"Sweet, Savory and Transformational Concoctions"

Anybody else out there fans of the hit show, Ted Lasso? Man, I just love that show, for many reasons. First, it starts with the show's premise. It's basically, "Anything's possible." British actor Sarah Niles, the newcomer to season two, plays a sports psychologist on a hilarious, heartwarming and tender comedy about a American football coach turned neophyte British soccer coach. On the show's popularity Niles offers: “The honesty that Ted shows despite not knowing soccer but giving it a go anyway? That’s the courage we need in life.” Amen to that. So, last night darling wife and this ol' knucklehead were watching the latest drop from season two. British actor and singer Hannah Waddingham (pictured) plays Rebecca Welton, owner of the soccer club that Ted coaches despite the fact he knows little to nothing about soccer. But guess what? Ted knows a lot about life and the power of a positive, "can do" spirit on this, often, runaway-train-like journey we're, individually and collectively, aboard. Anyway, in this recent episode, Welton's mother is visiting, seems a bit tipsy and, loudly, bellowing through an open window from the owner's office, at coach Ted. Talented actor Jason Sudeikis brilliantly plays the eternally optimistic Lasso, going through a painful divorce back home and willing to take a flyer on just about anything to spark a comeback. Including, moving across "The Pond" and taking a job sight unseen to coach AFC Richmond in association football. He was lucky that Welton, miffed about her husband leaving her, hired a nobody, gleefully expecting disaster to strike and the club's fortunes continuing to evaporate. Revenge can be a great motivator. However, things are not progressing as planned. Not so with Richmond. Same for us for that matter. But I digress. Back to the story. Lasso's watching practice and turns quickly toward the owner's box to listen to an overserved mother of the owner exhorting the team to play better and turn their misfortune, her words, "From lemons into Lemon Lavender Mojitos." I started chuckling vigorously. Funny stuff. Also, so damn true. It made me think of the title of my third book, "Lemons into Margaritas." Same premise. Whether the preference, instead of lemonade from those lemons life's throws our way, how about a mojito or margarita? When appropriate and wise, virgin mojitos and margaritas. The point is this. Crap happens. It's just life. What we do with it? That's our story. When "Lemons" first came out and I was out speaking on the motivational series of short stories, call 'em Pep Talks, about life, folks would ask, "Mark, you don't use lemons in margaritas. You use limes?" Grinning ear to ear, I would respond, "Yep. You're right. Let me tell you the story." It comes from the fun days of co-hosting, with dynamo Denise Plante, a show called "Colorado and Company" on 9NEWS (KUSA) in Denver. Back then we'd often have authors and entertainers on the show. Folks coming through town to speak, entertain and all that jazz would come on the show to promote and have some fun. One day, we hosted two brothers on the show, Hanz and Kurt Wisner. The good fellas were on a nationwide tour touting their book, "Honeymoon with My Brother." It's a funny read about Franz being jilted at the alter by the woman of his dreams. Younger brother Kurt was to be the best man, wasn't a big fan of the woman and eager to help a devastated older bro, currently a "wounded duck." People had flown in from all over the world to see Franz marry this woman. The couple had broken up multiple times in the ten years of dating before the expected nuptials. Most often, it was the female, career-oriented and relationship phobic, stating, "Let's take a break." However, Franz was persistent. Finally, after a decade of dating and distance, it's "Going to the chapel and gonna get married" time for Wisner. Well, not so fast. Night before the wedding, fiancee calls it off. Franz is devastated. In steps younger bro Kurt with a great idea. "The heck with her" states the determined younger sibling. "Tomorrow on what's supposed to be your wedding day? We're gonna have a party to celebrate the rest of your life!" They did. Boy was it fun. So fun that Franz and Kurt decide to take the Costa Rica "honeymoon" together. Apparently, the jilted groom belched to his best man at the "Good Riddance" bash, "I've got two tickets to Costa Rica. Whatya say? You and me go? The rest is history. The brothers quit their jobs and traveled the world together for two years, visiting 53 countries. You go boys. So, these dudes are on a book tour, guests with Denise and yours truly on "Coco" and sharing one amusing story after another. I'll never forget it. At one point, the Wisner brothers talked about a book signing where an elderly woman, impressed with their ability to turn tragedy into triumph, cracked at Franz, "Sonny, you didn't turn lemons into lemonade. You turned lemons into margaritas!" Amen sister. Whether it's Ted Lasso, Franz Wisner. Me. You. Family. Friend. Foe. Whomever. Finding a way to unearth a nugget of hope from a painful present, past or both? Darn easy to talk about but far more difficult to execute. Damn tough in fact. But, it can happen. Whether the example is a ficticious soccer coach, real life dude jilted at the altar or someone we know personally, examples abound of others figuring out a way to learn from challenging moments and moving forward in healthy and productive ways. Life's lemons happen. Get "Lassoed" into believing you can get creative and transform them into sweet, savory and transformational concoctions! #goodbetterbest