Dare to Be Great, Dare to Be You Hosted by Shawn Langwell

The continuation Reading from Today's the Day Starting with

Today we cover three short chapters that have plagued me most of my adult life, and perhaps you too:

1 - Embrace Fear, Change, and the Unknown, and Do it Anyway

Folks, if you've been following this series, you'll see how we start to dive deeper into the heart of what it takes for personal growth and transformation to start sticking.

Two words: Willingness and Work.

Nothing will ever change until we become willing to change and become brave enough to take a few scary steps forward despite not knowing how things will turn out.

The more time I spend with this book reading it aloud for you and the world, the more I realize what a tremendous blessing and gift my pain and suffering have been. Had I not been forced to change, I likely never would be doing what I am now.

It has now become a personal responsibility to share what I know for the primary purpose of making it OK for others to lean in and say, even if privately, yeah me too!

These chapters and the entire book, are specifically designed to help you rebuild your self-esteem and self-confidence.

Those who are already doing deeper work in recovery, whether in AA, Al-Anon, ACA, CoDA, or scores of other counseling, coaching, and psychotherapy resources, should find some of the reflections in these chapters, and the whole book, not only helpful but approachable without adding to our already stressed, crazy, neurotic lives.

This book was literally a 45-day download from my own Higher Power after I had written Ten Seconds of Boldness. I wrote Today’s The Day not only for others, but as an easy pocket guide to return to for myself whenever I feel spun or stuck.

I am sharing every single chapter here because this was a gift to me, and the greatest gifts are those that are shared.

I hope you find what you're looking for here, or wherever you are led to look.

A disclaimer and a word of advice:

I am not a therapist or doctor and strictly share my experience, strength, and hope as I have known and lived it from nearly four decades of recovery in 12-step programs.

I do not offer this or any of my books as a solution for those with challenges, mental, physical, or otherwise, that I am not qualified to diagnose or solve.

What I do offer is what has worked for me, and I encourage any and all to continue the hard work of being honest with yourselves and becoming bold and brave enough to believe in yourself, which may require seeking other advice. I am available as a Gap Mindset Coach and marketing mentor for those who need those services. I do not offer CBT or any other forms of therapy.

Please call others who may be qualified to assist.

Lastly, my word of encouragement for this book, and all I teach and do and live:

Be bold.

And checkout my new kick-ass website that just went live last week!

https://shawnlangwell.com/

Love ya,

Shawn

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

If you like the show, please follow and share, because sharing is caring and the world needs a lot more of it!

Until next time... Dare to Be Great, Dare to Be You

OUT OF THE SHADOWS...

An intimate conversation about finding peace amidst tragedy and grief.

Winner! Best Memoir, San Francisco Book Festival, 2025

Raw, deeply revealing, and threaded with resilient humor, Giving Up the Ghost explores mental health, the enduring bond between mothers and daughters, and how, in the aftermath of profound loss, we can release our inner ghosts and write a new story for ourselves.

ABOUT SAMANTHA:

Samantha Rose is an Emmy award-winning television producer and a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling ghostwriter of nearly twenty titles, some selected as Reese’s Book Club and Target Bookmarked Picks. Her own memoir, Giving Up the Ghost, received the Women’s Book Award Gilda prize, won “Best Memoir” at the 2025 San Francisco Book Festival, and was a finalist for the Foreword INDIES Book of the year. She is the principal of Yellow Sky Media, an editorial agency in Petaluma, California, where she lives with her son.

Yellowskymedia.com

IG: samantharose_writer

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

If you like the show, please follow and share, because sharing is caring and the world needs a lot more of it!

Until next time... Dare to Be Great, Dare to Be You

Listen in as I continue sharing stories of what has helped me become more confident and courageous in all areas of my life.

In this episode we cover three chapters of Today's the Day:

1 - Practice. Practice. Practice.

These short personal essays and the entire book, are specifically designed to help you rebuild your self-esteem and self-confidence.

Those who are already doing deeper work in recovery, whether in AA, Al-Anon, ACA, CoDA, or scores of other counseling, coaching, and psychotherapy resources, should find some of the reflections in these chapters, and the whole book, not only helpful but approachable without adding to our already stressed, crazy, neurotic lives.

Those not in recovery will find also find value in the utter simplicity of practicing a little gratitude daily.  That simple habit changes lives.

This book was literally a 45-day download from my own Higher Power after I had written Ten Seconds of Boldness. I wrote Today’s The Day not only for others, but as an easy pocket guide to return to for myself whenever I feel spun or stuck.

