Teamwork 

 

There are an overwhelming number of quotes that describe teamwork. A few that stuck out for me as they relate to Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark are: “Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success.”  Author unknown. “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.-H.E. Luccock. “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work …” Vince Lombardi. “Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.”–Kenyan proverb. TEAM means Together Everyone Achieves More – Author Unknown. 

When Nic Nelson and his mom first arrive in New Bonn, the two of them are the only members of their team. With the death of Nic’s dad, they had lost the most important person on their team. So they moved to a new town in the hopes of rebuilding their lives with a team that had been reduced to a dynamic duo. 

At the beginning of Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark, friendship — in the form of Kevin Becker and Jason Hornsby, eases Nic’s apprehension and doubt regarding the upheaval he and his mom had recently gone through.  With the start of school came additions to Nic’s circle of friends, complements of Kevin, as he met Herbert, Cindy Lin, Dante Brown, and Philip Browning.  But just because a group of individuals grows into a group of friends, it doesn’t automatically translate into a “team.” You can like someone very much, but that doesn’t mean that someone is a team player! 

It didn’t take long, however, to test Nic’s new circle of friends and see how fast they would step up to the plate as part of a team. The lock-in at the start of the school year pitted Nic, Kevin and all the rest of their group against the bully, Johnny, and the rest of his gang (along with the rest of the students divided into two teams from the east and west sides of town). The annual dodge ball game played at the lock-in was the first test of this new team. The game also showed what a supportive team player Nic could be when he demonstrated compassion and encouragement toward his new friend Herbert when he doubted his value as a part of the team. 

Teams can be complex when you consider the diverse personality traits exhibited by the members. They (the teams and the team members) tend not to function very successfully when everyone is alike or when they are constantly at odds with one another. Teams need different personality types to round them out.  Everyone can’t be a leader. Some team members are best at “pumping” up the members when they are down or the team is failing to achieve its goal. Kevin is a good example of this type of team member. Other members of a team help with strategies, devising what steps will help them be successful and which come next, which is a role that Nic plays very well. Depending on what task is set before them, other team players will have more specific talents or skills. Exercising these talents/skills gives individual team members an opportunity to momentarily stand out, while at the same time helping the team shine as a whole.  

When all the parts of a team work together and gel, a winning team is born! Whether they are raking leaves together to earn some extra money, playing paintball to try and beat their common foe, Johnny, or using their intellect as a team to figure out the mystery behind the Diamonds of Denmark, Nic, Kevin, Herbert, Cindy Lin, Phillip and Dante form a dynamic little team that believes in itself as a whole and in each other, as well.  

Teamwork is a core theme throughout the Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark story … one that is, hopefully, an example of how to be truly good friends, how to play together as a great team, and how the strength of a team can make all the difference in the lives of each team member. 

Living Life with Courage

 

We all have times in our lives when events or issues can cause us pain and make it hard to put one foot in front of the other after they hit the floor on any given morning. The characters in this book are no different.

 

In Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark, Nic and his mom, Barbara, are both dealt a huge blow in their lives when Nic’s father dies unexpectedly in an accident. Although the circumstances were, on the surface, heroic, the loss of Nic’s dad and Barbara’s husband sets off sadness and turmoil as they try to pick up the pieces.

 

Upon her husband’s death, Barbara Nelson was obviously faced with a life-changing event that could have left her discouraged and paralyzed with sorrow from his loss. But instead, she chose a much more courageous option – taking Nic and moving to a new town for a new life.

 

Of course, simply moving to a new town doesn’t provide the courage to handle every situation that comes about in New Bonn, but Barbara does a more-than-admirable job of picking up the pieces and forging ahead. She takes on a new, full-time job, settles into a new home, and for the first time must parent her son, Nic, all alone.

 

Feeling discouraged could easily happen as Barbara sees the after effects of her son being bullied and watches his deep emotional battle resulting from his father’s death – while at the same time struggling to maintain her own emotional well-being. But she finds the courage to stick to her guns when it comes to raising Nic with important values, coupled with the right amount of discipline and love. Somehow she musters up the courage to put on a smiling face while trying to provide a happy, “normal” home life for Nic.

