09/27/2018

It’s not about how big you are it’s about how big you play.

Downsizing seems to be the latest craze in American housing. While the trend used to be constantly moving to bigger and bigger spaces it’s now ciche to move toward smaller residences. In fact we just downsized from 3200 sq ft to 2100. I have to admit however that was a move from a House way to big we were required to live in to a house we already owned. Still the downsizing required we eliminate a huge amount of clutter we’d accumulated because we had the space.

I’ve also seen people forced to downsize because of circumstances. Some due to economics moving from house to apartment to car. Others due to age moving to successively smaller spaces  as health required greater supervision. While it may be ciche to chose to downsize it’s hard to have the move forced upon you (been there as well).

Regardless of why you downsize the result of the move still comes from your attitude in the space you are in. You can decide to make the change a positive source of possibility or a negative defeat for your future. Again, I’ve had friends and loved ones who have reacted in both manners.

THOUGHTS: Life provides both good and bad. The attitude we bring to both instances determine whether we will use the event as a learning experience to progress or as a barrier to understand how to move ahead. It is all about how you play the game.

09/14/2018

If you want to test your memory, try remembering what you were worrying about one year ago.

Having spent a majority of my life in some form of academia I’ve been involved in a variety of tests. One thing I learned the hard way is it isn’t as important what you know as what the tester wants you to know. Once you figure out what the other thinks is important it’s easier to take the test.

Another thing I’ve realized is it doesn’t matter whether or not you believe the information on the test is important. I used to give the answers to my students prior to the test. Many couldn’t understand why I did it or even if the questions answered would be on the test. My point was always the same. This is what I want you to know so you might as well learn it.

THOUGHTS: Life is like a test. As you interact with others you need to get to know them well enough to understand what’s important to them. It doesn’t matter if you believe them to be right or wrong, this is their reality. The real question is whether or not you want to continue to have a relationship with them. If you do you’ve got to be willing to pass the test, at least part of the time. If not move on knowing you also hold your own reality.

09/06/2018

Two days will rank as the best day of your life: the day you buy your boat and the day you sell it.

I’ve taken the plunge once again. Several years ago my brother gave me his old ski boat. I was both excited and overwhelmed. The boat had been out of the water for several years and I really didn’t know where to start to get it running again. It sat in my drive for three years until I finally abandoned hope and turned it  over to a local dealer.

Today we picked up an old 17.5’ fish and ski. This boat was also in storage but it was running and had an operable trolling motor and fish finder. The more I fish around the country the more I realize that to catch big fish you need to be on the water. That’s because of accessibility and because the fish go deeper during the summer. Now I just need to get it on the water and learn how to use it.

btw: You’ll notice Bella is ready to become a lake dog.

THOUGHTS: As in today’s example best day can be relative. It seems it’s not as much about what happens as how you perceive what’s happening. Circumstances can be turned to provide learning or failure, to provide joy or sadness. We may not be in control of all that happens but we can decide the outcome.

09/01/2018

Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest and eight hours for what we will.

Labor Day was instigated by disgruntled workers in the late nineteenth century. At the time most mining and industrial workers earned between $1-$1.50 a day and worked 10-12 hour days. They felt taken advantage of and disrespected. In response they walked off the job and took a day to honor all workers with parades, ball games and picnics. The first Monday in September was officially federally designated as a day to honor labors in 1894.

While few may recall the sacrifices that led to granting this holiday most are grateful for it’s existence. For many Labor Day Weekend is a time of final summer outings, cookouts and a last push at household projects neglected during the summer. We did most of that. We shopped for remodeling supplies and spent time with family and friends.

At times I believe our dog Bella best understands the true meaning of Labor Day and the end of summer. This is a time to sit on the back porch and reflect on life and the good times that lay ahead.

THOUGHTS: Life can race by at breakneck speed, but only if we let it. When we take time to sit back and relax it not only refreshes but prepares us for what lies ahead. The future will bring both joy and sadness. It’s not about what comes but how we handle it.

08/28/2018

Living near a military installation means getting caught up in maneuvers. Awhile back they were testing the new 150 mm cannons and today I was buzzed for two hours as a transport plane flew in circles overhead. Both were loud and noisy and also necessary.

Practice is a part of the job no matter what you do. When I played sports I practiced plays and techniques. As an historian I practiced my craft by writing. In a relationship I practice talking and listening.

There are times when practice seems boring and not worthwhile. The reason you push through is because the more you practice the easier the job becomes when it really matters. Practice is important to prepare you for the quick decisions that need to be made.

btw: I included the fish to prove to my mom I was actually catching something.

THOUGHTS: Communication is the most important practice we participate in. We need to practice talking and listening when things are going well so we’ll know how to hear and understand in the midst of disagreements. That’s true in all relationships; marriage, job, politics, and particularly now in our globalized world.

08/25/2018

Where ere my feet will ever roam there’s no place quite as sweet as home.

Today was definitely a down day. I spent the day catching up on two weeks of papers (and crosswords). Being on the go makes it easy to miss all the news that’s going on globally and even harder to stay current with local events. If I were a true techie I’d take the virtual paper.

THOUGHTS: As much fun as it is to be on the go it’s nice to sit back and relax at home. Rest and contemplation are a rejuvenation of the mind and body. We need down time to prepare for the adventures ahead.

