top of page
  • Writer's pictureThe Poplar Family

Our First Born Son Who Is Always Last

Updated: Jul 28, 2020

Meet Laurence. He is a UAH Charger, computer animator, and our first born son.

Breana Isbell Photography

Welcome to his world. My favorite thing about this photo is how it is so true to life. His fingers on a keyboard and face staring at a screen. Video game controllers, popcorn, and pizza on deck. What you see is what you get.

He's serious about his cultivating his craft. He is consistent in his character. He tries his best and gives his all, but nice guys don't finish first.

Melvin has always been the kid who almost won. When he was younger he would enter a contest, give it all he had and place second. The closest he got to being first was this one time in grade school a friend copied one of his drawings and placed first in a contest. It was earth shattering to see someone else be recognized for a design our son conceived. Creativity can sometimes feel like a curse. You start out doing something for the love of it, then somehow your gift can bless everybody but you.


Create Anyway


Do what you love for the love of doing it. I've learned that from watching this young man's life. Whether you win or lose, play the game. A true game changer wins because they refuse to quit. Melvin is a gamer. A beast at Super Smash Bros. A skill he acquired when he was young because gaming was his thing. Not because people wanted him to, not because he was in a competition with someone else, he did it because he enjoyed it. And that's why he's so good. I'm sure you've figured out that this blog is really not about gaming, contests, or even my first born son, it's about life, love, and the legacy we leave when we show up in the world as our authentic selves.


Guess what happens when we stop trying to be first place and start placing our crave to create first? We win. That's right! It's as though the universe can't resist aligning with who we choose to become, someone who shows up for themselves, gives it all they got, and creates from their core.


Our first born recently placed first for the Media Fusion Digital Animation Excellence in Animation Award. Congratulations Melvin, this is a long overdue and well deserved honor. What's excites me most is knowing that you do what you love, and love what you do.






14 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page