humorous reflection

Row, Row, Row Your Life (Even If You Forgot the Oars)

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Life throws us in the river without a paddle—and somehow expects us to swim, laugh, and maybe not swallow too much water.

Sometimes life feels like a great river that we are tossed into when we’re born. We seem to have no control where it is carrying us. There are days when we struggle to stay afloat. There are other days when the river doesn’t seem to be moving and we gently float along. All the while not really knowing where our destiny will take us. All the while we travel not knowing where and how our journey will end. Not knowing who we will meet along our journey. Our river seems to contain many great mysteries. And as we carried along some of the mysteries will be made known to us and others will remain forever a mystery. Where are you on your life’s journey on your personal river? Trust the journey no matter what type of water you’re in. You’ll make it through. You will look back amazed at how you navigated it all.

Humorous Points to Ponder

  • If life is a river, why didn’t anyone hand out floaties at birth?
  • Rapids always appear right after you brag about smooth sailing.
  • Those “lazy river” days? Usually followed by a waterfall.
  • Meeting strangers along the way is fun—until one of them tips the canoe.
  • Paddling in circles is technically exercise, so give yourself credit.

From PMS Shark to Gym Shark: A Lesson in Snap Judgments

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One glance, one missing letter, and one big laugh later—I learned how easily our minds leap to judgment and how important it is to pause.

I get lots of insights while I exercise at the gym. I don’t know when they will pop up, but they do. Often they pop up when I least expect them to. Today was one of those days where life decides to teach me a lesson. The elliptical machines are on the second floor and overlook the free weights area. I always open my iPhone to read an ebook. Half way through my workout on the elliptical (30 minutes), I glanced down to the free weights area. There was a woman doing a free weight exercise. Her back was toward me. On her shirt were the letters: MSHARK. I made my usual leap of making a snap judgment without any proof. I thought, oh oh, the letter I can’t read is a P. Besides jumping to conclusions, I need to practice my spelling. My mind was reading (incorrectly) PMSShark). I even added an extra S. I laughed to myself and thought, I don’t want to cross her today. When she slightly turned I realized two letters were missing. Her shirt actually read: GYM SHARK. What a difference a letter or two can make. My lesson was to put. a leash on put my gut instinct to judge others. I am really going to work on that one.

🌹 Points to Ponder

  1. How often do we fill in missing details in life with our own assumptions?
  2. What simple practices could help us pause before leaping to conclusions?
  3. How can humor soften the sting of realizing our mistakes?
  4. What judgments have you made recently that turned out to be way off?
  5. How might giving others the benefit of the doubt change your daily interactions?

Recess Was My Favorite Subject (and Detention Was My Major)

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From classroom exile to the playground courtroom, this is a tale of a kid who couldn’t sit still, talked too much, and graduated with a Ph.D. in after-school detention. But hey, at least he turned it into a lifelong love for exercise—and a fiercely loyal heart.

I enjoy exercising. I’ve always enjoyed it. As a kid, I couldn’t sit still in school. My first grade teacher had me move my desk apart from the rest of the class besides being a kid that couldn’t sit still, I was too sociable for a teacher who like order. Although she may have temporarily modified my behavior, it was probably the reason recess was my favorite class in elementary school. I could scream, run, and shout, and it still didn’t calm me down. In today’s environment, the counselors and educators would’ve probably said I needed to be drugged. They would tell my parents I wasn’t normal. As a reflect on it, I’m glad they never had that conversation with my teachers. My behavior, both physical and socially, didn’t really improve as I went through each grade. My fifth grade teacher kept me after school 150 days out of 180. I think I must’ve set a record. I had the longest school day of any kid I’ve ever known. There was one day when she kept me after school and my younger brother, who was in first grade, was outside waiting for me in the playground. When I got out of prison as I called it I went to get him. There was a boy from my class picking on him and my brother was crying. What’s an older brother to do? I had no choice I got involved in a fight. My fifth grade teacher saw me from the window, came outside and yanked me off the boy who was picking on my brother. She decided I was guilty and put me back in prison for another 30 minutes. What has all this taught me? I’m not quite sure if it taught me anything. I’m still sociable. I still can’t sit still. And, I’m overly protective of my daughters. I must be a slow learner.

Three Reflection Questions:

  1. What childhood behaviors of yours still show up in your adult life—and are they strengths in disguise?
  2. Were there moments from your school years that shaped your current lifestyle or values more than you realized?
  3. How might today’s education system respond differently to a child like your younger self?

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