What's Your Wedg-ie

Some of you have heard the parable of the boy who leaves a splitting wedge in the nape of a young tree on his way in the house when called to dinner. Days go by, then months turn to years, all the while he intends to return the wedge to the shed. In his adulthood, a violent evening storm strikes his home, and in the morning he awakes to find his beloved tree split - exposing the long-forgotten wedge, precisely in it's hurried resting place. Frustrated he gathers the remnants of the tree that once provided shade to his home and lofty heights to his children.

In our haste, fast-paced as our lives have become, have we placed an errant mental, physical or spiritual wedge in places that may cause us future grief or frustration? What potential consequences may distract or overwhelm us in the midst of a seemingly focused life? Wedges or wedgies...it matters little. Fact is, if we have them, we're stuck. Something's between us and where we want to be.

Here are 8.5 potential wedgies that we may face;

Guilt - our ability to hang on to disappointment or a failure to resolve lingering issues.
Fear - of what is, or what isn't.
Doubt - the absence of faith.
Anger - the presence of things for which we care deeply and could address.
Regret - what was.
Resources - time, money, good people - or the lack thereof.
Addiction - in it's many forms.
Sorrow - deeper than regret.

8.5. Success - or how we've chosen to define success.

The list of wedgies - or things that are making us stuck - could be significantly longer. I've covered some of the deeper and sharper challenges that get in our way.

Slow down. Take the time to put things in their proper place, in proper perspective. Surround yourself with good people, ask for help - if you've a still small voice urging you to deal with that distant, nagging wedge - take care of it.

Storms will come, perhaps they are already here. It's never too late to remove that wedge, pull out the wedgie and get started on your true potential.

Comments

What I've Learned from Trees

I grew up in the Rocky Mountains, and now reside there as a middle-aged man. God's country. My family has lived here for six generations, founded to towns, owned gold and silver claims, timber, farmed and ranched here. My father was killed and is buried here. All around me are these beautiful and majestic trees. For a time, my business was trees. Well, commercial landscaping. Purchasing, planting, cultivating, trimming, and growing trees. I can look at a tree and tell you if it is healthy, I can tell how it's been cared for, and when/where it should be trimmed. Over the course of my life I've learned a few things about these beautiful creations. Aspen trees are known for their breathtaking Fall colors. But did you know that they are the world's largest living organism? Their root systems are connected and when one member of a grove is sick, the others support it with nutrients. Because Aspens are a united grove, they aren't as susceptible to disease and insects ...

Weigh ins...How Wrestling Teaches Equality

I adore the sport of wrestling. Very few things have brought me as much personal and professional satisfaction, grief, suffering, confusion, and growth. Three of my children have wrestled, including my youngest daughter. She's a pioneer in the sport, as evidenced by the interesting questions she gets asked. "You wrestle boys?" She does, and she wrestles female opponents as well. Or, "Wow, that's cool?" Almost like a side compliment. Wrestling is all about equality . It begins with weigh ins. Pre-match and pre-tournament, stripped down to the skivvies, get on the scale and check how much you weigh. I wrestled in the 119, 132, and 138 pound weight class. My opponents weighed the same. The mat size is the same for all competitors. Mat time is the same, roughly six minutes, depending on division and age group. Same number of coaches are allowed in your corner, two. Same number of referees, usually one, supervise the match. Unless someone puts their thumb on t...

Big Brother and Virtual Learning - Solutions

Dear reader, here's a report of a child who is suspended for a toy he has in his own home. The so-called teacher, in a millennial activist fugue, spotted the dangerous weapon and used common sense to alert the parents, have a discussion with them, and then realized she should mind her own business. District administration immediately knew nothing and also were able to mind their own business, getting back to the bloat and lack of necessity they now find in their jobs, sending a multiplicity of boring emails and eating carbs. Except, no . That didn't happen. Here's what really happened. Police were called. They conducted a wellness check without parental consent. The elementary school child is suspended. He is a Black student. Why do I mention this, because...it matters. District fascists stand by their decision. Parental rights, private property rights, 2nd Amendment Rights, and the right to own whatever toy I want...eroding. Listen up! Keeping cameras off preserve...

Principles of Principals

Search This Blog