Groundcover Vendor #42

I met up with my friend, Denise Brennan-Nelson up at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s market this week. She is a children’s book author and motivational speaker.  I am so grateful that Claire’s Day brought us into each other’s worlds. Through our many conversations, get-togethers and emails, we have discovered a mutual love of the significance of family, nature, exercise, trying to eat right, positive energy and Rodney Strong cabernet.

The picture was taken at our most recent visit in Ann Arbor, a nearly half-way point to her home in Howell, MI and mine in Maumee, OH.

But the photo and our time together really isn’t the story here.  The story is found in the person taking the picture.

His name is Shawn Story.  He is Groundcover Vendor #42.

Denise and I passed him three times coming and going to the Farmer’s market.  He greeted us with a nice big smile each time.  He held newspapers in his hand and I believe a badge identifying himself and the price for an issue, a buck.

As we headed out to our cars to go our separate ways, I saw Shawn.  I told him I would be happy to buy a newspaper, but wondered if he would also take our picture.

He gladly agreed, snapped the shot and gave me a paper. I gave him the dollar, thanked him for his time and turned to walk away.

“I have a poem on page five,” he said, with a big smile on his face.

This is an excerpt from his piece, titled Knowing is Half the Battle.

Having a go-get-it attitude will always get you what you need.

Being positive, eating well and exercise will motivate you to do the right things.

Knowing is half the battle.

Engage in what is important to you and what is right for you.

It is alright to take someone’s opinion, but you have to make the decisions.

You have to live with what you do.

Knowing is half the battle….

The Groundcover newspaper’s mission is “creating opportunity and a voice for low-income people while taking action to end homelessness and poverty.”

I’m glad the paper shared Shawn’s voice.  It was amazing to me how similar his message was to the discussions that Denise and I had over breakfast.

I intend to send a message to the newspaper to let them know how Mr. Story touched me with his piece.  And how I learned once again that the story isn’t always to be found where we think it is.