08/24/2018

“You will not be given more trials than you can bear.”

I’m always apprehensive when it comes to travel day. Even when everything goes perfectly it ends up being a long and tiring ordeal. Even worse everything rarely ever goes perfect.

Today was supposed to be an easy travel. Early afternoon flight so I didn’t have to get up early and arrive before dinner so I could enjoy being home. Except it never really works that way.

It started with a pouring rain that delayed flights. We left an hour late looking forward to a 50 minute layover in Dallas. Remarkably the pilot got us to the airport 30 minutes early which left 20 minutes to change terminals and get to our gate. Next came the rush and apprehension. We were literally the last to board (and I believe they waited as long as they could) before they closed the gate. A sigh of relief and on the last leg home.

We had a great 2 weeks away but I’m glad to be home. Glad to be welcomed by our dog. Glad to be sleeping in our own bed. Glad to let the maundane become the normal once more.

THOUGHTS: It’s amazing how often things work out for the best. Even when we have bumps in the road they are mitigated by smooth spots. That’s not to say life is easy. Life is often quite hard. Life is life. We move forward and do what we believe to be the right thing. We live life.

08/23/2018

The only constant is change.

Being my last day on the water I decided to fish one of the local lakes. I’d already tried several and they had all been productive. I moved onto the fishing pier and tried my luck with the big ones. Not surprising they were not tempted by my lure. I switched to a bobber and the action started immediately.

One of my difficulties i have is I’m not satisfied just catching fish. I like at least the possibility of size. I threw my line close to the abundant weeds in hope of enticing an errant bass. The wind blew and my line drifted and before I knew it I was in the weeds. I reeled in and my line lodged. My line came but my last bobber stayed in the weeds.

Time to try a new tactic. I rigged my pole for bottom fishing but no luck. I knew if I had my bobber I’d be catching fish. That’s when I decided to try something different. For the first time in my life I fished the bottom for bluegill. Once again I began to catch fish.

I have prided myself on my willingness to think outside the box and try new things to overcome stubborn tasks. When the traditional ways aren’t working you have to either change or continue to fail. That is true in life and I guess now I’ll have to say it’s also the case in fishing.

THOUGHTS: Far too often we face our challenges by repeating the same actions that haven’t worked in the past and hope to find a different result today. If instead we try a new approach there is a possibility for success. Worst case we will know we tried.

08/22/2018

Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.

One of the efforts I try to make is to visit historic sites I encounter during our travels. On my way to a fishing lake I saw the sign for Fort Snelling. I knew nothing about this fort but decided to check it out.

I was initially put off by the $12 entrance fee but decided to take the plunge. I entered the information video just in time to watch the credits roll. The sign said every 30 minutes which meant I had another 15 to wait. I opted to move on to the exhibits in the visitors center.

Fort Snelling was one of the oldest settlements in the state of Minnesota. The fort is over 180 years old. The fort tower is the oldest structure in the state and the commandants house is the oldest house in the state. The fort was active until after World War II. Fort Snelling served as a powerful force in the wilderness and as a covert intelligence training center in the 20th century.

Fort Snelling also has another side. It housed slaves from 1820-1840 while slavery was illegal in the territory and detained Dredd and Harriet Scott while they awaited trial in the 1850’s. It served as a concentration camp for the Dakota after the Dakota War in 1862 and and an internment camp for Japanese Americans during World War II. These events were depicted along with the story of the positive ways the fort transformed the territory and the nation.

My visit to Fort Snelling was both informative and provocative. It made me think about what has transpired and how that could alter our actions in the future.

THOUGHTS: The past is the past and while all facts are subject to interpretation, the events of the past can’t be ignored. We need to own our past . . . all of our past. We need to remember the past to ensure we do better in the future.

08/21/2018

My initial thought was “Oh great, that ought to ruin the day. “ I’d Just driven an hour to try out a new promising lake. After pulling into the parking lot a school bus pulled in right behind me. Fifteen grade schoolers piled out toting pole bags and tackle boxes. They all went to the nearby pavilion with their instructor to get set up for the day.

I instead waited in my car to see what they were going to do. I had images of them scattering across the park and filling every available spot. One by one they baited their lines and headed out. To my surprise every one of them went to the fishing pier. It wasn’t long until I heard an excited squeal. “I got one!”

With them concentrated at the pier I took off down the path to find another place to fish. Not far along I found access to a stand of lilly pads. I took out my bass rig and made my first cast. As I reeled in close to shore my swimming lure was literally accosted by five to ten small bluegill. I continued to cast but the elusive bass I sought was no where to be found. That’s when I made the decision to try my luck with the bluegill.

I cast out and immediately caught a small fish. Again and again I cast and either got bites or caught fish. I looked up and saw the children were loading up to leave. Now I could go after the bass I wanted off the pier.

I arrived at the end of the pier and again began to cast my swimmer. This bait had been effective earlier in the week but today I could only snag weeds. That’s when I decided to again switch to bluegill. That’s when it started to get crazy. I immediately caught a fish and continued to get fish or bites on every cast. If someone would have been fishing with me they would have heard me excitedly say, “I’ve got one!”

THOUGHTS: It’s easy to get caught up in the technology and gadgets that dominate our world. We look for big accomplishments and bigger rewards. Try instead to recognize the small victories that are along the way. As they come be willing to excitedly exclaim, “I got one!”