What this picture is
This is a picture my Aunt Rita has saved. It hangs in her home, and when I asked her about it, she happily shared the story behind it.
It’s a snapshot from their family farm, showing all five kids. Aunt Rita is on the far right, her arm wrapped around the neck of one of the goats. Next to her is my dad, holding the rope tied to that same goat. Aunt Pat stands nearby, her mouth open in amazement as she pets one of the goats. Aunt Kathleen is next, smiling broadly, and beside her is Uncle Tom, holding the rope to another goat.
Standing behind them is their hired man, Bill Egan, laughing and egging them on. Aunt Rita said he was “all Irish” and full of fun - probably thinking to himself,what a summer this is going to be.
Bill lived with them on the farm. Their dad - my grandpa - was often away doing farm auctions, so Bill and another hired man helped with the chores, like milking cows and keeping things running.
Why my Aunt Rita saved this picture
It reminds her of a joyful time on the farm when their dad was doing a lot of auctions - and often came home with surprises for the family. He loved doing that.
One time, he brought back three white goats. Aunt Rita is sure he thought,those kids will have fun with these crazy goats.
And they did. They were so excited.
The goats were mischievous. When the family hung clothes out to dry on the lawn, the goats would charge through and knock everything down. The kids would have to chase after them and herd them away.
One goat even pushed its way through their screen door into the pantry - and went straight into the house.
They had so much fun that summer.
When fall came, they all knew what was coming. Their dad planned to sell the goats at a farm auction - since they couldn’t keep them in barn through the winter.
When he sold the goats, before coming home, he exchanged the money into a large stack of one-dollar bills.
Then, when he walked into the house, he tossed the stack of bills into the air as he announced that the goats were sold. He knew they would be so sad to lose their goats - and he wanted to soften the blow.
He always had something up his sleeve to make them smile and laugh.
Soon they would be swept up in the next fun adventure. Their dad loved making life joyful for his children.
Create fun for others
When you get a chance to bring someone joy, don’t overthink it.
Just go with it. Follow your heart.
Yes, it may cause some mayhem - but along with the mayhem are the thrills!
Yes, the high doesn’t last forever. All good things come to an end, but the stories can last a lifetime.
Key Points
Joy doesn’t have to be practical or permanent to matter—shared moments of fun create stories that strengthen connection for years.
Leaders who intentionally create moments of delight build trust, resilience, and goodwill that carry people through inevitable change.