Well, the third morning in a row I was outside for a winter hike. I didn’t play disc golf this morning, but just for a nice hike down to Saylorville Lake. It was peaceful and beautiful. Great exercise. As I was hiking I picked up a hiking stick from the 2008 flood. And it got me to thinking.
Have you ever been to a national park or someplace that has warning signs not to pick up rocks or things and take them with you? I can imagine in some beautiful places it would be tempting and if everyone did it, there wouldn’t be anything left of the beauty.
As I was thinking about my new walking stick and the places I have been that have these warning signs, I was thinking that not matter what we should always take something away. I’m not talking about stealing or disobeying the signs, but at least mentally taking something away. If I didn’t collect a stick or a rock I would take away the experience, the beauty, the refreshment from the walk, the whatever it might be. I think all of us should consider what we take away from a moment or an event. The coach or player, win or loose, can take away pride of the game and accomplishment and team spirit or something they learn from the game or the competitors they were up against. Students, even if they didn’t learn to solve a new math or science problem, could take away relationship building from their peers or teachers. I always ask the students, young and old, what they learned today or this week. Most times I get, “nothing”. But if they think about it, they problem learned about life in the classroom or the hallway or the cafeteria and they have something to take away from the day or the week. Business people often complain, I worked all day, but didn’t accomplish a thing. But perhaps they can take away the frustration and learn from it.
I don’t care if we are stuck in traffic or changing a diaper or watching the paint dry, I think we can always find something to take away from the moment.
This week I have taken away renewed interest in being outdoors in the winter for exercise. I have taken some deep breaths of fresh air. I have taken away some reenergizing moments for myself and hopefully improved my health a little. I have taken away some great icy photo’s of the outdoors. I have learned from my students on the day they took their finals. I have increased my friendships this week. I have a greater hope for tomorrow and faith for today.
What are you taking away from everyday life’s moments?
