A Beacon of Light

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  • My name is Kevin Carroll. I was born and raised in San Francisco, California, where I attended Saint Ignatius College Preparatory. I am a graduate of both Santa Clara University and the University of San Francisco. Following a 40-year career in teaching and pastoral ministry, I launched a new career as a writer and speaker.

    I live in San José, California. My wife, Kathy, and I have three adult sons and five precious grandchildren. I have much for which to be grateful.

    I can be reached via email at kmc43sjc@gmail.com

    My books are available for purchase online from Amazon. I also have copies of some of these titles at my home for those who would like to buy them directly from me.

    A Moment’s Pause for Gratitude  (2017)

    Cherries in the Summer  (2021)

    The Ambassador of 38th Avenue  (2022)

    Dad: 12 Questions…  (2023)

    A Focus on Gratitude  (2024)

    Through the Lens of Gratitude  (2024)

    A Bahamian Odyssey (2026)

  • Legends

    “Okay, you guys. 
    Pair up in threes.” 
    Yogi Berra

    The first professional baseball game I attended was in the mid-1960s. The San Francisco Giants hosted the Cincinnati Reds at Candlestick Park. The Giants had played in the World Series in 1962. Sadly, they didn’t actually win a World Series in San Francisco until 2010. Then they achieved that feat three times in five years!

    As I sat in my upper-deck seat watching that game in 1965, I had no idea that three of the Giants players on the field that day would become San Francisco legends. Willie McCovey was playing at first base, Orlando Cepeda was stationed in right field, and Willie Mays patrolled center field. McCovey and Mays played with the Giants throughout the 1960s. Cepeda was traded to the Saint Louis Cardinals in May 1966. All three are now memorialized with statues outside Oracle Park, the current home of the San Francisco Giants.

    Willie McCovey occasionally shared pearls of wisdom about lessons he’d learned from playing baseball. He once said, “It’s not what you achieve in life, it’s what you overcome that really matters.” On another occasion, he offered this advice, which applies to life well beyond the foul lines of a baseball field: “Embrace competition; it brings out the best in you and your teammates.”

    Orlando Cepeda, too, shared some valuable thoughts. He said, “A true champion is not only judged by their performance on the field, but how they carry themselves off the field.” Cepeda acknowledged that much of the success he enjoyed in his career was due to his teammates. He said, “Baseball is a team sport, and without them, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I did.”

    A display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame says this about Willie Mays: “Willie Mays, the ‘Say Hey Kid,’ played with enthusiasm and exuberance while excelling in all phases of the game — hitting for average and power, fielding, throwing, and base running.” Mays often spoke of the need for athletes to prepare well and work hard. He once said, “In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept constructive criticism.” One thing that was clear to those who watched Mays play ball is that he loved what he did. “I just played every day and enjoyed what I was doing.” 

    When Giants fans reflect back on the the past twenty-six years of baseball at what is now known as Oracle Park (originally PacBell Park), they will remember players such as Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Barry Bonds, Pablo Sandoval, and Matt Cain. When they think about the forty years the Giants played at Candlestick Park, they will certainly remember Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, and Orlando Cepeda.

    Candlestick Park
    1965

  • Gridlock

    “If you don’t like  
    something, change it.  
    If you can’t change it,  
    change your attitude.”
    Maya Angelou

    When I moved from my childhood home in San Francisco to San José to attend college in 1972, traffic in the Santa Clara Valley was not an issue. Construction of highway 280, from Highway 17 through downtown San José to Highway 101, was nearing completion. Highways 85 and 87 did not yet exist. Despite this, traffic in San José was manageable.

    Today, even with the addition of 280, 85, and 87, traffic during commute hours is problematic. And it’s not just the highways. The Almaden, Capitol, Lawrence, and San Tomas Expressways are often congested. Main arteries through city streets — Saratoga Avenue, Hamilton Avenue, Blossom Hill Boulevard, Tully Road, Santa Clara Street, and Stevens Creek Boulevard to name a few — are regularly gridlocked during commute hours.