 

Nic has a great role model in his mother on how to face his new life with courage. Moving to a new town and having to attend a new school can be discouraging for a child even in the best of circumstances. But Nic has to do it after suffering the death of his father. But if that weren’t hard enough, he immediately becomes the target of a bully and having to defend himself from mental, emotional and physical attacks. Nic could have easily become withdrawn, scared and discouraged. Yet somehow he finds the courage to push back, many times calling on memories and lessons he learned from his dad.

 

Not only does Nic find courage in memories of and mementoes from his dad, but he also develops a courageous attitude from the relationship he has with his new friends. He feels passionate about them and uses the love of his friends, his dad, adult mentors and the example of his mom to find the courage to stand up for himself and for others, even if the “view” he’s standing up for isn’t the popular one.

 

Even toward the end of Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark, a mysterious phone call stirs up questions that, for the time being, have no answers — which could be discouraging and challenge Nic.

 

But throughout the story, the words of Richard Evans seem to describe how Nic and his mom find a way to live each day: Don’t let life discourage you; have the courage to continue on …

 

And they do!

It’s an issue that has spanned generations and affects the human race all over the world. It’s one that can bring out the worst in people without provocation or reason. Yet, it is something that makes this wondrous world richer, fuller and oh, so fascinating!

I’m speaking about diversity. Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark is full of great examples of the diversity in our lives, albeit all of us aren’t fighting bullies and looking for lost treasures on a routine basis.

With Nic Nelson and his friends, superficial diversity seems to have the same impact on them as it does on a room full of toddlers … none. There is plenty of diversity on the surface simply within their ranks. Dante is African American; Cindy is, obviously, the female in the group. Herbert is a little heavy and non-athletic, while Philip is tall and thin. Nic’s a “lanky” brunette, and his best bud, Kevin, is a “freckle-faced blonde.” There’s even Carlos Hernandez rooting Nic on at the dodgeball competition! No two alike, yet they see one another simply as friends, not worrying about how each of them is packaged.

But the diversity doesn’t stop with the school friends. There is also Jason, who is in an older age group and in college. Of course, Captain Spencer adds his bit of diversity with his English accent and military background, contrasted with Mr. Chen and his shop sharing his insightful, Oriental philosophies.

That’s not to say that diversity should be ignored while searching for inner virtues, because diversity is also what makes us all so very special, as well, and accounts for what each of us brings “to the table.” As we grow up, our families, cultures and religions have contributed to our diversity in ways that aren’t always as evident as the color of our skin or the shape of our eyes.

It’s safe to say that the common thread for this group of friends – and the adults who they turn to for help and support – has nothing to do with what is strictly skin deep. On the outside, all of them appear vastly different. But when you look further – inside – at the shared morals and values that course within them all, it eventually becomes apparent what it is that has created friendships for them that are strong and resilient.

Integrity, compassion, kindness, and loyalty are a few of the traits that make all these characters, who are distinctive in their own right, very much the same … cut from the same cloth.

Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark is a perfect example to everyone of how diversity on the outside can be looked at in a very positive way, while also looking in-depth at the treasure to be found inside each person.

Everyone, no matter what age, wants acceptance; everyone wants to belong and have friends to share time and experiences with. And when you want to be a part of a particular group, it is sometimes easy to cave under peer pressure to make that happen. The school-age years, especially, are a time in our lives when peer pressure comes to bear, even if the peer pressure isn’t intentional or mean-spirited.

 

One member of Johnny’s J Gang, Mark, is a great example. It’s apparent in the story that Mark doesn’t feel the same intensity of vengeful emotions that Johnny feels for Nic. Yet, he remains a part of the J Gang, whose main goal throughout the story is to wreak havoc on Nic’s existence. Rather than challenge Johnny and tell him he doesn’t want to be a part of the antagonism, Mark routinely goes along for the ride with the rest of the J Gang. At one point in the story, however, Mark develops some compassion for Nic during one of their confrontational competitions and finally exhibits some free will when he lends his snow saucer to Nic.

 

Of course, there is what could be considered “kind” peer pressure, which has nothing to do with challenging your integrity or getting you in trouble. That’s the type of pressure put on someone to participate in something that could have a positive affect, yet the person feeling the pressure is lacking in confidence or self-esteem.

 

Some of Nic’s gang received peer pressure of this type during their more physically challenging activities, like the paintball wars. Herbert and Dante were generally the ones feeling questionable about their capabilities in the “war games” they played against Johnny and the J Gang. But with a little “pressure” from Nic or Kevin, they overcame their fears and insecurities.

