Burgers, Beers, and Trivia Nonsense

One Sunday September afternoon back in 2000 at the end of another Victorious Softball Season, my teammates, friends, and I went to a local pub after our last game together and ordered some Burgers, Wings, Nachos, Chilli Fries, 3 Mediterranean Salads, a round of “Diet Cokes”… and … played Trivia against one another on the Pub’s Television Screens. That afternoon we each threw $20 dollars into a pot and the person with the “Highest Score” at the end of the Trivia game won the Loot.  It added up pretty quickly because we had 11 competitive childhood friends squaring off against one another in the same game as Adults now.  Our biggest dilemma was to figure out who we were going to get to watch over the money filled pot while we all played.  It had to be someone who was willing to just sit along the bar’s rail, share time with their friends, drink their beer, eat their food, watch the scoreboard, watch the TV, wait for us to be done … and … not want to play. We found the most neutral person, named Angela (a girlfriend of one of the guys) who was willing to be the gatekeeper to the $ 220 dollars.

Before the 11 of us started playing the game we had to enter our names into the Game Console / TV so that everybody who was playing would know who had what score.  We had all entered our first names and were just about to start playing … then … all of a sudden Angela blurted out,  “You guys are going to use your real names ??? – C’mon, How boring !!! … Make up some “Game Names !!!” … There was a total of 16 people ready to play and 11 of them were us.  So the 11 of us ended up slowing down the game for everybody by deleting our initially entered real names and then re-entering our newly created “Game Names” for all to see.  Some “Game Names” were truly hilarious because of the “inside jokes” that were associated with them.  Once all 11 of us had finally posted up our “Game Names” we were ready to play … But … for some reason there seemed to be a hold up that was preventing the game from starting now.  You’re not going to believe this, but it was because the other 5 people, outside of our group who were sitting elsewhere in the bar, had decided to delete their original name entries so that they too could register their own “Game Names” into the Game Console and TV Scoreboard.  It was quite the giggle for all of us.  There were now 16 entertaining “Game Names” entered into the Games Scoreboard on the TV Screen for all to see.  We were ALL finally ready to play now … BUT … before I continue with the story here are some of the “Game Names” that I remember turning up on the TV Scoreboard  Screen.

The reason that I share this story with you is because it “indirectly” impacted my life significantly, as well as, prepared me for a Job Interview that I had scheduled for the next day which was a Monday.   To make a long story short, there were 2 managers from 2 different departments interviewing me simultaneously and I was feeling good about how the interview went … But … just as I was about to leave the interview room one of the managers asked me one last question … and … it went like this … “What 3 words best describes You ???” …  without hesitation I replied … “Faith in God” … They replied by saying “Ok, what are another 3 words that best describes You ??? … This time, without hesitation again, I replied … “Integrity, Empathy, Resilience” … The 2 interviewers looked at each other and then looked at me and then said “That will be all, Thank You” … The latter 3 words were sooooooooooooooo  freshly tattooed on my brain because of the previous night’s Nonsense Trivia Game at the Pub… and … They secretly served its purpose for me during the interview.

For those of you who are interested, I was eventually hired for the Job.  A job that allowed me to do everything that I was good at and enjoyed doing !!! … A job that has brought me cherished friendships that I still have today.  I had the pleasure of working 14 years with an Amazing, Awesome, Caring, Entertaining Staff, Special Populations such as Health & Wellness Clients and Enthusiasts, Senior Citizens, Teen Leadership Camps,  Activity / Sport Camps for Children, Youths, Teens… and … “The Forgotten” … I was Truly Blessed to have had the opportunity to work with all of them. Working there inspired me … and … shaped the rest of my Professional Career and Personal Life.  It’s March 2018 now and I still stand on those “6” words – (Faith in God; Integrity, Empathy, and Resilience) – to keep me Well Balanced … and … Heads and Shoulders above any appearing obstacles in order to keep my eyes glued on The Prize, The Goal, The Desire, and The Destination.

1) Integrity:

The Quality of being Honest and having Strong Moral Principles that you Refuse to Change.

Always Doing the Right and / or Honest thing, even when Nobody is Watching

2) Empathy: 

The ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would “be” like to be in that person’s situation

Seeing, Understanding, and Feeling the World from Someone Else’s Point of View

3) Resilience:

The Quality of Being able to Return Quickly to a Previous Good Condition After Problems

The Capacity to Recover Quickly from Difficulties, Toughness

The ability to Fall Down 5 Times … and … Stand Back Up 6

These “6” words have become my “Life’s Code” … and … who knows,  they may even become the 6 cornerstones of my Earthly Downfall as well … But … For now, I will continue to hold these 6 words very close to my heart  … and … bring them with me Everywhere I “Work” … and … Everywhere I “GO”

Before I say see you later, I challenge all of you to take time out of your “busy” lives to sit down and write out “3 – 6” words that best describes You … and … to “Secretly” keep them with You always.  You never know they may come in handy when you least expect it, it’s funny how life unfolds.  Once you have figured out Your “3 – 6” words become Accountable to Your Words, Live Your Words, Become Your Words … and … Continue to Shine Bright !!!

Have a Fantastic Day – You Deserve It !!!,

Nelson Beltijar
www.ThePositiveDrip.com

Ps – “OnePackAbs” ended up winning  the Trivia Game’s $ 220 Jackpot !!! … A week later he had invited all of us to his home for one last get together to close out the Summer.  Upon arrival, it was obvious that he had spent his Trivia Game Winnings on stocking up his home with Food, Drinks, Beverages, and Snacks for that Summers Ending Barbeque … Now that’s Class, Unselfish Class  🙂

Remember, ThePositiveDrip.com “CARES” about your Success