In
honor of Valentine’s week, I wanted to share a very personal story with you
that has a special motivational message.
This is a story on how I proposed to my wife. Know that before that
all-important day, we did not date. We lived at least a thousand miles away
from each other. I did not see her picture until many months had passed by
after our initial correspondence. This week we will be celebrating our union of
togetherness on Valentine’s Day! A true life story!
When
I was 26-years old, then my second year working in the National Hockey League
with the Washington Capitals, a young lady (Wendy) from Minneapolis, MN, wrote
a letter to our PR Department in August, 1981. She was seeking advice on how to
get into sports journalism. I answered her letter and offered up feedback. It
was a handwritten note. That is how we were first introduced.
Wendy
was 21 and a senior in college. Know
that back in the early 1980’s, there were no computers and cell phones so you
had to “pay” for communicating (long distance phones and postage stamps). After
a month passed by from receiving that first letter, we had our first initial
phone call that lasted for several hours. From there, we both exchanged hand
written letters and greeting cards pretty much every single day until we finally
met in person on Feb. 13th.
As we got to know more about one another, I was convinced that Wendy was
that special someone I was destined to meet and for us to spend our lives
together.
Within
a month of our meeting for the first time, I had asked Wendy that we should go
outside on a particular night, look up into the stars and make a “Wish” at the
exact same time. We would then open each other’s wishes when we met. As we neared our meeting date, I told my
office colleagues and Capitals’ hockey players that I was going to ask Wendy to
be my wife! It was grief central from
the staff members; however, many of the players – especially the Quebec, Canada
French guys - became my personal “love advisor” and encouraged me to follow my
heart all the way!!
I
called Wendy’s Mom to get her ring size (which stunned her since we never met
nor did the families). I went out and purchased her engagement ring without
ever having met. THIS IS THE PART OF
“BELIEVING IN ONE’S SELF” THAT I HAVE TRIED TO TEACH YOU THROUGH MY FACEBOOK
MESSAGES! THE POWER TO BELIEVE TRIGGERS EVERYTHING IN YOUR BEING! THE WAY YOU
THINK. THE WAY YOU PERFORM ON THE FIELD.
IT INFLUENCES YOUR LIFE! I knew
every little detail about this girl. I didn’t need to go through a series of dates
to confirm my feelings. Every value I ever believed in, Wendy was an exact
match!
I
met and picked up Wendy at the DC National Airport on Feb. 13, 1982. It was
nervous feelings for that first moment of contact. But a hug and kiss quickly confirmed
that SHE WAS IT! Never a doubt! Later that night, as the clock struck midnight
and the calendar officially became Valentine’s Day, I proposed to Wendy. I got
down on my knee and asked her to open up my “Wish”. It simply read: WILL YOU MARRY ME! Before she responded, Wendy then asked me to
open up her “Wish”. It also read the
same four words: WILL YOU MARRY ME!
In
many people’s eyes, I took the biggest risk of my life. I chose to marry
someone and went against all odds. My belief and commitment never wavered! Like
an athlete, being a team (as Wendy and I are) takes work. It’s give and take.
It’s supporting one another. Being loyal. TRUST! Just like the ingredients you
need to be a great teammate!
All the best! Guys TAKE CARE OF YOUR LOVED ONE tomorrow OK!
Jim Loria
E-Mail: jimloria0309@gmail.com
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"If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down
the shade!" – stated by Tom Peters, Business Management Author
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"Strength is a matter of a made up mind!" – stated by John Beecher, American Poet
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"It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from.
The ability to triumph begins with YOU. Always!" – stated by Oprah Winfrey
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“Everything
you are, and everything you have, started as a thought in your mind. Your body
is merely there to manifest physically that which the mind tells it to do.
Everything starts with you telling the mind what you desire" – stated by
Thomas D. Willhite
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"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens" – stated by Lewis L. Dunnington, Author
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