 

We all have been there – feeling peer pressure at different points in our lives. The trick is determining whether the pressure (and your acquiescence) will be of benefit to you or have a detrimental affect on your life either now or sometime down that road we call life .

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Mr. Chen and Integrity

 

Throughout the story of Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark, there is a recurring and important theme or value that permeates the pages; and that is integrity.

 

Nic has role models in his life who exude that trait, starting with his mom and including the very strong role model displayed by Capt. Spencer. However, it is Mr. Chen, owner of Chen’s Sports Emporium, who is the most verbal in pointedly advising Nic on how to handle certain problems in his life.

 

Nic and his friends meet Mr. Chen after taking on the challenge of being in a paintball competition where Nic’s nemesis, Johnny is also a competitor. Needless to say, Nic is most anxious to try and even the score after all that Johnny has put him through since moving to New Bonn.

 

But interestingly enough, Mr. Chen’s intuition and insights are brought to light the first time Nic enters the shop and begins to look around with his friends. Mr. Chen’s first conversation with Nic focuses on Nic’s need to prove himself. Obviously, this comment takes Nic by surprise, but it is the accompanying words of wisdom that probably surprise Nic the most, as Mr. Chen warns Nic against letting that need consume and control him.

 

As Mr. Chen continues to advise the group of friends on the paintball selections they are making, Nic starts to glean other pieces of wisdom regarding the attainment of goals and taking what may appear to be the easy way as opposed to the best or the right way to get there.  They all learn from Mr. Chen that using your mind and heart (or intuition) can bring about a more successful, satisfying end to life’s situations and obstacles than strictly using one’s physical prowess.

 

In his future encounter with Mr. Chen, Nic again is given a lesson in integrity when they talk about Nic’s need to take revenge on Johnny.  The first part of the lesson involves the brand name of the paintballs Mr. Chen wants to sell to Nic … P-L-H (Peace, Love and Happiness). Peace brings order to the Universe; Love provides the greatest power; and a paintball striking its target makes you very happy!

 

As their conversation goes on, Mr. Chen tries to guide Nic in seeing that revenge takes you out of integrity and creates a vicious circle of anger and bad feelings. Retribution, on the other hand, given with “compassion and restraint as your companions” will provide you more self-respect and contentment in the end.

 

In his “message,” Mr. Chen insinuates that sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing; but although it may be more challenging, it’s important to do it anyway. In the end, you’ll feel better about yourself.

While Nic Nelson has great mentors in his life, in the forms of Jason and Mr. Chen (https://nicnelsonadventures.com/2015/02/16/nic-nelsons-mentors-jason-mr-chen/), he’s also  fortunate enough to have authority figures who positively impact him on a daily basis, as well.

 

Parents generally are our authority figures growing up, although authority can be vastly different from one parent to another when meted out, running the gamut from harsh to loving. One of the authority figures in Nic’s life – his mother – is a given. In a past blog post (https://nicnelsonadventures.com/2014/11/23/nic-nelsons-mom/), I detailed the relationship he has with her.

 

Sadly, Nic’s father is deceased, although references throughout the story give us some good insight into the kind of authority figure he was.

 

Because he doesn’t have a father in his life, male authority figures are important when they present themselves to Nic. He obviously is in need of that positive guidance and attention. Someone who provides these things for Nic – and much more – is Captain Spencer. Having “…served in Her Majesty’s Service…” for over 20 years, Captain Spencer came to “…the Colonies…” to serve as a butler. Nic meets him when he and his pals get a job raking leaves for the neighbors whom Captain Spencer works for.

 

From the first encounter with Captain Spencer, his charm and personality are hinted at by his winks and smiles and later by his subtle, dry humor. He also quickly endears himself to Nic when, on numerous occasions, Captain Spencer has his back. One can tell from the dialogue Captain Spencer has with Nic and the others that, although his words may sound a bit formal, he is also very genuine and “real.”

 

Although at first Captain Spencer may come across as simply an honorable and friendly neighbor, as Nic gets to know him better, he comes to appreciate that he represents much more.  This especially becomes evident when Nic and his “gang” take on Johnny and his gang in a paintball tournament. Not only does Captain Spencer demonstrate and share with Nic the integrity with which he lives by helping them learn new skills and strategies, but he also attempts to build the team’s confidence by being a strong authority figure and sharing some straightforward philosophies on life.

