Yesterday evening we finally made good on our promise to take the family to the neighborhood pool. It has been fiercely hot around here and we figured this trip was long overdue. Of course our trip wasn't without any mishaps, I mean the pool didn't take debit and who the heck carries cash these days anyways?
We quickly got that resolved and gained our admittance into the pool. What a summertime delight community pools can be. I had forgotten but it was really awesome to see so many people out enjoying themselves.
We made our way over to the little person section and tried to test the waters. My wife had our daughter and I had our son. Thankfully they had a zero depth entrance which made everything really nice. My son made it in as far as these little fountains (ankle deep), put his hand in them and decided he'd had enough.
He wanted to walk around for a while, so that is what we did. I think it was after watching all of the children jump off the diving board that he got his nerve back.
We headed back in and made it to chest deep, he was careful, but enjoying himself. Then we made it over to the small water slide. He enjoys slides very much, but I have to say I was nervous to see how this would go.
We climbed up to the top and got ourselves ready to go, when I heard the distinct sound of a life guards whistle. This is a familiar sound to me you see, as a youth I got many warnings for running and dunking. He was polite enough to inform me that indeed this was not a slide that we could go down together, one at a time he said.
OK, no problem I thought. I guess he will have to go solo, after my wife guided him up to the top, I waited at the bottom. Down he went, and the look on his face was priceless, he was in heaven.
Twelve more trips down the slide and the pool was closing. I figured this was a good first go round, as it left him wanting more.
We topped the night off the only right way that you can, Dairy Queen ice cream cones!!! I know I said I am committed to fitness, but let's be reasonable, who can turn down a chocolate dipped cone from DQ? Not me.....
It was a blast and at its core it held the essence of what all summer nights should hold, good times!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
31
Well it has come, quickly another year has passed and my birthday is upon me. Thankfully I have fully embraced thirty, so thirty-one is no shock to my mind or body. Due to a new training program I feel better than I have in a long time. That coupled with my studies has led me to some revealing truths. Some of my learning's carve out my new path and direction as I work to ascend into the person I know I can be. That person is all encompassing: husband, father, man, and friend. You each share in this journey and it is my hope that you will only find my refinements to be encouraging and wonderful.
It seems to me that the night before my birthday I go into this semi-self loathing phase. My mind quickly streams all the missed opportunities to be the man I know I am capable of. It is in it's nature a bit of a harsh assessment, but what the hell, why beat around the bush when it comes to your own improvement? This time is like no other, the stakes for me have never been higher. Ian Dawe said it best, "I stand before each of you a man in his becoming". Just the nature of that statement is very inspirational. Acknowledging that I am very incomplete, and "every new step towards awakening reveals my own self serving ignorance" as Mark Twight put it.
My hope is that by at least acknowledging my ignorance I can at least takes steps in being less of a fool. I have done a lot of learning in this past year, with a growing family it seems that in every moment there is a lesson. I have tried to be mindful of those lessons, and while I think it is going well, I haven't done a great job reflecting on the essence of those lessons and what stands to be gained by applying new approaches.
It is through both formal and informal mechanisms for learning that I approach this, my thirty-first year with my eyes wide open. Knowing that in years past my own arrogance assumed that I had it all figured out, for all intensive purposes I have tried to amputate that arrogance, it's of no use to me in the direction I am taking. If we were talking in the language of organs I am looking to amputate arrogance and have a humility transplant. Humbled by the great nature of this world, calibrating the lenses from which I view, mindfully humbled...
Step One - Mindfulness
As well I have been less flexible than I have somehow convinced myself that I am. Whether it is going with the flow or embracing the moment, while I like to tell myself that I am as they say in the Dominican Republic, flojo. I explicitly acknowledge that I have much room to make up in this regard. I am hoping to be peaceful in the moment, knowing that it is in the moment where laughs are made, triumph is celebrated, despair is reconciled, in the moment. Not in yesterdays or tomorrow, but in the right now. I am hoping to incorporate a few techniques to help me with this, namely conscious breathing and wearing a smile. Peacefully in the moment riding its energy to the next great moment, that is my aim.