I am sharing every single chapter here because this was a gift to me, and the greatest gifts are those that are shared.

I hope you find what you're looking for here, or wherever you are led to look.

A disclaimer and a word of advice:

I am not a therapist or doctor and strictly share my experience, strength, and hope as I have known and lived it from nearly four decades of recovery in 12-step programs.

I do not offer this or any of my books as a solution for those with challenges, mental, physical, or otherwise, that I am not qualified to diagnose or solve.

What I do offer is what has worked for me, and I encourage any and all to continue the hard work of being honest with yourselves and becoming bold and brave enough to believe in yourself, which may require seeking other advice. I am available as a Gap Mindset Coach and marketing mentor for those who need those services. I do not offer CBT or any other forms of therapy.

Please call others who may be qualified to assist.

Lastly, my word of encouragement for this book, and all I teach and do and live:

Be bold.

If you like this episdoe, please like, follow, and share the show with others.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

More from Today's the Day, personally narrated by me.

Today we cover five short chapters on habits and mindsets that have plagued me most of my adult life, and perhaps you too:

1 - To Love and Be Loved

5 - Routines and Habits

These short personal essays and the entire book, are specifically designed to help you rebuild your self-esteem and self-confidence.

Those who are already doing deeper work in recovery, whether in AA, Al-Anon, ACA, CoDA, or scores of other counseling, coaching, and psychotherapy resources, should find some of the reflections in these chapters, and the whole book, not only helpful but approachable without adding to our already stressed, crazy, neurotic lives.

This book was literally a 45-day download from my own Higher Power after I had written Ten Seconds of Boldness. I wrote Today’s The Day not only for others, but as an easy pocket guide to return to for myself whenever I feel spun or stuck.

I am sharing every single chapter here because this was a gift to me, and the greatest gifts are those that are shared.

I hope you find what you're looking for here, or wherever you are led to look.

A disclaimer and a word of advice:

I am not a therapist or doctor and strictly share my experience, strength, and hope as I have known and lived it from nearly four decades of recovery in 12-step programs.

I do not offer this or any of my books as a solution for those with challenges, mental, physical, or otherwise, that I am not qualified to diagnose or solve.

What I do offer is what has worked for me, and I encourage any and all to continue the hard work of being honest with yourselves and becoming bold and brave enough to believe in yourself, which may require seeking other advice. I am available as a Gap Mindset Coach and marketing mentor for those who need those services. I do not offer CBT or any other forms of therapy.

Please call others who may be qualified to assist.

Lastly, my word of encouragement for this book, and all I teach and do and live:

Be bold.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

More from Today's the Day, personally narrated by me.

Today we cover four short chapters on habits and mindsets that have plagued me most of my adult life, and perhaps you too:

1 - Say Goodbye to Guilt and Shame

These, and the entire book, are specifically designed to help you rebuild your self-esteem and self-confidence.

Those who are already doing deeper work in recovery, whether in AA, Al-Anon, ACA, CoDA, or scores of other counseling, coaching, and psychotherapy resources, should find some of the reflections in these chapters, and the whole book, not only helpful but approachable without adding to our already stressed, crazy, neurotic lives.

This book was literally a 45-day download from my own Higher Power after I had written Ten Seconds of Boldness. I wrote Today’s The Day not only for others, but as an easy pocket guide to return to for myself whenever I feel spun or stuck.

I am sharing every single chapter here because this was a gift to me, and the greatest gifts are those that are shared.

I hope you find what you're looking for here, or wherever you are led to look.

A disclaimer and a word of advice:

I am not a therapist or doctor and strictly share my experience, strength, and hope as I have known and lived it from nearly four decades of recovery in 12-step programs.

I do not offer this or any of my books as a solution for those with challenges, mental, physical, or otherwise, that I am not qualified to diagnose or solve.

What I do offer is what has worked for me, and I encourage any and all to continue the hard work of being honest with yourselves and becoming bold and brave enough to believe in yourself, which may require seeking other advice. I am available as a Gap Mindset Coach and marketing mentor for those who need those services. I do not offer CBT or any other forms of therapy.

Please call others who may be qualified to assist.

Lastly, my word of encouragement for this book, and all I teach and do and live:

Be bold.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

For groups to survive and thrive for the next millennia, organizational and cultural change MUST start on the inside.

Enough said, listen in from an expert who’s been in the trenches of corporat amaericalleding team of 10s of thousands and wrote a bestselling boo

For groups to survive and thrive for the next millennia, organizational and cultural change MUST start on the inside.

