Lemons into Lemonade

My dad had flown B29’s in Korea, so ROTC was a no brainer. It would help pay for college and I would become an Army helicopter pilot. Riding back on the bus from Folk Polk after our flight physicals; everyone was hoop-n-hollering except me. I had flunked the flight physical and was in the way back of the bus feeling lousy. One of my favorite ROTC staff came back and we talked briefly. He was an Airborne Ranger who had served two tours in Vietnam. By the time we arrived back at campus I had decided, “If I couldn’t fly them, I’d jump out of them.” That decision, the training, and Army experiences changed the way I approach myself and life. What’s that old saying, lemons into lemonade? Why not make some lemonade today.

Life Energy

When we moved to Baton Rouge in the mid-50’s Paul Dietzel was beginning his career as head football coach at LSU. LSUs undefeated 1958 national championship season was my first season as a Tiger fan. I grew up in a house that lived for Saturday night football. There was never any doubt that I would play football, even at 120lbs. My first play in a varsity game was a kickoff return that I ran back to the 50 yard-line surprising myself and my teammates. I woke up at the bottom of a tackle pile with my breath knocked out and a broken finger. I quickly got my breath back, but the finger and its odd shape has reminded me all my life of the amazing energy we have deep inside. Tap into that life energy today.

The Weekend

Sunday, MaryBeth and I walked early before the heat of the day. When we got back I was soaked, so I decided to go right into the yard work I’d missed two weekends with my trip to Wisconsin. I took off my watch and immediately started working. At some point I paused to watch a blue-black swallowtail butterfly with faint yellow markings play in our garden. I sat on the stone bench and watched him dart from flower to flower, perch on the metal sunflower and move to my neighbors Vinci’s. All day, without my watch to remind me of the time, I found myself drifting like the butterfly, from projects to pauses. My spirit needed a Sabbath, does yours?

Catch the Energy & Release the Potential

My dad was always traveling, so he became a really good Saturday/Sunday dad.  Across the street was the Bankston family with three girls.  Mr. Bankston was an executive for Baton Rouge Water, but somewhere in his busy days he found time to give me several lifelong hobbies.  He taught me the art and love of fly tying, how to use darkroom equipment, and the excitement in looking for and finding fossils.  Yesterday, I taught my FISH!/employee engagement class based on Seattle’s Pike Place Fish Market, and I couldn’t help but think about Mr. Bankston as I talked about the concept of “catch the energy and release the potential”.  Who have you been fishing with lately?

Stressed Out Healthcare Provider or Patient

Daniel Friedland, MD, President-Elect American Board of Integrative Medicine, CEO of SuperSmartHealth was the closing keynote at the National Wellness Conference last week. He talked about an approach to navigate stress and optimize health that integrates research in neuroscience, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and positive psychology.  But it wasn’t his words that impressed me.  Danny attended the full conference, participated in breakout sessions; he’s the kind of person you feel comfortable with almost immediately.  Danny’s message focused on the healing from within that inspires a sense of essential wholeness.  Checkout his website and be inspired!

 http://supersmarthealth.com/

Pond Fishing in Pennsylvania

While preparing for my Fish Team work tomorrow, I have had flashbacks of summer trips to the Pennsylvania farm where my mother grew up.  These included memories of playing with my cousins in the barn, tractor rides, and how at night you could reach up and touch the stars.  But my strongest memory is fishing in the pond.  Early walks with Uncle Keith catching night crawlers, learning to bait the hook, Uncle Keith knowing the exact spot on the pond to catch a fish, and wrapping fish in mud and cooking them in the coals of the fire.  What memories are you giving the children of your world?  Thanks Uncle Keith for giving me your time and love. 

http://www.fieldandstream.com/node/57467

Dave's Story of Courage

I tried to bury the dream under the covers, but Dave’s young soft voice was persistent.  It was in the early 90’s and I was a new hospice volunteer, and Dave was dying of AIDS.  Several nights a week my routine was to volunteer at an inpatient hospice unit in the wee hours of the morning.  I’d sit with Dave, sometimes read to him, sometimes just hold his hand, but mainly just listened.  He’d talk about his family and how they wouldn’t touch him during their visits.  Dave’s soft persistent forgiving voice reminded me of the courage it takes to love, when love is not reciprocated.  Thanks Dave for sharing your courage and a few of your last moments in this life with a graduate student trying to understand life.