Well, hey there, y’all. Let me tell ya ’bout this young’un, Nora Jane Holtmann. Born in 2010, May 19th, to be exact. Her folks, Chris Holtmann and Lori, they sure are proud of her.
Now, Chris, he’s a coach, ya know. Basketball coach. And let me tell ya, coaching ain’t easy. Folks think it’s just blowin’ whistles and yellin’, but it ain’t. It’s hard work, lots of stress. And this past January, well, it was tough on him. Real tough. He even said it himself, the toughest time in his whole coaching life.
Nora Jane, she saw it. Kids, they see more than you think. Chris’s wife, she told him, “Nora Jane, she noticed.” See, even little ones, they pick up on things. When their folks are stressed, they feel it too. It’s like a ripple in a pond, ya know? Spreads out and touches everyone.
So, what do you do when things get tough? Well, you gotta talk, that’s what. You gotta ask questions. Not just the “how was your day?” kind of questions. The real questions, the deep down ones. The ones that get you knowin’ somebody, really knowin’ them. It’s important, ya hear? For family, for friends, for everyone.
- What makes you happy? Like, really happy, deep down in your belly.
- What scares you the most? Not spiders and snakes, but the real scary stuff.
- If you could have anythin’ in the world, what would it be? And don’t say money, think harder than that.
- What’s the kindest thing someone’s ever done for you? And what’s the kindest thing you’ve ever done for someone else?
- What’s somethin’ you’re really good at? Don’t be shy now. Everyone’s good at somethin’.
These ain’t just questions, y’all. They’re keys. Keys to openin’ up people’s hearts. Keys to understandin’ them better. And when you understand someone, you can help ’em. You can support ’em. You can be there for ’em when things get tough, just like Chris’s family was there for him.
Think about it. How many times have you just chit-chatted with someone, but never really knew what was goin’ on inside? A lot, right? We talk about the weather, about what we ate for dinner, but we don’t always talk about what really matters. And that’s a shame. Because life’s too short for shallow talk.
Now, I ain’t sayin’ it’s easy. Sometimes it’s hard to open up. Sometimes it’s hard to ask those deep questions. But it’s worth it. It’s worth it to build those connections, to have those real conversations. It’s what makes life rich, ya know? It’s what makes us human.
So next time you’re talkin’ to someone, don’t be afraid to dig a little deeper. Ask those fun questions, those interestin’ questions. Ask those questions that make you think, that make you feel. You might be surprised what you learn. And you might just make someone’s day a little bit brighter. Just like little Nora Jane, she noticed her daddy was havin’ a hard time, and that probably meant the world to him. See, even the small things matter.
And that’s all there is to it, really. Be kind, be curious, and ask those questions. It ain’t rocket science, it’s just good ol’ fashioned human connection.
Tags: [Nora Jane Holtmann, Chris Holtmann, Family, Communication, Deep Questions, Getting to Know Someone, Relationships, Support, Coaching, Life Lessons]
