Life always presents challenges. Sometimes you feel like you are cruising along, and then next it feels as if nothing goes right. There are always challenges that come up, but how we deal with them depends on our attitudes. Think about it…things are always changing. One decision leads to one outcome, and then another, and so on. But what if you had made a different decision in the past? That decision could have steered things much different in your life and led to completely different outcomes. What if I had not met Sarah in med school? What if I had not been a runner, I would not have had something in common with Sarah to have the courage to even ask her out? Then the ripple effect. Everything in my life may have been totally different. And the same goes for all of us!
Last year we went out the Black Hills and climbed up Black Elk Peak. As we were getting closer, the fog started rolling in. When it first started coming, it was very cool watching. It was changing by the minute.
We had about 15 minutes of just watching on how fast things were changing. After that, the fog was so thick you could not see anything from the top. People that were coming up after us completely missed seeing anything from the top. That is how fast things can change in our lives too. We started our way back down after that because we could not see anything else from the top. You make a decision based on changes, which leads to another decision, which leads to another outcome, and so on.
Pay attention to things each day. Ask yourself each morning–“What is something good that will happen today?”, or “What is something good that I will do today?” Then at the end of the day, think about what all happened, and ask yourself the same thing: “What good happened today?” And “What happened today that did not turn out well?” Then follow that up by “What am I going to do to change it?” Those changes and decisions are as varied as the sunrise and sunsets. Every day is different. So why should the things in our lives not be different every day?
When we need a break, take one! Just like my grandson Connor. He will go and go and go, and then just like that, comes to crashing halt. Remember to take breaks. Get sleep. Take time to unwind and enjoy the everyday things in our lives as well. Time really does go fast!
When those “daily” challenges come, you have to learn to “push” your way through them. Learn from them. Learn how to deal with them. Make changes and start the next day anew.
Tom, Sue, Sarah and I did the Crazy Horse walk last year. We are going to do it again this year. We may be standing at the finish line, but just remember, the only “official” finish line is when we are no longer here. Otherwise, every day is different. Again, it may not always go as planned, but enjoy the ride. There will be good and bad. Hopefully, there will be more good than bad. Out attitude decides if for us. Make each day a new adventure… A learning experience! Keep moving everybody!
This weekend we spent in Huron celebrating my mother-in-law’s and father-in-law’s 80th Birthday! Not everybody could make it, but quite a few of us did. It was a great weekend. Lots of food, laughing, spending time together. We had a corn hole contest, with the winner taking home steaks!
Well, team Sarah and I came out the winners! Sorry Tanner (my son-in-law). He was going to show us who was “boss”, but I guess we did! Ha!
So much food! The cake was great! Connor also had a ball! He got in the 4 generation picture!
Of course, I got to spend lots of time with Connor as well. He was helping me take pictures of some flowers, and also pointing out some different bugs that were in them.
I took lots of pictures of my mother-in-law’s flowers. You will see them on my Facebook post next week of Reiffenberger Reflections. Amazing! She is quite the gardener! Spend time with your family when you can. The time goes by quickly. Again, keep making memories. These are the times that will be remembered by all! Keep moving everybody!
Sunday we are having a big Birthday party to celebrate Connor’s 2nd Birthday. His actual Birthday is on Monday. The kid is talking a mile a minute. His expressions are hilarious! Many of us will be there to help him celebrate. We had him over last weekend and spent the entire weekend laughing and playing. Never a dull moment with him. Spent lots of time at the parks and pulled him behind my bike in his Burley!
We also went on lots of walks using the Burley as well!
We spent time at the Lake, and he was constantly on the go, running up and down the docks at Jackson and City Park!
Of course, both Grandma Sarah and I got to spend lots of time reading to him too!
We are going to be having a big party with lots of cake for his Birthday. Of course, he has to stay in practice for this whenever he stays with us too!
I had forgotten how busy a 2 year can be. Go! Go! Go! I have to keep working out and running just to be able to try and keep up with him! Then when he crashes, he crashes! And so do we! Keep staying fit so you can keep up with your kids, or grandkids, or both. Don’t miss out on those opportunities. They are all great, and all create memories to last a lifetime! Keep moving everybody!