Step Two - Peace
I would be re-miss to all that is sacred to me if I didn't acknowledge here that I hope to pour all my being into loving those that are dearest to me. I am blessed that each day I wake up to the most beautiful woman in the world, and that she is my best friend, my soul's mate, and the angel of my life. Together we have two beautiful souls that are our children. It is my hope that their hearts overflow with love.
Step Three - Love
Talk is cheap. I once read the quote, "What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear a word you say". May my actions model the way for all that I stand for and all that I hold to be true. I have often been victim of talking one way while not always reflecting that same course with my actions. My hope is to be the change that I wish to see in the world.
Step Four - Model the way.
If you've seen me, than you know that I am not the picture of health, and this is where the fifth step focuses.
Step Five - Commit to fitness
There you have it, a brief view of my world and where it stands. My goals for the next year of my life. If you see me please hold me accountable to what I have put out here, that is what support is all about.
It seems to me that the night before my birthday I go into this semi-self loathing phase. My mind quickly streams all the missed opportunities to be the man I know I am capable of. It is in it's nature a bit of a harsh assessment, but what the hell, why beat around the bush when it comes to your own improvement? This time is like no other, the stakes for me have never been higher. Ian Dawe said it best, "I stand before each of you a man in his becoming". Just the nature of that statement is very inspirational. Acknowledging that I am very incomplete, and "every new step towards awakening reveals my own self serving ignorance" as Mark Twight put it.
My hope is that by at least acknowledging my ignorance I can at least takes steps in being less of a fool. I have done a lot of learning in this past year, with a growing family it seems that in every moment there is a lesson. I have tried to be mindful of those lessons, and while I think it is going well, I haven't done a great job reflecting on the essence of those lessons and what stands to be gained by applying new approaches.
It is through both formal and informal mechanisms for learning that I approach this, my thirty-first year with my eyes wide open. Knowing that in years past my own arrogance assumed that I had it all figured out, for all intensive purposes I have tried to amputate that arrogance, it's of no use to me in the direction I am taking. If we were talking in the language of organs I am looking to amputate arrogance and have a humility transplant. Humbled by the great nature of this world, calibrating the lenses from which I view, mindfully humbled...
Step One - Mindfulness
As well I have been less flexible than I have somehow convinced myself that I am. Whether it is going with the flow or embracing the moment, while I like to tell myself that I am as they say in the Dominican Republic, flojo. I explicitly acknowledge that I have much room to make up in this regard. I am hoping to be peaceful in the moment, knowing that it is in the moment where laughs are made, triumph is celebrated, despair is reconciled, in the moment. Not in yesterdays or tomorrow, but in the right now. I am hoping to incorporate a few techniques to help me with this, namely conscious breathing and wearing a smile. Peacefully in the moment riding its energy to the next great moment, that is my aim.
Step Two - Peace
I would be re-miss to all that is sacred to me if I didn't acknowledge here that I hope to pour all my being into loving those that are dearest to me. I am blessed that each day I wake up to the most beautiful woman in the world, and that she is my best friend, my soul's mate, and the angel of my life. Together we have two beautiful souls that are our children. It is my hope that their hearts overflow with love.
Step Three - Love
Talk is cheap. I once read the quote, "What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear a word you say". May my actions model the way for all that I stand for and all that I hold to be true. I have often been victim of talking one way while not always reflecting that same course with my actions. My hope is to be the change that I wish to see in the world.
Step Four - Model the way.
If you've seen me, than you know that I am not the picture of health, and this is where the fifth step focuses.
Step Five - Commit to fitness
There you have it, a brief view of my world and where it stands. My goals for the next year of my life. If you see me please hold me accountable to what I have put out here, that is what support is all about.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Way Too Long
Well as you can see I haven't posted in a very long time. Much has happened in the time I have been away. It seems that everyday I am reminded of the advice that I got when my wife and I first found out we were expecting, "hold on, it all goes by so fast, before you know it your children will be off to college".
I can really relate with that. It seems that since my daughter has been born everything is moving at warp speed. My son continues to grow everyday, he now very frequently wants to hold his sister and cuddle with her. He is an amazing big brother.
My daughter will be six weeks this Wednesday. I can't believe it, she is doing great. She is eating well and sleeping better than can be expected. She is getting stronger everyday, joy and love beam from her eyes. Somehow everything is going just as it should be.
I just wanted to drop a quick line of update.
Live Well
Laugh Often
Love Much
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