Progress

Progress is one of those regular topics we go over throughout the year this year. How has it become such a sore spot for everyone? I understand that we want to feel like we are going somewhere with our lives. However, if you continually look to where you want to be and not appreciate where you are, you are certain to never get there. 

There are many forms of progress. Just because you can't see it at the moment does not mean it doesn't exist. Some days see more progress than others, but I look at myself at the end of the day and ask what changed in the last 24 hours. I'm not picky, sometimes anything will do. If you look hard enough, it's easy to see change, even if it is the same change for several days. There is still progress! Looking too far ahead in your life does not allow you to look closer at the little things happening now. 

I'm not saying it is bad to have goals and look towards the future, but you need to take life in bite sized pieces. "How do you eat an entire field's worth of potatoes? One bite at a time." Don't mind the analogy, I just happen to really like potatoes.  

Take care everyone.

The Dangerous Phase

It has now been a couple of weeks since I decided to try and look cool with a flying shoulder roll, only to do a number to my shoulder.

This was not a smart idea, as this is something I haven't practiced in some time. However, there are no take backs and in reality, it could have been much worse. I did learn much though, the main idea is body awareness. Where am I and what am I doing?

Moving forward, I am now entering what is called "The Dangerous Phase" in my recovery. My shoulder is feeling much better... in terms of movement anyway. However muscle engagement is still a long way away from 100%.

This is spooky because it is easy to forget the injury and attempt something I could normally do. This causes pain and slows down the recovery. Again, the importance of body awareness is crucial if I wish to have this healed properly. It's not that it has happened often, but a couple times trying to lift a bag or push open a door is a couple times too many.

Slow and steady progression; that sounds familiar, doesn't it? This will be a great test of my patience.

Take care everyone.

Sharing the Adventure

There are many things you go through during a motorcycle trip, especially when motocamping. It is not a cushy as travelling in a car. You are exposed to the elements, your sitting positions are limited and people don't see you on the road as easily.

In the first two days of our trip, we have experienced almost everything you can on a long distance trip. Bad weather, changing plans, bike maintenance, finding a place we've never been to with the last light of the day quickly fading. The funny part? It has been an absolute blast!

It is always fun to experience something for the "first time" again with someone who hasn't yet. The chance to share a small adventure like this with my wife has been great.

The importance of the journey greatly outweighs the destination. This is what we keep in our minds front and center when things go a little sideways. You have to, otherwise there is no enjoyment.

Take care everyone.

The Buck

The recent plastic free July challenge has been quite the eye opener, quite the game changer. I never realized just how reliant we are on plastic, especially single use plastic. There is so much out there, not just food, that is packaged in plastic. Most of this plastic is not disposed of properly. I do my part in mitigating this both by taking the initiative and educating when being questioned. I find I spend a fair amount of time at work separating different materials to make them properly recyclable.

I get a few odd looks from both residents and co-workers. I have heard comments like, "Why bother taking so much time to do that? They most likely have people separating it later on." The point is I don't want to wait for someone else to do it, if I have the ability to do it myself and reduce the amount that is wasted, I am happy to take the time to do it, the buck has to stop with me. Correction, the buck has to stop with everyone, a little effort goes a long way. Too many times we think, "Oh, someone else will do that." and it needs to change somewhere. For me, it starts here. Reducing the amount of single use materials I buy and proper disposal of the single use materials I do end up using. The kicker is it's not just plastic, any single use material must be disposed of properly by everyone in order for it to be reused as much as possible.