A Beacon of Light

Home

  • 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, primarily on the topic of gratitude.

    I currently 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)

  • Happy Thanksgiving!

    “Give thanks 
    not just on 
    Thanksgiving Day, 
    but every day of your life.”  
    Catherine Pulsifier 

    For the second time in my life, I am in The Bahamas for Thanksgiving Day. The first time was 51 years ago — November 28, 1974. I was twenty years old and had my whole life ahead of me. At that time, Thanksgiving was a holiday which featured football games and an amazing array of food items: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes with gravy, some form of veggies, and pumpkin pie for dessert. The purpose of the day, to give thanks, was an afterthought for me, if I considered it at all.

    Today I’m 71 years old. Most of my life is behind me now. The wisdom I’ve gained through the years allows me to experience Thanksgiving Day 2025 through a very different lens – the lens of gratitude. Yes, the traditional Thanksgiving meal is still a significant part of this day, but it pales in comparison to the absolute joy of focusing on the gratefulness I have in my heart for the many blessings with which I have been blessed in my life.

    On this day last year, I was a guest on the Reflections on Living Well podcast, hosted by Broderick Rodell. This year, I have been invited to speak on the topic of gratitude at a meeting of the Kiwanis Club in Nassau. This is a tremendous opportunity for me to share my passion for gratitude here in the Bahamas. This event also provides another way of promoting my most recent book, Through the Lens of Gratitude. How appropriate that this evening’s presentation will be on Thanksgiving Day.

    This brief two-week visit to the Bahamas has given me even more for which to be grateful. The gracious hospitality I have experienced everywhere I’ve gone has been a blessing to me. Each day I’m here, I am reminded of why I have such a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for the people of the Bahamas. Even my visit to a local laundromat yesterday reinforced my belief in the genuine goodness of the Bahamian people.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

  • November 27

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 27: 

    “What made you laugh or smile this month for which you are grateful?”

    Excerpt from: 

    A Focus on Gratitude
    Kevin Carroll
    (Balboa Press, 2024)

  • Thanksgiving Humor

    As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Day 2025, I invite you to take a few moments to enjoy a bit of Thanksgiving humor.

    “Thanksgiving: When the people who are the most thankful are the ones who didn’t have to cook.”  ~  Melanie White

    “I can’t cook a Thanksgiving dinner. All I can make is cold cereal, maybe toast.”  ~  Charlie Brown

    “My wife asked me to go to the grocery store on the day before Thanksgiving, so I guess this is goodbye.”  ~  Rod LaCroix

    “After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.”  ~  Oscar Wilde

    “I cook with wine, and sometimes I even add it to the food.”  ~  W.C. Fields

    “Every Thanksgiving, I bring the champagne, because in my family, we all know what our strengths are.”  ~  Gloria Fallon

    “It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a little emotional scarring.”  ~  Timothy Burke

    “For those of you who cannot be with family this Thanksgiving, please resist the urge to brag.”  ~  Andy Borowitz

    “Did you nap after eating the Thanksgiving meal or did you pass out like you were shot by a tranquilizer gun?”  ~  Jim Gaffigan

    “I suppose I will die never knowing what pumpkin pie tastes like when you have room for it.”  ~ Robert Brault

    And one bad Dad-Joke:
    Q. What are turkeys always
    thankful for on Thanksgiving Day?

    A. Vegetarians!

  • November 26

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 25: 

    “For what in this past week are you able to be exceptionally grateful?”

    Excerpt from: 

    A Focus on Gratitude
    Kevin Carroll
    (Balboa Press, 2024)

  • Around Town

    I’ve posted a couple of “photo-blogs” in the past. I’ve done so when the images tell a better story than I can using my words. So here are twenty photos taken in and around Nassau in the past week.

    Classrooms on the campus of
    Saint Augustine’s College
    Room 143 was my homeroom
    classroom in 1974-75
    SAC students passing from
    one class to another.
    Sign in Red Square honors
    Shaunae Miller, a SAC alum,
    Olympic Gold Medal winner.
    Dan relaxing in the
    SAC faculty room.
    Montague Beach
    Closest beach to SAC campus
    Locals playing Dominos at
    Montague Beach
    Local artist Jamaal Rolle
    beautifies downtown Nassau
    with his amazing artwork.
    Traveller’s Rest Restaurant
    on the northwest end
    of the island.
    View from my room at the
    Courtyard by Marriott
    Social gathering with
    former students.
    Social gathering with
    former students
    Former student Shane Smith
    Former student Bonnie Culmer
    Former student Winston Moss
    Bay Street in
    downtown Nassau
    Bay Street
    Downtown Nassau
    Walking through the
    neighborhood
    Bay Street
    Downtown Nassau
    Downtown Nassau Beach

    Today I will be visiting one of the local public primary schools to read Cherries in the Summer to a class of third grade students. Looking forward to presentations on Through the Lens of Gratitude with the Kiwani Club and Rotary Club here in Nassau. So much for which to be grateful.

  • November 25

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 25: 

    “What insights or discoveries in the past month have enriched your life and caused you to feel more grateful?”

    Excerpt from: 

    A Focus on Gratitude
    Kevin Carroll
    (Balboa Press, 2024)

  • November 24

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 24: 

    “What have you experienced during a time of difficulty in your life that made you feel happy, peaceful, and grateful?”

    Excerpt from: 

    A Focus on Gratitude
    Kevin Carroll
    (Balboa Press, 2024)

  • November 23

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 23: 

    “Who is one person for whom you are particularly grateful today?”
    (Perhaps today would be a good day to express your gratitude to this person.)

    Excerpt from: 

    A Focus on Gratitude
    Kevin Carroll
    (Balboa Press, 2024)

  • November 22

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 22: 

    “What are some of your favorite ways to express your gratitude to others?”

    Excerpt from: 

    A Focus on Gratitude
    Kevin Carroll
    (Balboa Press, 2024)

  • Reunited

    “The most valuable  
    antiques are 
    dear old friends.” 
    H. Jackson Brown

    Tonight was simply amazing. About twenty member of the Saint Augustine’s College Class of 1980 gathered at the restaurant of a cozy boutique hotel not far from the SAC campus to celebrate one of their own. Norbert Elliott, who Dan and I happened to run into on the SAC campus yesterday afternoon, was inducted into the National Sports Hall of Fame here in Nassau last night. Tonight he gathered with classmates for an evening of food, drinks, and lively conversation. Dan and I were invited to join them.

    I am so grateful that I took the time to create digital images of many of the photos from my year teaching at SAC fifty years ago. Several of those images included photos of members of the Class of ’80. They enjoyed seeing them. 

    One former students, when she walked into the restaurant tonight, introduced herself to me as Moya. I responded, “Strahan?” She was shocked that I remembered her name. I have to admit, I was a bit surprised, too. I had not seen her in fifty years.

    Another former student, Shane Smith, was one of the players on the Junior Boys’ Softball team I coached that year. We shared memories of many of his teammates.

    I remembered many of the men and women who attended tonight’s gathering. Some were surprised that I have such vivid memories of their first year at SAC. 

    Tonight’s event was held at a restaurant in the Bella Signature Suites on Soldier Road. The hotel and restaurant are owned and operated by Edwin and Bonnie Culmer, both 1980 graduates of Saint Augustine’s College. Their hospitality was greatly appreciated by all.

    Seeing these former students, hearing their stories of success in their chosen professions, and listening to them share their own memories of their first year at SAC fifty years ago was truly a blessing for me.   

    Norbert Elliott with Dan and me
    on the campus of
    Saint Augustine’s College