Enough said — listen in from an expert who's been in the trenches of corporate America, leading teams of tens of thousands, and wrote a bestselling book about the 10 WEs leaders must adopt if they are to effectively inculcate change. Kyle isn't speaking from an ivory tower or pedestal. He's been there, done that.

This is deeper and way more meaningful and impactful.

This show keeps getting better because people are finding me somehow, some way. This interview came to me on a referral, and that is a gift of trusting my gut — the reward is getting to spend an hour with Kyle, knowing we are all in the same boat, rowing upstream to find our individual and collective path to freedom.

Kick back, grab a pen and paper, and enjoy the show!

This episode is Dare to Be Great, Dare to Be You in a nutshell.

Who is Kyle McDowell?

Former Fortune 10 executive turned inspirational speaker, bestselling author, and leadership coach, Kyle McDowell is on a quest to create cultures of excellence and reignite leaders' passion and purpose. With nearly three decades of experience leading tens of thousands of employees at some of America's biggest firms, McDowell's philosophy is rooted in his trademarked principles, The 10 WEs. While today's workforce is plagued with uncertainty and apathy, his strategy is simple: Begin With WE.

His Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller, Begin With WE, exposes the root causes of business dysfunction, offering a remedy through The 10 WEs framework.

Learn more and find Kyle here: https://kylemcdowellinc.com/

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

If you like the show, please follow and share, because sharing is caring and the world needs a lot more of it!

Until next time... Dare to Be Great, Dare to Be You

Love, Shawn

Micahael Pritchard is one of the most down to earth and caring souls I have had the privilege of getting to know.

In my mind, and perhaps the hearts and minds of the countless number of people he's helped in his lifetime, I would call him an angel and a hero. When you listen to this podcast you'll understand why.

This conversation is real and uncut, as life is when we stop pretending and  start embracing who we already are.

That's all I'm going to say... listen and prepare to be moved and entertained by a man who truly wears his heart on his sleeve...

Salient Moments

Follow Michael here: https://www.facebook.com/michaelpritchardlink

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

If you like the show, please follow and share, because sharing is caring and the world needs a lot more of it!

Until next time... Dare to Be Great, Dare to Be You

Love, Shawn

The continuation Reading from Today's the Day Starting with "If Only..."

That needs no introduction because we all struggle from what if and if only in the negative sense. What if we flipped the script to what if we succeed rather than what if we don't.

This entire book and most of what I write about and teach is designed to encourage and inspire you to not be handcuffed by fear and doubt but to embrace them and learn to start making the mental shift from "I can't" to "How can I?"

Others have referred to this as Possibility Thinking or as Zig Ziglar used to call it, PMA: Positive Mental Attitude and Pays More Always.

This book and others as well as my coaching style is not predicated on rah rah empty promises.

It's founded on what works for me and those I help.

Enjoy this short episode and the rest of the series.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

This is the third in a series of episodes based on my recent personal growth book, Today's the Day.

In this episode, I discuss the mindset behind the book and how I implement what I teach others about on a daily basis.

Specifically, I cover issues of self-esteem, belief, self-confidence; finding your what and why; becoming bold enough to get off your butt and get to work. I also talk about the role gratitude and humility play in staying grounded along the way. The biggest takeaway for me, after listening to my own show, is this: I know where I want to go and I am figuring out how to get there.

Here's the truth: focus on what you can control — your attitude and work habits. Let go of everything else!

The Download/Backstory:

After completing the audiobook of Ten Seconds of Boldness, I woke up one morning and had what I call a God shot. The download was this book.

I knew in my heart of hearts that I needed to take everything I'd learned and written about over the past 14 years and put it into a simple, easy to read book that anyone can read anywhere, anytime, for a little inspiration, encouragement and motivation.

I started where we all do, at the beginning. One morning I brainstormed the key ideas and concepts I have been practicing for decades with respect to goal setting, productivity, self-talk, affirmation and creative visualization, and wrote down all I could in about an hour. From there the story and this book wrote itself.

Because life is like that — when we stop trying to find all the answers to living a life of meaning and purpose elsewhere, and take a moment to sit with what we already know, we are usually amazed at how much we already have and how much we already know.

The problem is we don't believe it. We don't, because 85% of us suffer from some form of low self-esteem, and according to many studies, 90-95% of the things we think and believe about ourselves are negative and false.

This book is your pocket muse, here to encourage you to become more self-aware.

More importantly, it's here to help you use the concept and process I uncovered in Ten Seconds of Boldness to reclaim control of your own destiny — by practicing Ten Seconds of Boldness whenever you feel anxious or afraid, or start overthinking or second-guessing what you think you can or cannot do.