How many times in life do we say, “If I could just have a chance to do that over again!” We are all human. We all make mistakes. Once they are made, they are made. You can’t change what you did. But, you can make edits. You can learn from your mistakes and learn how to “Fail Forward”. There is a book by John Maxwell, Failing Forward, that talks a lot about the mistakes we make in life. We will continue to make mistakes. They key to it though is how do we learn from those mistakes. If we don’t learn from them, we will just keep repeating them again and again.
Life is full of surprises, and adventures. We need to be more like my grandson, Connor, and just take on everything with a smile and gusto. If he makes a mistake, or gets in trouble, or does not get his way, he will have a meltdown, and just lose it. But, several minutes later, he is right back to how he was before, smiling and carefree. We all need to have a short memory like him when it comes to our mistakes. Keep looking ahead, and to what exciting is coming up next!
Take time to sit back and enjoy what is right in front of you! Take the time to reflect on your life. We all have great things too, so don’t keep dwelling on our mistakes. Keep trying to learn from them and figure out how to keep trying to do things better in your life. Those reflections times really have come to significance in my life. It is my take to relax, learn from my mistakes, and figure out how to “edit my life”.
And don’t forget to spend time with those people who are important in your life, both family and friends. There is always room for “edits” when it comes to those people closest in your life. We all need to keep working on this. We are a work in progress. We always need to keep learning no matter how old we are.
When was the last time you went to a movie? Do you have any idea how many “edits” were made to that movie before it came to the big screen that you are watching it on? Too many to count! Life does not work that way. We make “edits” in our life after the facts. After the mistakes we make. After…We always need to keep learning from those mistakes in order for us to be able to become a better version of ourselves. Failing Forward! I love that concept! So, everybody, keep making continuous “edits” in your life. Keep “Failing Forward”. Keep living. And… keep moving everybody!
Happy Father’s Day to all of you Dads out there! Life has enough ups and downs, and it is no different for a father. Your kids are always your kids! You worry about them all of the time. You have to trust you did something right with them growing up that they will do the right thing. It still is nice when they have to call to talk to you because they want your opinion on something! Especially when they were teenagers, we did not know anything, and now we are incredibly smart once again.
When you have kids, eventually, your family will continue to grow. It grows when they get married, and then they start having kids. I still think being a “grandfather” totally rocks!!
It is nice to watch them become Father’s as well! Here Tanner is out in the field taking a break, and feeding Connor when he was a few months old! As a father/dad, you need to keep working to support your family, but you have to be around to support them with your time. I will say that is my regret over the years. As a physician, we were always busy taking care of other people. Sarah and I learned to tag team and take turns. When it gets to the time when we do retire, I hope to spend more time with them, and with my grandchildren, and make up for some of that lost time. The only problem is what is done, is done. I just heard something over the weekend that there are no do overs in life. You can make edits, and hopefully learn from things you did, both right and wrong. You just hope those do overs can make some difference!
I love this picture of my Dad. He was 18 years old when he was drafted. I am so proud of him! I lost him over 9 years ago, but not a day goes by that I don’t think about him. He set the tone. He was sterner when we were growing up, but there were 7 kids. Later I found out it was truly more bark than bite! He had a great sense of humor, and I like to think I got that from him!
This is one of the last family pictures we have of all of us when we all met in Watertown. They created quite the crew. My brothers and sister and I are in communication almost weekly. They did something right too! Thanks mom and dad!
This too is one of my favorite pictures. A little over a month after this was taken, my Dad passed away! For all of you out there who have lost their Dad, you know what I mean. You also know it is true that you think about them every day! I miss you, Dad! I will always love you! Things come up different every day in life, but when I hear from my kids, and find out it is good news, and that something is going well for them, nothing makes me happier. It may be Father’s Day, but really it should just be called “Dad’s Day”. Being a “Dad” to someone is what is most important. Especially to those who may not have any children of their own, you are a “Dad” to someone! Do not forget that honor! Do your best to live up to it. And remember, we all make mistakes. We can’t change those times, but we can “edit” them. Good luck! Happy Father’s Day! Keep moving everybody!
