June 28,
Much has happened since my last blog three weeks ago. On June 12 Drew, our oldest son was married. A magical wedding. On June 13 Patty and I left for a week of vacation in Mexico with three close friends. Last week was a world wind of activity getting back into the groove. Lot has happened since our last blog. I have peeled the onion back a few more layers and learned more about me and what I need to do to live even more intentionally. I will update you later this evening or in the morning.
John
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
June 7
It is a delight to watch the girls at Merrie Woode grow. We have had the good fortune of working with Merrie Woode for 35 years now. Each year, the little girls in the youngest cabins - Do Come In, Mushroom, and Sunny Shack are just a joy to watch. I had a great time working with the Junior Counselors for a couple of hours on leadership. As rising seniors in high school, they are brimming with confidence and the "can do" spirit of a Merrie Woode girl.
As I was leaving Merrie Woode the need for time away to recoup was reinforced. If we don't do it on a regular basis, the emotional gas tank gets empty and we don't have anything to give ourselves or others.
Only five days till the wedding. Exciting times.
It is a delight to watch the girls at Merrie Woode grow. We have had the good fortune of working with Merrie Woode for 35 years now. Each year, the little girls in the youngest cabins - Do Come In, Mushroom, and Sunny Shack are just a joy to watch. I had a great time working with the Junior Counselors for a couple of hours on leadership. As rising seniors in high school, they are brimming with confidence and the "can do" spirit of a Merrie Woode girl.
As I was leaving Merrie Woode the need for time away to recoup was reinforced. If we don't do it on a regular basis, the emotional gas tank gets empty and we don't have anything to give ourselves or others.
Only five days till the wedding. Exciting times.
June 6
What a great day. Started with a walk around Fairfield Lake. Three miles. It was the first real exercise in about 8 weeks. I spoke at chapel this morning. There is something special about speaking at Merrie Woode. It is truly a sacred space. At the end of the talk I had the girls recite a prayer after me - Father, I am a gift from you to this world. Help me this summer to understand more about who I am and the great things that you want me to do.
After lunch I took a two hour nap. What a needed rest. Then, at campfire, Chase and I told Jack Tales. He was great. It was such fun getting ready for campfire - practicing the story we would tell. Drew and I and Tyler and I have tag teamed Jack Tales before, but not Chase. It was a rite of passage in the Brantley family. Here is how it goes. I start the story. At a strategic point, I stop and Chase jumps in and picks up the story. Then, at a strategic point, I step back in the tell more of the story. Then, Chase picks back up. It was great. Jim and Denice loved it and so did the campers and counselors.
All of my sons are such great guys. They are a joy to be with.
What a great day. Started with a walk around Fairfield Lake. Three miles. It was the first real exercise in about 8 weeks. I spoke at chapel this morning. There is something special about speaking at Merrie Woode. It is truly a sacred space. At the end of the talk I had the girls recite a prayer after me - Father, I am a gift from you to this world. Help me this summer to understand more about who I am and the great things that you want me to do.
After lunch I took a two hour nap. What a needed rest. Then, at campfire, Chase and I told Jack Tales. He was great. It was such fun getting ready for campfire - practicing the story we would tell. Drew and I and Tyler and I have tag teamed Jack Tales before, but not Chase. It was a rite of passage in the Brantley family. Here is how it goes. I start the story. At a strategic point, I stop and Chase jumps in and picks up the story. Then, at a strategic point, I step back in the tell more of the story. Then, Chase picks back up. It was great. Jim and Denice loved it and so did the campers and counselors.
All of my sons are such great guys. They are a joy to be with.
June 5
I almost killed myself today. Heat. We are getting the house ready for friends who are coming in for Drew's wedding on the 12th. Tyler was on the tractor cutting grass and I was push mowing around the house, barn, etc. The head index got to 105. I found myself collapsing under an oak tree to rest about 2:30. Tyler stopped and got me something to drink.
I am almost 57. The old body does not have the stamana that I had at 35. I am still in pretty good shape, but not as good as I need to be to cut grass when the real temperature is over 90.
Chase and I left to go to Merrie Woode about 3pm. We decided that if they have campfire Sunday night that we will tag team a Jack Tale. If you don't know about Jack Tales, you do know one - jack and the beanstalk. There are about a dozen or more stories about a boy named Jack.
When we pulled into Merrie Woode, we could feel the stress drop off. Campfire is on for Sunday night, so we better get ready. Carol Singletary, a friend, is staying at High Heaven - the house were we stay. Great to catch up with her.
