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    A Human Becoming
    A Human Becoming
    A Human Becoming
    Ebook134 pages1 hour

    A Human Becoming

    By Terry L. Sumerlin

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    About this ebook

    In real life, Terry Sumerlin is a motivational speaker and author. In this novella, a blend of fact and fiction, the character Terry Sumerlin gives lectures on success to cruise ship passengers and teaches success principles to his son Jon, traveling with him for the summer, through words and examples. Yet somehow this motivational speaker has lost his motivation. How does Terry regain his enthusiasm? The experiences of one "human becoming" will inspire, motivate, and encourage others who are "humans becoming."

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTerry L. Sumerlin
    Release dateJul 25, 2011
    ISBN9780965966252
    A Human Becoming
    Author

    Terry L. Sumerlin

    Terry L. Sumerlin has inspired and entertained CEOs and graduates of The Harvard Business School, as well as athletes, coaches, teachers, salespeople, business owners and government personnel. He’s addressed men and women from Halifax to Honolulu and from St. Paul to St. Thomas. For nearly a decade he’s written a monthly leadership column for American City Business Journals and is the author of the popular Barber-osophy series as well as the inspirational novella, A Human Becoming. Terry and his wife Sherry live in San Antonio, Texas.

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      Book preview

      A Human Becoming - Terry L. Sumerlin

      A HUMAN BECOMING: A LIFE CHANGING VOYAGE

      A Novella by

      TERRY L. SUMERLIN

      Cover Artist: Aundrea Hernandez

      Copyright © 2005

      All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the permission of author. All names, with the exception of those of family members, are fictional. Any similarity to names of real individuals or companies is merely coincidental.

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Published by

      SE Publishing

      6338 N. New Braunfels, #180

      San Antonio, Texas 78209

      ISBN: 0-9659662-2-4 $12.95

      DEDICATION

      To my longtime friend, J.B. Berryhill, Ph.D., who for over twenty years saw a need for this book and believed I could write it.

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Prologue

      1 Bon Voyage for Two

      2 yesterday

      3 First Impressions

      4 Relationships

      5 Self-Respect ala Carte

      6 History and Self

      7 Rest for the Weary

      8 Lincoln and the Lady

      9 Spartan or Athenian?

      10 Center Stage Crisis

      11 The Lifeline

      12 The Gift

      13 Re-discovery

      Epilogue

      PROLOGUE

      Seeds of thought often require time to germinate. The seed for this book was planted in my mind by something I read over twenty years ago. And, now, at long last the seed has germinated and borne fruit…both in my life and in my creativity. In fact, it has produced so much fruit it has come time to share.

      A Human Becoming is a story that contains both fact and fiction. The summer my son and I spent together and some of the details, including the drama at the end, have been fictionalized for the sake of the narrative. Lecturers don't generally have extended contracts on cruise ships as do entertainers. For many years, however, I have served as an enrichment lecturer on one or two cruises a year. At various times, my wife and three children accompanied me. My son Jon and I did take, for one week, the Canadian/New England cruise that serves as the setting for the book.

      The reader should also know that the observations about my personal life are true, though at times painful to relate. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, A life that is worth writing at all, is worth writing minutely and truthfully. Also, Henry David Thoreau observed, He is not the great writer who is afraid to let the world know that he ever committed an impropriety. Does it not know that all men are mortal?

      Though I'm willing to let the reader make his/her own determinations about who the great writers are, I'm unwilling to alter the facts in my life when they might otherwise be a means of helping just one human becoming.

      We've often heard that experience is the best teacher. If this has reference to personal experience, the axiom is flawed. The flaw lies in the fact our lives are limited, as well as our experiences. Thus, by the time we've had enough experiences to know how to lead richer and fuller lives, our lives are over.

      On the other hand, if we're able to learn from our own experiences and the experiences of others, we possess valuable tools for better living. It is my sincere desire that A Human Becoming is such a tool.

      1

      BON VOYAGE FOR Two

      *******

      I hardly slept all night. I couldn't blame the bed, since it was the same bed I'd occupied for the past three months. It wasn't the accommodations either, since they don't get much better than the Discovery of the Seas.