 

As it turns out, Captain Spencer is not only an authority figure to Nic and his team, but he also is a respected authority figure in the neighborhood and community, as well.  And true to form, he proves in Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark that chivalry is, indeed, not dead!

As promised in my last blog post, I want to introduce a couple of important mentors in the Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark story. https://nicnelsonadventures.com/2014/06/08/introducing-nic-nelson/

 

The first of Nic’s mentors is revealed in the very first chapter of the story. A student in his first year of college, Jason is the combination of a kid and a grown-up, which makes it easy for him to relate to Nic and his friend, Kevin, on many levels. Jason has had just enough life experience that it enables him to guide and advise the boys along the way, including “rescue missions,” – one of which occurs in chapter one.

 

Jason is the big brother that neither Kevin nor Nic ever had; and although he is at a point in his life where he is still searching for himself, Jason is never too self-absorbed to be a good role model for the boys. Nic and Kevin easily relate to Jason and obviously admire him, which creates opportunities for Jason to be a mentor to them without it feeling like he’s lecturing or talking down to them.

 

In all his youthful wisdom, Jason explains to Nic the “Five Cs” for hanging tough during a local dodge ball tournament (advice we can all benefit from). He is also intuitive enough to share his mentoring responsibilities by recommending the strategic help the gang can get from Capt. Spencer for their paintball competition.  In all these instances, Jason is a natural mentor for Nic and Kevin and one they can easily identify with.

 

A very different type of mentor enters Nic’s life when he meets Mr. Chen, owner of a local “sports emporium,” while on the hunt for paintball supplies with his friends. From their first encounter, Mr. Chen has an intriguing, philosophical air about him, as he comments to Nic about his need to prove himself while explaining, in his non-judgmental way, why this is not a negative thing for Nic to desire. Mr. Chen eventually expresses his words of wisdom regarding the impending paintball competition to Nic, Kevin and their other friends. He does it in a very simple, laconic way, yet in such a way that the young friends can easily understand his insights.

 

In his second encounter with Mr. Chen, Nic finds out that his unique mentoring style can also be delivered with some tongue-in-cheek humor when Mr. Chen shares his explanation for the type of paintballs he’s recommending they use. When you read this chapter, it may surprise you that his recommendation has little to do with the physical makeup of the paintballs themselves. But more importantly, Mr. Chen’s help in clarifying how retribution as opposed to revenge against Johnny (https://nicnelsonadventures.com/2014/09/07/johnnys-bullying/) is the right path for Nic makes for a very eye-opening and grown-up bit of mentoring.

 

Nic and his friends are very fortunate to have the likes of Jason and Mr. Chen in their corner throughout the challenging moments of the story; and from the results of these challenges, it is very apparent the mentoring paid off!

 

 

For a child’s emotional and mental growth, it’s important that he or she have loving, supportive, and attentive parents. Even having wonderful parents, however, isn’t always enough to help a kid through all that life can throw at them –– big or small, easy or hard, expected or unexpected. Besides, parents can’t know it all, right?

 

So what’s a child supposed to do when faced with situations that require knowledge he or she doesn’t have? Nic’s mom is great and loves Nic to death, but she’s not much help when it comes to paintball wars or dealing with bullies around every corner. Parents can’t be physically, emotionally or mentally available 24/7; and when they aren’t, who is?

 

Enter — the mentor! A mentor is defined as an “experienced and trusted advisor,” which is exactly what is needed when mom and dad aren’t around or don’t meet the criteria. Sometimes we seek out mentors when faced with unknown territory to guide us to a successful and happy outcome. For a child, he or she may not even be thinking about reaching out to someone. They’re not aware they are in need of an advisor, thinking instead that they’re on their own.

 

The great thing about mentors (at least those who choose to mentor a child) is that they aren’t expecting payment of any kind in return. The mentor sees someone in need of their expertise and advice and steps up to meet that need. The mentor’s only reimbursement comes in the form of their pupil’s successful accomplishments or completion of a specific task at hand. This type of gratification is payment enough.

 

In Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark (http://bit.ly/1wypRAr), Nic is faced with many situations that are challenging. Without his dad around, Nic is already working at a disadvantage when it comes to starting a new life in a new town, having only his mom standing in his corner. And although Barb Nelson is a great mom, http://bit.ly/1Gpd2vd, she is also like many single parents, trying to keep it all together at home while also holding down a full-time job. She wants to be present for Nic, but just can’t cover all the bases all the time.