I almost killed myself today. Heat. We are getting the house ready for friends who are coming in for Drew's wedding on the 12th. Tyler was on the tractor cutting grass and I was push mowing around the house, barn, etc. The head index got to 105. I found myself collapsing under an oak tree to rest about 2:30. Tyler stopped and got me something to drink.
I am almost 57. The old body does not have the stamana that I had at 35. I am still in pretty good shape, but not as good as I need to be to cut grass when the real temperature is over 90.
Chase and I left to go to Merrie Woode about 3pm. We decided that if they have campfire Sunday night that we will tag team a Jack Tale. If you don't know about Jack Tales, you do know one - jack and the beanstalk. There are about a dozen or more stories about a boy named Jack.
When we pulled into Merrie Woode, we could feel the stress drop off. Campfire is on for Sunday night, so we better get ready. Carol Singletary, a friend, is staying at High Heaven - the house were we stay. Great to catch up with her.
June 4
Today Tyler and I worked with a client in Columbus, GA doing executive coaching. Columbus is 3-4 hours from Athens. It gave us lots of talk time in the car. I realize how much I enjoy working with Tyler. He is a very gifted young man. His instincts for working with people and coaching people are strong.
Tomorrow Chase and I are off again to Merrie Woode. I am speaking Sunday and then working with the Junior Counselors on Monday morning.
Today Tyler and I worked with a client in Columbus, GA doing executive coaching. Columbus is 3-4 hours from Athens. It gave us lots of talk time in the car. I realize how much I enjoy working with Tyler. He is a very gifted young man. His instincts for working with people and coaching people are strong.
Tomorrow Chase and I are off again to Merrie Woode. I am speaking Sunday and then working with the Junior Counselors on Monday morning.
June 3
When I was at Merrie Woode last weekend, I had difficulty going to sleep. I realized again that when you have one great insight, you peal the layers back only to see that there is so much more to learn and so much more growth to take place. This is in a good sense, not in a “your not there yet” or “your not good enough” sense. I was at camp helping with counselor orientation. It is one of the most peaceful places on earth, and one of the most joyous. The windows were open in the bedroom. I could hear the waterfall rushing across the rocks and pounding the rocks at the bottom of the falls. It usually creates a restful sleep.
Unfortunately, I found that I could not let my mind slow down. The chatter in the mind was moving at breakneck speed. I would try to calm it and I would then begin thinking about what I was going to talk about the next day. It is the voice in my head that was not slowing down.
I finally was able to calm the voice and I had a restful night’s sleep. Very restful. I awoke at 6am relaxed. In the fuzzy zone I realized that everything about my historical actions has been busyness.
I also realized that my never maximized my potential because I was always hurrying from one thing to the next. I found it in relationships, in my work, in my exercise, in my writings, in my presentations and facilitation of things.
I knew that there was a reason for me to be at Merrie Woode. This was it. I slowed down the next day and really focused on living in the moment. It was probably the best counselor training session in many days.
When I was at Merrie Woode last weekend, I had difficulty going to sleep. I realized again that when you have one great insight, you peal the layers back only to see that there is so much more to learn and so much more growth to take place. This is in a good sense, not in a “your not there yet” or “your not good enough” sense. I was at camp helping with counselor orientation. It is one of the most peaceful places on earth, and one of the most joyous. The windows were open in the bedroom. I could hear the waterfall rushing across the rocks and pounding the rocks at the bottom of the falls. It usually creates a restful sleep.
Unfortunately, I found that I could not let my mind slow down. The chatter in the mind was moving at breakneck speed. I would try to calm it and I would then begin thinking about what I was going to talk about the next day. It is the voice in my head that was not slowing down.
I finally was able to calm the voice and I had a restful night’s sleep. Very restful. I awoke at 6am relaxed. In the fuzzy zone I realized that everything about my historical actions has been busyness.
I also realized that my never maximized my potential because I was always hurrying from one thing to the next. I found it in relationships, in my work, in my exercise, in my writings, in my presentations and facilitation of things.
I knew that there was a reason for me to be at Merrie Woode. This was it. I slowed down the next day and really focused on living in the moment. It was probably the best counselor training session in many days.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
June 2
Not only did I hit my goal for May, we are on our way to hitting our goal for June. Something interesting and very powerful has happened. I have been about over the past three days to simply not worry. At times when I would have been consumed by worry, I have been able to recognize it when it starts coming and let it go.
I have often said that the other world that you want is on the other side of letting go and I am right.
Not only did I hit my goal for May, we are on our way to hitting our goal for June. Something interesting and very powerful has happened. I have been about over the past three days to simply not worry. At times when I would have been consumed by worry, I have been able to recognize it when it starts coming and let it go.
I have often said that the other world that you want is on the other side of letting go and I am right.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
