The forecast said – High temperature 37, low 21 with a 90% chance of precipitation . . . makes you want to camp, doesn’t it ??
Well, that’s exactly what I did this past weekend. You see, I’m very fortunate to be the Scoutmaster for Troop 941 in West Chester, OH. My son is in the Troop and we went on our first campout of the year to go horseback riding with 23 other boys and 6 adults.
It was amazing !! I love going on these weekend jaunts with my son and with the other kids. I learn so much with them. We laugh, tell stories, play tons on Euchre, and most importantly, I get to see people grow into adults right before my eyes.
Today, there is so much that can be daunting, tragic and even horrifying. We continue to fill our days with junk when the majority of our “news” isn’t news at all. When the lead in story is about some celebrity train wreck vs. the real human condition that all of us face, I can see how we get cynical.
But I digress . . .
From Friday to Sunday I had no cell coverage, no Twitter, no Linked In, no e-mail. However, I had EVERYTHING I needed and more. To hear my son recount the exhilaration of his first ride on a horse, Zeus, was better than any distraction I fill my life with. To sleep in the cold, to eat fresh meals cooked in a dutch oven from recipes my son found, to sing I’m a Little Teapot at a campfire to the tune of We Will Rock You by Queen, and to have kids pick you to imitate during Adult Impersonations – phenomenal.
In the midst of all that is going on around us, I have to ask . . . do you enjoy yourselves? Are you taking time to take everything in? Do you see the miracles that happen literally everyday with the people you work with?
Or, are you too busy rushing to check that next e-mail, make sure you get that next appointment entered into Outook, while ignoring the great people you work with so you make sure YOUR needs are being met?
When my son and I got home on Sunday, I collapsed from the full weekend. My body isn’t as young as it used to be. But, I collapsed full of joy and great experiences !!
Here’s my challenge to those of you kind enough to even read my blog – take time to enjoy what life brings you !! Ask the person you work with what they did this weekend and . . . stay there long enough to really take in what happened !! Quit ignoring all that is good going on all around you.
Now, I have to get recharged. We camp again in 2 weeks (and I can’t wait !!)