For my spiritual friends, this book is a download from my higher power through me that flowed so easily it was as if I was simply the messenger of what God wanted to say through me.

I hope it reaches into the dark recesses of your own broken beliefs and sheds some light and encouragement into your dusty dreams that you've had locked inside for far too long.

This book and the podcasts that follow are my teaching, coaching and consulting philosophy distilled into one small but incredibly impactful book.

I hope you find yourself in the pages and recordings that follow.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

Happy Father's Day!

Folks,

This is one of the hardest episodes I've ever recorded.

It's a retelling of a story from my memoir Beyond Recovery: A Journey of Grace, Love, And Forgiveness. It's a story about healing my relationship with my dad. It's also about finding the courage to get and stay sober.

This episode is me reading a 10 minute play contest for a short story I adapted from Beyond Recovery entitled, Milkshakes in Heaven. This play was one of six winners and was performed live in front of a packed house in Santa Rosa, CA in 2023. Around the same time as I finished Today's the Day.

In hindsight, I see how everything we do is preparing us for the next bold leap forward.

Facing my fears and anger and being present to have a final conversation with my dad was one of the greatest gifts of my life.

May this meet you wherever you are and may all the dads or those who have a strained relationship with their own fathers find the same peace in this episode that my own dad was trying to teach me but I was still too hurt to listen.

Here is Milkshakes in Heaven:  

“MILKSHAKES IN HEAVEN”

SCENE ONE.

SHAWN  in car singing Santana’s “Oye Como Va!” on a windy road in Santa Rosa. Cell phone rings. It’s JOAN (mom) with bad news—Dad (JIM) has been admitted to the hospital and it’s not looking good. 

NARRATOR

SHAWN  in car singing Santana’s “Oye Como Va!” on a windy road in Santa Rosa. Cell phone rings. It’s JOAN (mom) with bad news—Dad (JIM) has been admitted to the hospital and it’s not looking good. 

(SONG BLASTING)

Oye como va! 

SHAWN

(Pounds steering while singing loud)

Oye como va!

(CELLPHONE BUZZES)

SHAWN

(Turns down music)

Hey Mom, how are you? What’s new?

JOAN

I’m OK… I just got off the phone with your aunt.

SHAWN

How is Aunt Nellie? You guys gonna go to the casino with Grandma again for your birthday?

JOAN

 She’s good…yeah, we’re planning to go in a couple weeks, but that’s not why I’m calling… It’s your dad…he’s in the hospital.

SHAWN

Wait what? What happened? 

JOAN

(swallows hard)

Your aunt says he’s got some kind of infection…it’s not good.  I know you’re busy…he’s at Community, I think you should go visit. 

SHAWN

Of course, Mom. I’ll drop by tomorrow. I still have to stop by the store and make dinner…

JOAN

I’m sorry, Honey. I know you tried to get past your anger at your dad and forgive him… I never could. I guess I never really got over him leaving… 

SHAWN

(Gripping the steering wheel, knuckles white. Lights a cigarette and

 parks in front of Jack-in-the-Box)

(SIGN IN WINDOW: REAL ICE CREAM MILKSHAKES)

Mom—I did the best I could, but I’m still pissed at him. He abandoned us all and didn’t even

have the balls to—never mind…  

JOAN

Can you do me a favor? 

SHAWN

(Takes a deep drag off cigarette and exhales)

Sure Mom, what do you need?

JOAN

Oh, never mind…you have enough to worry about.

SHAWN

(Sighs)

Mom—c’mon. I hate it when you do that.

JOAN

It’s just that after Seth—

SHAWN

Mom, I know. I still can’t… never mind, I don’t want to go there. What were you going to ask

me?

JOAN

Just in case this is the last time you get to see him…

SHAWN

(Blows smoke)

Mom, seriously, I don’t even know how bad it is.

JOAN

Tell him…tell him that I’ve never stopped…never stopped loving him. Will you do that for me?

SHAWN

Of course, Mom. We’ll talk later, K?  I gotta go now. Love you, bye.

(Hangs up and begins to sob)

NARRATOR

In 1999 Shawn lost his younger brother Seth, in a car accident. The police report said he fell asleep at the wheel and was found curled up on the passenger side floorboard. This coupled with years of pent-up anger from his dad leaving when Shawn was only twelve-years-old brought all that old pain back to the surface. Chain-smoking in the car, he recalled the conversation with his dad before Seth’s celebration of life. The one when his dad said he wasn’t going to show up for Seth’s memorial…

JIM

I’ve made my peace…I don’t need to be there for Seth. He’s in a better place. 