    The South Bay often brags about the development of Silicon Valley and all the tech giants who call this area home. Yes, their stories of success and prosperity are impressive, but the infrastructure of this area is not keeping pace with the growth.

    American spiritual leader and writer, Frederick Lenz, wrote, “Life is learning how to deal with traffic. It requires patience, a good sense of timing, and sometimes not giving in to the traffic, but reshaping your life.” 

    This is consistent with the words of author Jim Rohn, who wrote, “You cannot change the circumstances, but you can change yourself.”

    Saturday Night Live legend, Gilda Radner, once said, “Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next.”

    While I’ve learned to adapt to the reality of this situation by scheduling my days in such a way that I’m not on the roads from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., I occasionally find myself right in the middle of the chaos. Yesterday was one of those days.

    Kathy and I wanted to attend our grandson’s Little League baseball game at at the Spartan Little League field on Tully Road. We started out on 280. Congested. Kathy’s GPS recommended transitioning to Highway 17 (congested), then to Highway 101 (congested). When we finally arrived at Tully Road (congested), the six-minute drive from there to the ball field took almost fifteen minutes.

    This experience really didn’t bother me as it might have in the past. This is due to the fact that I’ve embraced the advice of American author and motivational speaker, Wayne Dyer, who said, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” 

    I always have the option to stay home.

  • Campbell, CA

    “All year round, there’s 
    always something going 
    on in downtown Campbell.”
    downtowncampbell.com

    As I wandered down East Campbell Avenue in downtown Campbell, California this morning, a strange thought crossed my mind: Retirement is not over-rated!

    It was about 10:45 on a Thursday morning. There was a time when I would have been in the middle of teaching my third period class. I don’t do that anymore — and I don’t miss it. My teaching career was challenging, enjoyable, and fulfilling… until it wasn’t. In the spring of 2015, for a number of reasons, I knew it was time to pack it up and vacate Room 3 at Saint Lawrence Academy. Despite the 31 years I had devoted to working at Saint Lawrence, changes in leadership left me feeling unappreciated and unwanted. Life can be that way sometimes. I terminated my employment with the school at the start of June 2015.

    It’s been almost eleven years since I made that transition. Those years have not been easy. To this day, I have frequent nightmares about my experiences at the school during my last ten years of employment. In my waking hours, I have convinced myself that what’s done is done and that there is no longer any reason for me to hold onto resentment. The nocturnal hours, however, continue to bring those memories to my attention. This has resulted in many a sleepless night.

    Today, however, walking in downtown Campbell, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. My career is over. I did my best. There are those who appreciate the effort I put in to my work, and there are others who, for whatever reason, were unable to do so. How people perceived me then, and how they remember me now (if they do at all), is completely out of my control. So I embrace the feeling of gratitude — for what was, and for what is.

    Downtown Campbell is one of my happy places. A number of upscale restaurants seem to be quite popular, despite their pricey menus. I’ve never been a fancy restaurant kind of person. I prefer eateries that are simple, affordable, and user-friendly. So where do I like to hang out in the Orchard City?

    In the downtown area, I like the Orchard Valley Coffee Shop, a local institution which serves a wide variety of beverages, meals, and baked goods in a comfortable, community-friendly setting. Aqui Cal-Mex Mexican restaurant is a great place to enjoy some fresh-Mex dishes. Manresa Bread Company offers an excellent assortment of sandwiches, breads, and pastries. Stack’s is a great place to enjoy breakfast, while Sushi Confidential provides a wide array of Japanese menu items. 

    I also enjoy perusing the selections at Recycle Bookstore and the Therapy Store, which carries a little bit of everything. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my favorite business in all of downtown Campbell — the Campbell Creamery. I treat myself to an ice cream there more often than I should.

    Not far from downtown Campbell is the Pruneyard Shopping Center (click the link to see what’s there) and The Garret of Campbell, a fixture in the community since 1970. Their burgers, sandwiches, salads, and pizza rock. 

    Yes, being retired is nice. So, too, is having the time and resources to be able to enjoy all that a place like downtown Campbell has to offer.