 

A few incidences experienced by Nic definitely warrant some form of adult intervention…an adult other than Nic’s mom. Fortunately for Nic, New Bonn has more than one mentor who takes an interest in his new life there and the struggles he faces from time to time.

 

As you’ll find out in our story, Nic rarely finds himself standing alone for long. And in my next blog post, I’ll introduce you to a couple of the New Bonn residents who are there to mentor Nic during some demanding predicaments.

 

 

Parenting is usually a topic couples discuss when planning for a family. However, it’s not normally a part of the conversation to talk about how each parent would handle the role of raising a child/children all alone if circumstances warranted. It’s especially hard if the child and the single parent are thrust into their roles without warning or time to prepare themselves for what’s to come.

 

Nic Nelson’s mom Barbara is blindsided by the loss of her husband and left to pick up the pieces of her shattered life and that of her son. As I discussed in my previous blog post, it can’t be easy for a child to move forward after the loss of a parent. Fortunately for Nic, his mom is loving and caring and has continued to be a positive force in his life since the death of his dad, helping him adjust as best as can be expected considering the circumstances and the upheavals he’s gone through.

 

While working through all the challenges she faces from the loss of her husband, Nic’s mom tries very hard not to worry Nic over matters occurring in their lives that he shouldn’t have to face. Although we can assume it hasn’t been easy for her, from the beginning of her appearance in Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark, you can sense that Nic’s mom is a wonderful mixture of a loving, protective mother and a strong, yet fair, disciplinarian.

 

The rapport Barbara has with her son is very sensitive and real. It is warm and palpable throughout the story. She is obviously devoted to him and puts on a brave face when need be so that Nic can be exactly what he is — a child — without having to worry about taking care of his mom. At times it can be a challenge to not let Nic see her vulnerability, especially when difficulties arise, and she knows she has to be tough enough to see them both around and through what’s thrown in their path.

 

But she also realizes that there are a lot of lessons to be learned while a child is growing up, and Barbara isn’t afraid to chastise and punish Nic in situations where they’re warranted (in a fair way, of course). She is cool enough to joke with his friends and suggest playing paintball, yet no-nonsense enough to ground him when it’s warranted.

 

Still, the bond Nic and his mom share is very strong with many dimensions that come through when they both let their guards down long enough to be sensitive to each other’s needs in stressful and emotionally-charged situations. It is apparent that there is a deep love shared between them. And that love is felt all the way through Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a fact of life that most of us will experience the loss of our parents. However, most of us also have the expectation that they will leave this world when we are parents ourselves, and they are well into their 70s and 80s. If you lose you parent when you’re very young – say around the age of 5 or younger – you really don’t have many lasting memories of your time with him or her and the way in which he or she influenced your life.

 

But once you’ve reached school age and start recalling passing years more clearly, your stockpile of memories grows, as does the importance a parent holds for you. Naturally, this makes it even harder once that parent is out of your life. Unfortunately, Nic Nelson didn’t have the opportunity of growing up for much more than a decade before his father was taken away from him. To make the pain even worse, he was taken unexpectedly in a tragic accident.

 

Part of Nic Nelson’s struggle stems from remembering his time with his dad, who he adored, and realizing that those memories are all he’ll ever have of him. Yet the memories are also sweet, because Nic is able to recall – and put to use – some of the life lessons his dad taught him. Although he is close to his mom, it’s easy to see (and understand) why Nic misses his dad tremendously and thinks about him often.

 

Losing a parent can also create a huge void in the remaining parent’s life, which children may feel inadequate to fill. It doesn’t, however, prevent them from wanting to try. Nic loves his mom – despite the fact that, at times, they do butt heads – and it is obvious he is protective of her, as well. They have survived a horrible tragedy and piecing their lives back together has drawn them closer.

 

But it’s still a challenge for Nic, as it would be for any 10-year-old boy, to face the trials he’s presented with in his new hometown without the benefit of a dad as his wingman, so to speak, or the person who has his back when the going gets tough.

 

Naturally, Nic must rely on and turn to his mom in good times and bad now that his dad is gone. However, as they settle into their new life in New Bonn, Nic is fortunate enough to find an extended family of sorts that provides, if not a substitute for his dad, support, friendship and new life lessons to get him through many scary, challenging and dangerous situations.