SHAWN

Are you fucking serious?  

JIM

I’ve made my peace. 

SHAWN

What?! What the fuck, Dad?! He’s your son and he’s dead! Seth is dead!

(A SILENCE)

SHAWN

You’re a fucking yellow-bellied coward! I can’t believe you won’t even show up for Seth’s service. You left us years ago and you still don’t care about us! Did you ever love us?!

JIM

Of course, I love you. I’ve always loved you boys. Like I said, I’ve made my peace.

SHAWN

What the fuck does, ‘I’ve made my peace,’ mean? Is that born again speak for you prayed and now are absolved of your sin? I don’t fucking get it. 

JIM

I don’t need a reason and I don’t need to listen to your profanity. I love you and am going to go now.

SHAWN

I FUCKING HATE YOU! 

(Slams phone then rips it out from the wall and throws it across the room, barely missing his four-year-old son and wife)

SCENE TWO.

NEXT DAY AT HOSPITAL

NARRATOR

Shawn enters the dark corridor of the hospital. Wood paneling lines the walls. White linoleum— probably made with fire-retardant asbestos—covers the floor. He approaches the nurse’s station at the end of the hall.

SHAWN

Hello. My name’s Shawn and I’m here to visit my dad, JIM— JIM LANGWELL. 

NURSE

Oh...Yes…Um…he’s in room 323. That way, down the hall and on your left.

NARRATOR

Shawn enters the dimly lit room. His jaw drops at the sight of his emaciated father who lays in a spotted gown, salt and pepper stubble on his gaunt face, his eyes distant and turned toward a gnarled oak outside the window. It had been several years since their last visit—Christmas, two years after Seth had died.

SHAWN

Hey Dad! What’s going on? Long time no see.

JIM

(Turns toward Shawn)

Ha! Shawn! I’ve missed you! How are you?

SHAWN

You don’t look so good, Dad. What happened? What’s going on with you?

JIM

It all caught up with me, Son…The years as a firefighter…the partying…living fast and hard. I guess it finally took a toll on me. 

SHAWN

What did the doctors say? How bad is it?

JIM

They say it may be a staph infection, but I’m at peace. 

SHAWN

(Swallows hard. Says to himself)

He’s letting go. Now I know what he meant way back when…he really is at peace.

(Takes deep breath)

Dad, I want you to know I love you and it really hurts me to see you like this. I’m sorry for being mad at you for all these years. I wish I could take it back. I wish it could’ve been different.

JIM

(Extending his thin arms)

Aww, Shawn. Come here.

SHAWN

(Fighting back tears, Shawn leans in to hug JIM, and starts rubbing his head)

I always remember the times when you used to dry my head with a towel after a bath as a kid…

I loved that when you did it super-fast… like this…Or later when you me, Kelly and Seth would wrestle in the living room at the Woodacre house, and mom would get upset at first, then finally give in and join us…We had some good times, Dad…Fishing…sliding down the firepole at your job… and that time you got called away to save somebody’s home with sirens blaring! Plus, all the camping trips and visits to Grandma and Grandpa’s cabin in Mariposa...The Land…all of it. I wish we had more…

JIM

I know, Shawn, me too—I’m sorry about Seth—I really am…I always thought of you boys. Even though we never got to see each other much…I never stopped loving you. 

SHAWN

I know, Dad. I know. It was just really hard to accept it after you left. But I’m so glad I’m here now before it’s too late…

JIM

(JIM’S eyes drift back to the mighty oak outside)

Me too, Shawn. Me too.

SHAWN

I’m not ready for you to go, Dad. Your still so young. Is there anything I can do? Anything you’d like?

JIM

(Grins)

A milkshake.

SHAWN

A milkshake? OK—What kind? 

JIM

Chocolate! 

SHAWN

(Chuckles)

You got it! I’ll bring one next time I come back, OK? 

JIM

I’d like that, a lot.

SHAWN

(Leans in to hug JIM)

Bye dad…I love you! See you soon.

JIM

I love you, too, son.

NARRATOR

Three days later JIM passed.

(Beat)

SHAWN

(Looking out the window beyond the oak trees, toward the sky)

Dad, I’m so sorry I never got you that chocolate milkshake… I hope you can forgive me… I promise, when my time on this earth is done…we can share all the chocolate milkshakes we want in heaven. OK?

JIM

(Flashes a wide-tooth grin and nods,

then sips a milkshake—chocolate of course)

FADE TO BLACK.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

Copyright Northstar Comunications.

Please direct any inquiries to me personally at [email protected] and include "Milkshakes" in the subject line.