Time--
I’m Just Sayin’…
Brother “A”
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