      Normally the gentle rocking of the ship is all it takes to put me out for the night. Yet, as I sipped my coffee in the Panoramic Court and watched the sunrise on the Caribbean, I knew exactly what had caused my insomnia. Excitement!

      Shortly we would dock in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Sherry and Jon would be waiting to join me for the return trip through the Panama Canal. I had not seen my wife and 14-year-old son in three months, and it seemed like eternity.

      When I left San Antonio, Texas, in March, it was for another six months of lectures at sea. Though I had been enjoying my work the past five years (as it had been a wonderful opportunity to see the world), I'd seen enough of the world and just wanted to see my wife and son.

      Occasionally, I was able to go home briefly. Our longest visits, though, were when Sherry and Jon were able to join me during the summer. With Little League baseball and other activities, they were usually able to make only one trip a summer. I was as excited as a little boy on Christmas morning.

      As I made my way down the gangway and through the terminal, I had to control myself to keep from running. However, when I heard a boy's voice yell Dad! I lost all restraint and began running toward the kid wearing the Nike cap turned around backwards and the Notre Dame jacket. O. J., in the Avis commercial, didn't have a thing on me. While such reunions can be ordinary occurrences in ship terminals and airports, for me this reunion was extraordinary.

      After a few minutes of tearful joy, I turned to Sherry and Jon and commented, "I think the ship will be easier to catch before it leaves the port. Maybe we ought to see about getting on."

      We gathered our bags, went through the necessary boarding procedures, and headed for the gangway. Once aboard ship, we stopped briefly at the elevator so that I could introduce my wife and son to several crew members, and then we made our way to our cabin on the Fiesta Deck.

      That evening we enjoyed a wonderful dinner in the Pelican Dining Room. Though the evening attire was casual, the dining room sparkled with silver and crystal. At the entrance was a breathtaking ice sculpture of a dolphin. The waiters were professional, but cordial, as they eagerly met Sherry and Jon. I had already had my quota of rich food, but Sherry and Jon seemed to be ready to enjoy their filet mignon. Afterward we took in a musical extravaganza in the theatre where I'd been speaking. Absentmindedly I scanned the crowd of five or six hundred looking for familiar faces from my lectures. For me the wonderful musical merely provided background for my random thoughts. Occasionally, when Sherry would squeeze my hand, I was brought back to the present. By the end of the show, Sherry and Jon were showing signs of being very travel weary. Too weary for much conversation, we turned in for the night.

      At breakfast the next morning, we were all rested and ready to catch up on the latest happenings in each other's lives. Sherry said she had a good school year and that most of her eleventh-grade math students passed to their senior year.

      How are your lectures going? she asked.

      Okay, I guess. Then I added, The attendance has been good and, if the number of people who wish to talk with me after the lectures is any indication, interest is good.

      But? Sherry raised an eyebrow. She had lived with me long enough that I couldn't hide my feelings from her.

      I don't know, hon. Maybe I'm a little tired.

      Knowing it to be one of my favorite Vince Lombardi quotes, she quickly responded, And fatigue makes cowards of us all.

      Yeah, something like that I guess. It's just hard to describe. I feel like I'm accomplishing so little that really makes any real difference in people's lives.

      Sort of like I feel with my students sometimes?

      I guess so. Anyway, I'll get over it.

      Jon had been just sort of listening without saying much. He'd already filled his plate twice. So, he'd been rather busy.

      How about you, Sport? What's happening in your world? I asked.

      Jon had always said he's going to be a major league pitcher. I assumed he and his mom would simply accompany me for a week, and then get back so that he could pitch in the senior league all-star games.

      How's baseball going? You still undefeated?

      His reply immediately got my attention. Well, I haven't played in a week or so, Dad.

      What? I asked in unbelief.

      Mom, you want to tell him or you want me to? Jon asked.

      Someone tell me, I replied, because I don't like the sound of this.

      We didn't call you, Sherry said, because we didn't want to alarm you.

      Alarm me about what?

      "Now, he's gonna to be okay.

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