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)

  • The Power of “Yet”

    “What a wonderful thought 
    it is that some of the best 
    days of our lives haven’t 
    even happened yet.”
    Anne Frank

    Yet is a tiny, but powerful word. It has the ability to convert negativity into positivity. How so, you might ask? Here are a few examples:

    The researcher who tells a colleague, “I don’t get it” can add the simple word “yet” to the end of the statement to indicate that there is hope for the future. “I don’t get it… yet.”

    The employee who turns to her supervisor in frustration and complains, “I can’t do this” would be better off including the word “yet” at the end of her sentence, reflecting the expectation that it’s just a matter of time. “I can’t do this… yet.”

    The child who, out of frustration, hopelessly blurts out to a parent, “I’m not good at this” could project a much more positive attitude by simply adding the word “yet” to the comment. “I’m not good at this yet…, but I will be if I continue to practice and don’t give up.”

    Even teachers can project a negative attitude when confronted with a challenging question by an inquisitive student. “I don’t know” indicates to the student that the teacher doesn’t care. “I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out and let you know” exudes positivity.

    Anyone who has ever purchased furniture from IKEA might have reached the point, while attempting to put an item together at home, where he cried out, “This doesn’t work!” Perhaps, a good, close look at the directions (you know, that little packet of information contained in the package which most men ignore, because we think we don’t need it) could result in the person saying, “This doesn’t work yet, but it will when I have a better idea of what I’m doing.”

    I recall, quite vividly, sitting in my third grade math class at Saint Gabriel School in San Francisco and complaining, “I don’t understand this” while practicing subtraction problems which involved borrowing. Fortunately, my teacher, Sister Mary Roberta, understood the power of the word “yet.” She invited me to meet with her in the visitors’ parlor in the convent after school where she worked with me on subtraction problems until I mastered the skill.

    There are times in our lives when we want something that we cannot have at that particular time. We can shut down and give up on the possibility of ever attaining that which we desire, or we can add the word “yet” and see the possibilities in pursuing our dream. “I can’t have it yet, but…”

    Maintaining a positive attitude is not always easy, but it’s always possible.  

  • November 8

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 8: 

    “What simple pleasures have you enjoyed recently?”

    Excerpt from: 

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

  • Trust Them

    “To be trusted is a 
    greater accomplishment 
    than to be loved.” 
    George MacDonald

    I’ve heard it more times than I would like to admit: “You can’t trust anyone these days.” I understand why someone would say this, but I strongly disagree.

    It can be a challenge to trust people. Whether the reason for one’s reluctance is past experiences of betrayal by others, or such factors as low self-esteem, fear of vulnerability, or unrealistic expectations, one’s ability to trust can be severely compromised.

    Most of us have experienced betrayal, in some form, in our lifetime. Whether we were hurt by a trusted friend or family member, a neighbor, an employer, an elected official, or a member of the clergy, the experience can cause us to fear repeated experiences of that pain in our future. Someone struggling with low self-esteem might assume that others cannot be trusted or that they themselves don’t deserve to be trusted. This can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

    When we place our trust in another person, we allow ourselves to become vulnerable. The reality of trusting anyone is that we open ourselves to the possibility of being hurt or taken advantage of. This could lead to feelings of anxiety and a reluctance to trust others. Trust issues can also arise from having unreasonable expectations of others. When these expectations are not met in a timely fashion, a person might experience overwhelming disappointment or a total loss of trust in someone.

    Considering the perception many people have of the world we live in today, skepticism of the intentions of others is understandable. This can be caused by the belief that most people are acting out of self-interest. Sadly, some are, but I choose to believe that people are generally good, trustworthy, and not totally self-absorbed. Based on my own personal experience in the past 70+ years, I believe that the world is basically good with a presence of evil, rather than basically evil with a presence of good.

    Life involves risk. Love involves risk. Trust involves risk. So, too, does getting on an airplane, crossing a busy street, eating a meal at a restaurant, or driving across town in our personal vehicle. Risk is a reality with which we are confronted every day. It’s important that we not allow fear to interfere with our relationships, our potential, or our inner peace.  

  • November 7

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 7: 

    “Of all the technological advances in recent years, for which particular technology are you most grateful?”

    Excerpt from: 

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

  • November 6

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 6: 

    “What is one kind or thoughtful thing someone has done for you in the past few months for which you are especially grateful?”

    Excerpt from: 

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

  • November 5

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 5: 

    “What can you do for others this month to enrich their lives with a genuine sense of gratitude?”

    Excerpt from: 

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

  • November 4

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 4: 

    “Of all the live concerts you’ve attended in your lifetime, concerts that inspired you or nurtured your soul, for which one are you most grateful for having attended?”

    Excerpt from: 

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

  • November 3

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 3: 

    “Of all the neighbors you have in your life right now, for which one are you most grateful?”

    Excerpt from: 

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

  • November 2

    Reflection Question of the Day for November 2: 

    “What can you do during the month of November to conscientiously express your gratitude to others?”

    Excerpt from: 

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

  • It’s November!

    “There is a calmness to 
    a life lived in gratitude, 
    a quiet joy.”
    Ralph H. Blum

    Driving around West San José earlier this evening, I reflected on some of the countless ways my life is blessed right now. I’m capable of driving my car. I have a car. Most of the drivers around me were considerate and followed the rules of the road. I have a home to return to and a garage in which to park my car. I’m alive!

    I am blessed with a number of good family members, friends, and acquaintances. I’m not hungry. I’m in better physical condition now than I was twenty years ago. I have excellent health insurance and an outstanding medical team. My memory allows me to recall, with vivid detail, many people and experiences from fifty and even sixty years ago. (Just don’t ask me what I had for lunch today!)

    I have five beautiful grandchildren who bring me more happiness than I ever thought possible. I live in the beautiful State of California. It’s only a 50-minute drive from my home to San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean. I can walk relatively long distances with ease. My vision allows me to see and appreciate the natural beauty of the greater San Francisco Bay Area. 

    I have been blessed with the ability to express myself well in writing. I can thoroughly enjoy the successes achieved by those around me. My organizational skills enable me to keep track of documents I thought I would never need to access again. I am content with what I have and with who I am. I feel totally loved by a God I cannot fully comprehend.

    I could name many more things for which I am grateful, and I could specifically identify a number of people for whom I am especially grateful. I choose not to do so here for fear that I would leave someone out who should be on that list. In no way do I believe that my life is better than anyone else’s. I have no need, nor desire to compare myself to anyone.

    For most of my adult life, November has been my favorite month of the year. I am overjoyed walking or driving through my neighborhood and seeing the brilliant red, gold, and yellow leaves mixed in with a few stubborn green ones on the trees. I enjoy the comfortable days and cooler nights. As American author Lauren DeStefano wrote about this time of year, it’s “as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.”

    There is a lesson in this for all of us. American naturalist John Burroughs wrote, “How beautiful leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.” I can only hope that, when my time comes, the same thing can be said about my final days.