  • Inner Strength

  • Compliments

  • Your Turn #2

    “Within you there is  
    a stillness and a  
    sanctuary to which  
    you can retreat  
    at any time.” 
    Hermann Hesse

    For almost twenty years, I’ve been writing articles for my blogs — first for Attitude of Gratitude (approximately 2,000 posts), then for A Beacon of Light (more than 600 posts, so far). Every now and then, in place of an article, I share an inspirational quote, as I did earlier today. Two weeks ago, I decided to try something new, which I hope will be a regular feature of this blog. It’s called Your Turn.

    Rather than writing something myself, I will pose another question and encourage YOU to respond to it. If you feel so inclined, you may write your response for yourself. There is no need to share it with anyone. The act of reflecting on the question and writing your response is what’s important. 

    If you dislike writing, take some time to just think about your response. I still think it’s helpful to jot down some of the thoughts that come to mind, but they can be in bullet format or just random statements on the back of a napkin. Again, what’s important is your response to the question.

    Some few of you might want to share your response with me. I’d be happy to read what you’ve written. Your responses will not be shared or posted on the blog. The purpose of this exercise is simply for you to give some thought to the question posed. Thanks to those of you who shared your responses to my question on April 4th. 

    Here’s the question for Your Turn #2:

    Where (or how) do you find peace amid life’s inevitable storms?

    Remember… There are no right or wrong answers. Your response is your response. I hope you find this exercise to be beneficial. Even if you choose not to share your response with me, I would be grateful to know what you think of this new feature. You may contact me at kmc43sjc@gmail.com.  

  • The First Step

  • Serenity

    In the midst of chaos, it is possible to find peace. Serenity is not freedom from the storm. It is peace amid the storm. Nothing can disturb your peace of mind unless you allow it to. Inner peace is a proactive choice, often requiring conscious thought management. Sometimes, the most productive thing we can do is to relax and let go of those things over which we have no control.

    “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
    Philippians 4:6-7

  • Change

    “Real change, 
    enduring change, 
    happens one 
    step at a time.” 
    Ruth Bader Ginsberg

  • HOPE is an Acronym

    “Your life does not  
    get better by chance.  
    It gets better  
    by change.”      
    Jim Rohn

    For a while, we might find ourselves flying on cruise control down the fast lane on the highway of life. The weather is ideal. The roadway is clear, well-paved, and safe. Traffic is manageable. We tune-in to Pandora or Spotify and listen to our favorite tunes or podcasts, confident that the road ahead will be just as smooth. We feel as though we are on top of the world. Then, without warning, we hit a pot-hole, traffic congestion, or get run off the road by an out-of-control big rig. Everything changes… in an instant.

    At times, life can be difficult. We all know this. Sometimes these challenges come with some kind of warning, but not always. In some situations, we find ourselves blindsided by something about which we were unaware, for which we were totally unprepared, or, perhaps, something about which we believed there was no need to worry. To make matters worse, the difficulty is often something over which we have absolutely no control. 

    When confronted by these types of events, a variety of responses are available to us. Some of these options can be quite beneficial, helping one to successfully navigate the rough waters in which they find themselves. Regrettably, other options only exacerbate the problem. A number of factors can influence how we respond and why we respond the way we do.

    For those who respond in effective ways, recovery can happen quickly. People, for the most part, are fairly resilient. Others, however, continue to spiral out of control until such time as they hit the proverbial rock bottom. Their arrival at that low point can be painful for them and for those around them. Still, there is reason for hope — which can be seen as an acronym: Having Only Positive Expectations.

    Author J.K. Rowling had the experience of hitting rock bottom before going on to become one of the most prolific writers of her time. Her words can be a source of encouragement for all of us. She said, “And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

    As I’ve mentioned previously, in both blog posts and in my books, a “crisis” can be viewed as a positive thing. While any crisis situation involves an element of danger, it also provides an opportunity for us to turn things around, to make the necessary changes to bring about a preferred future. More often than not, this opportunity requires some type of change on our part. We cannot count on life getting better by chance or due to some lucky break. Life gets better when we commit to positive change… and follow through with it.